I dont like giving 5 star reviews out but holy smokes I cannot deny what my ears are feeding me.

This album is still very Larry Arms for those who have been scared the band had made a drastic change with the success of Chicago peers Fallout Boy,The Academy is and such.

From start to finish the energy of this album is outstanding. The key change to The Arms this album is dual vocals. In the past Brendan and Chris have taken turns with vocals. On this album the boys combine their efforts flawlessly. The clean vocals of Chris trading off with the snotty nasally vocals of Brendan creates a fresh sound and in my humble opinion, the best Lawrence Arms album to date.

Another plus of this album is the production. All recorded onto Analog to 2inch tape, the album has an amazing sound. I suggest picking this album up right now and turning on "Recovering the Opposable Thumb" and see if you dont get those chills down you're spine. Enjoy! (and go see them live!)

I have listened to the arms for a few years now. I've always thought there was something special about their sound. The previous albums are great. Even so, I've always known that they could be even better. However, this album is a step in the right direction. The "softer" tracks that you heard on the previous release "Greatest story..." are blown away by kick ass punkrock anthems. Great, in my opinion.

The only thing that I could possibly miss on this record is a song like "Ramblin' boys of pleasure". Not one song on this album really reaches that level. There are attempts though, like "Jumping the shark" and "Beyond the embarrasing style" for example.

This album is filled with nice riffs and great, clever lyrics (as always when Lawrence Arms deliver). To sum up; "Oh! Calcutta!" is a solid punk/rock album from Lawrence Arms. Close to a 5 /5.

I listen to this album at work and I listen to this album at home. What has happened. This is the best album these guys have made. I've known this album has existed for at least six years and it has just now hit me that it's the best Lawrence Arms album ever. I love everything else they have made to the point that I don't even know how to rate the albums except I'll say this is the best one. I am ruined forever. Customers stress me out and I put on "Oh! Calcutta!" and holy shorts "I orchestrate a day of routine elements, these letters are are so old and faded" and I'm thinking about something else entirely. Then "dear mother, I'm sorry!" starts up and holy shcensor so i can get this posted. I mean this album is just a really great thing. I'm dumb and I'm getting older and things are bad but fork if I can't listen to this album and realize that this band is the best thing ever. I am listen to an album like "Icky Mettle" by Archers of Loaf just waiting for "Backwash" to come up and when it does I'm forkin excited, but this album is all that and it's awesome. How have I typed so much. I am drunk. I love you guys

Wow, this album is raw, heavy, emotional, classic lawrence arms stuff. These guys musical style is maturing in a way that someone who has been listening to them for a while can still appreciate. I've had this album in rotation since it came out.

"Recover! Recover! Revover!"

"Lets Cut it Up! Lets Cut it Up!"

"Gimmegimmegimmgimme Gimme the key to the city!"

Pop this in, turn it up, and you will be yelling these phrases too.

I have been in love with the lawrence arms since 2000, so therefore have no critical distance. I can say, however, that this album has only deepened my feelings, my commitment.

I can also offer up some adjectives: dynamic, evocative, relatable (assuming that's a word--I mean, basically, their songs speak to my experiences) passionate, and, of course, fast and loud. If you like punk rock, what else could you possibly want?