THE THING THAT KNOWLEDGE CAN'T EAT

A new Mike Keneally album is always a cause for celebration in my opinion, and this one is no exception. Seasoned fans will know what to expect, at least to some extent - off-kilter songwriting, killer guitar work and Keneally's uncanny ability to maintain a sort of magnanimous, mellow vibe no matter how out-there his compositions can get.

'The Thing That Knowledge Can't Eat' is textbook Keneally in that sense. It's eclectic almost to a fault; veering from straight-ahead pop rock (Both Sides of the Street) to Zappa-esque big band jazz (Ack) and full-blown wacked-out experimentalism (Lana), and all points in between. As always, there are times when Mike's tongue appears to be firmly in his cheek and others where his heart's just as firmly on his sleeve, but no matter whether he's feeling playful or serious, the album exudes a welcoming warmth throughout.

Longtime fans will be delighted by another excellent addition to his already impressive discography, and newcomers could do a lot worse than to start here.

Track Highlights: Celery, Lana, The Carousel of Progress