Robert Christgau Word of the Day

an·o·mie (or an·o·my) n. 1. Social instability caused by erosion of standards and values. 2. Alienation and purposelessness experienced by a person or a class as a result of a lack of standards, values, or ideals: “We must now brace ourselves for disquisitions on peer pressure, adolescent anomie and rage” (dictionary.reference.com)

Camper Van Beethoven Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart [Virgin, 1988]

Suddenly these postmodern postfolkie weirdos are transformed into, of all things, a rock band--sans chops. And unfortunately, chops are an issue: both the one-dimensional matter-of-factness of the vocal concept and the time-keeping world-beat-by-numbers of the rhythmic philosophy stick out of Dennis Herring's honest AOR production, which messes up the band's balance even though it leaves everything but the mix untouched. Beneath this disorienting surface the message continues its evolution toward postanomie, and it would be a kick to hear "Life Is Grand," say, on the radio. But mainly on college radio, where the nay-sayers it's aimed at call the shots. And that's not the idea. B+ (www.robertchristgau.com)