Beserkley boys The Rubinoos scrambled up the food chain at about the same time Jonathan Richman and Greg Kihn did their solo road running. Having gone the way of most flesh, the Roobs might have slipped into the Where Are They Now file until power pop’s renaissance jerked their chain.

Following an International Pop Overthrow date in 1999, the band decided to visit the 21st century with this sterling set of covers.

Advertisement

Anything from “Heroes And Villains” to the Sweet’s “Little Willie” passes muster, and the cheeky inclusion of Utopia’s “There Goes My Inspiration” next to Elliot Lurie’s divine “Brandy” shows they’ve got class-A tastes.