This isn't quite one of those perfect, wouldn't-change-a-thing albums, but it's as close as I've heard in the past 15 years. I'm unapologetic about my belief that rock reached its peak a few decades ago and it's been downhill ever since. I've never given up hope but it gets harder and harder every year to keep the faith. Fortunately, just when I'm about to give up there comes along a gem like this to keep me believing that it may still have some life in it. In the early '90's, just when things looked really bleak, something magic happened in the Fall of '91, when "Girlfriend," Mazzy Star's "She Hangs Brightly," Primal Scream's "Screamadelica" and "Nevermind" were all released within 2 months of each other. For a brief moment in time, I wanted to believe again but the record companies and radio stations, in their infinite wisdom, figured what we REALLY wanted was more Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer and Madonna. There's nothing truly groundbreaking about "Girlfriend". It didn't change anything and it probably didn't influence anybody to give up their day jobs and get the band back together. The 5-star reviews aren't about that. They're for the simple joy of a well-written song, nice harmonies and for acknowledgement that someone cared enough to make a whole album of memorable, life-affirming music. If that makes you want to puke, stick to your Linkin Park or Fiddy Cent.