Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers

Allmusic Guide

Review by William Ruhlmann
Richman’s second collection of Modern Lovers, over which he was billed (eventually, the group name would be dropped) had a lighter rock & roll sound than the first. In fact, as often as not, Richman played acoustic guitar. And his lyrical concerns had similarly lightened up, to the point of childlike whimsy on such songs as "Hey There Little Insect" and "Here Come the Martian Martians." But the focus was still Richman’s unabashed vocalizing (the word "sings" is put in quotes on the back cover), giving the whole album an amateurish charm.

1 Rockin’ Shopping Center (Richman)    
2 Back in the U.S.A. (Berry)    
3 Important in Your Life (Richman)    
4 New England (Richman)    
5 Lonely Financial Zone (Richman)    
6 Hi Dear (Richman)    
7 Abominable Snowman in the Market (Richman)    
8 Hey There Little Insect (Richman)    
9 Here Come the Martian Martians (Richman)    
10 Springtime (Richman)    
11 Amazing Grace (Newton)