Pure Frosting

Pure Frosting, the Presidents' farewell/B-sides-and-outtakes collection is consistent with--in fact, as good, or better than--the band's two proper studio albums, not hard for such an enjoyably slight outfit. The Seattle pop trio's last recordings include typically, entertainingly goofy considerations of subjects like "Mobile Home," a waitress at the "Love Delicatessen" and touring "Japan." "Man (Opposable Thumb)" turns out to have more going for it than a great title, proving a clever dissection of both machismo and human nature. Live versions of three cuts from their platinum debut are redundant, but fit with the record's agreeably slapdash nature; a sophomore-effort number, "Tiki God," is included here in its bongo-driven "lounge" incarnation. And while a CD-single version of Plastic Bertrand's immortal "Ca Plane Pour Moi" isn't here, two other great covers--"Video Killed the Radio Star" (a staple of the group's live show cut for The Wedding Singer) and a torrid, totally apt rendition of Ian Hunter's "Cleveland Rocks" (The Drew Carey Show's theme)--do end up highlights. --Rickey Wright