Lincoln

In the late 1990s, alternative rock had divided itself into two camps: frat-boy music and nerd rock. Lincoln fell perfectly into the latter, but their They Might Be Giants-inspired pop is hardly derivative of any one genre. From straight-ahead alt-pop to country-rock and even synth-pop, Lincoln is truly an eclectic mix, borrowing elements from many genres to create a disc packed with humorous, light, and unique pop songs. Lead vocalist Chris Temple constantly changes personas, from the enraged nerd in "Sucker" to a tender, heartbroken and scared man on "Wish You Were Dead." Temple's lyrics are often very personal, but he attempts to put up a macho front to help him from being vulnerable; however, his delivery gives him away. Not all of the 12 tracks are particularly memorable — the last two seem to be stretching the album a bit — but this proves to be an excellent souvenir from an unfortunately short-lived pop band. Lincoln broke up in September 1998, making this their first and last release.