Pocket Full of Kryptonite - Spin Doctors (CD 1991)

If your friends could make you popular, Spin Doctors should have been one of the most sought after bands anywhere.

Hailing from New York, the Spin Doctors toured for quite some time before they became even mildly popular with their 1991 major label debut Pocket Full of Kryptonite. Released by Epic, the album would be the band s only brush with stardom. Despite having a close friendship with Blues Traveler, there was little that Spin Doctors could do to escape the title of two-hit-wonder.

Recorded in 1990, the album contains ten tracks. The most popular songs are Two Princes and Little Miss Can t Be Wrong. In the midst of the grunge movement, the Spin Doctors were a shining light of happiness and excitement. Their lyrics were catchy and inventive rather than dark and brooding. This upbeat attitude was a welcome release in the wake of acts like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Members Christopher Barron (vocals), Eric Schinkman (piano, guitar), Aaron Comess (keyboards, drums), and Mark White (bass) left a tiny imprint on the American psyche. Although, it s important to note that this album went multi-platinum and was nominated for a Grammy.

The song that immediately pops into my head when I think of the Spin Doctors is Two Princes . I dare say that means it s my favorite track from Pocket Full of Kryptonite. Anyway, the track is purely meant to be fun. It tells the story of two men attempting to woo the same woman. One is rich and bestows gifts on her while the other is a regular ol guy. The meaning of the song is easily apparent to any person who has been even casually exposed. Two Princes has a funky jam-oriented groove and is wonderfully fun to listen to.

Another popular song is Little Miss Can t Be Wrong . Barron sings enthusiastically about a woman that he s very happy has left town. This track has a great sense of humor with those aforementioned groovy guitars. Something else important to mention is that the Spin Doctors make pop music. Yes, they integrate great guitars and drums into their songs, but the foundation is built on pop.

You gotta expect that the Superman reference in this album s title means that there is some more related material. Sure enough, the first track is called Jimmy Olsen s Blues . This song uses the same musical technique as the other tracks I ve already mentioned. One of this track s major points of interest is the band s great sense of humor. Here s a sample:
Lois Lane please put me in your plan
Lois Lane you don't need no Superman
Come on downtown and stay with me tonight
I got a pocket full of Kryptonite

One last song that got quite a bit of play is What Time is It . Beginning with a news report, the song breaks down after an alarming, um, alarm clock. The feel of this song is much funkier than the others. Barron almost raps at times in front of some pretty heavy electric guitars and a funk-bass. I personally don t enjoy this song as well as some of the others, but it s important to talk about because it did manage to help add to the Spin Doctors popularity.

Beyond these four songs, there is little to say. The songs are all pretty similar. The Spin Doctors didn t seem to have any real musical flexibility. They could play great music, but each of the songs sounded very much like the next. That formula can sink a band it did in this case. Songs like Refrigerator Car , Off My Line , and Forty or Fifty were all technically good but can t be classified as great. Their repetitive nature actually proves mildly annoying and at times my finger seemed to slide easily to the skip button.

No other album from the Spin Doctors ever hit it big. They keep on trying, yet their voice is somehow lost in the crowd. 1994 s Turn it Upside Down, 1996 s You ve Got To Believe in Something and 2000 s Here Comes the Bride were all largely ignored by critics and fans. All that is left are a few great riffs, lyrics and songs recorded over a decade ago.

Pocket Full of Kryptonite is a hit and miss affair. There are songs that are infectious, groovy, and lyrically brilliant. Then again, there are tracks that are repetitive and lack any real drive. Overall, I d say that the album is average. There are some great songs that if they could be replicated would amount to a five-star album. As it stands, I can only award the CD three stars. I will recommend it. To people who enjoyed the songs I ve mentioned, this album is a gem with a few skippable tracks.

Track List:
1. Jimmy Olsen's Blues
2. What Time Is It?
3. Little Miss Can't Be Wrong
4. Forty Or Fifty
5. Refrigerator Car
6. More Than She Knows
7. Two Princes
8. Off My Line
9. How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me?)
10. Shinbone Alley / Hard To Exist