Review of ATUB
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia, 1996-07-01
by Shane Danielsen:

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The shadow of Costello's "Imperial Bedroom" looms large across this collection
of songs written for (and with) other performers. For one thing, the Attractions
evidence a much similiar approach to that album, forsaking the bar-band gusto of
"Brutal Youth" for arrangements far more subtle and ambitious.

For another, there's the deep sense of discontent present in most of these tracks,
a streak of romantic pessimism that sites this among the songwriter's most
compelling work to date.

Some tracks ("Little Atoms", the title track) posesss a similiar downbeat
defiance to that on the "King Of America" album, while "The Other End Of The
Telescope" (co-written with Aimee Mann and originally featured on 'Til Tuesday's
"Everything's Different Now") shows just how far he's come as a vocalist: using
his strengths (a sleek velveteen croon in the lower register; that deep sudden
tremolo) to their fullest, interpreting as well as delivering his convoluted
lyrics. And "You Bowed Down" is as anthemic and glorious a pop song as he has
written. Superb.

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5).
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