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 forThe 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