Album Notes

With their second CD, "Bipolar", Phoenix-based Psych 101 continues mining the minefield of longing and loss, while throwing in a little political paranoia for good measure. The brightness of the music belies the lyrics, which run from dark to light, and back to dark, sometimes in the same verse.

The title song is not a lament about bipolarity, but an acceptance: "I know how to surf that wave/I know how to rock that thing/I know when to turn away."

"People in the Rain" sets a series of scenes against a repetitive musical line with a great beat. You probably can't dance to it, though, unless you dance really slow.

"Occupation" is not about work, but rather about being possessed by a memory. It is not clear whether this is a good memory or a bad memory, but it is embedded like a CNN reporter in an armored Afghan convoy. This song features the drone of an Indian shruti box and a twisted bass line.

"What" asks the musical question, "What do you want--right now?" Of course, there is no answer, because that would be a duet. There are no duets on this CD.

No one really has any idea what "Helmet" is about, but it's loud and a little spooky and seems to involve the necessity of wearing a helmet and staying away from windows.

If you've ever wanted someone close to you to simply tell you what you should say to make his/her pain go away, next time you can just play "Tell." Over and over. It won't help, but it has a good beat and you can dance to it.

"Little America" is a bright poppy song about the diminutive state of the union. It includes the traditional songs "My Country 'tis of Thee" and "America the Beautiful" used as vocal guitar solos.

"Awake" is the "Dallas" season nine Bobby Ewing end of the CD. It might also be considered the Scooby Doo ending or the Final Newhart Show ending. There are no more recent cultural references available.

Just buy it. It's weird, but it's pretty, and you know you like that.