that dog. Totally Crushed Out! 180g LP

Conceived as a loosely-based concept album around the idea of crushes and young love, that dog's sophomore album Totally Crushed Out! is a touchstone underrated classic in line with of-the-era releases like the Breeders' Last Splash and Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville.

From the Sweet Valley High-reminiscent illustrated album cover, to the A minus rating given by the dean Robert Christgau, to the Jenni Konner songwriting credit (long before she was the showrunner for HBO's Girls) this album is quirky, smart, well-written and most of all...enjoyable.

that dog's touring behind Totally Crushed Out! found them sharing stages with Foo Fighters, Weezer and Teenage Fanclub, their songs being covered live by Pearl Jam, collaborating with Beck, and the vid for "He's Kissing Christian" achieving sub-Buzz Bin status on MTV.

This 25th anniversary reissue marks the first EVER vinyl appearance for this album. Showing their attention to detail, Third Man Records sleuths got their hands on the original oil painting used for the front cover art and worked directly from that for all relevant artwork needs.

Totally Crushed Out! is full of tight punk-pop and pretty ballads. Tracks like 'Ms. Wrong,' 'Silently,' and 'One Summer Night' capture the giddiness of first love with their three-part harmonies and sweet melodies. Totally Crushed Out! is cute and clever without being too cutesy or precious, and almost as memorable as a first crush.

Whatever fool-headed reason that that dog. didn't get their proper due in the '90s, now is a chance to correct the historical record thanks to Third Man's vinyl reissues of the group's two DGC albums. Both are spectacularly tuneful and shamelessly rocking, and blessedly free of buzzy covers or guest appearances. The band knew how strong their songs were and how well they could bring this glam-bubblegum attack to life free of any of those trappings - and maybe in defiance of their familial record biz connections (front woman Anna Waronker is the daughter of former Warner Bros. president Lenny; bassist Rachel Haden and violinist Petra are the daughters of jazz legend Charlie Haden). They stood firm on their own feet and made music for the ages.