NRBQ's fourth album (and first with drummer Tom Ardolino, solidifying a lineup that would last for close to 20 years) plays down the band's goofier tendencies in favor of a set that shows off their considerable chops as both players and songwriters. The more introspective side of the band's jazz leanings come to the forefront on Doctor's Wind and Queen Talk; Terry Adams contributes a strong, vaguely Beatlesque tune called It Feels Good and the lovely Things to You, Joey Spampinato turns in a pair of subtle pop gems, That's Alright and Still in School; and can anyone explain why Al Anderson's wonderful and engagingly heart-tugging Riding in My Car wasn't a hit single? All Hopped Up also features a handful of stellar covers, including a jumped-up take on I Got a Rocket in My Pocket (Adams' barrelhouse piano truly shines), a swinging version of Cecilia, and a rollicking ride through Big Joe Turner's Honey Hush, and the band's loosely tight communication is a fine thing to hear on all cuts. And even the album's token weird one from Adams, Call Him Off, Rogers could pass for a serious pop tune if you didn't pay too much attention to the lyrics (about a dog with designs on Adams' arm). Just in case you thought NRBQ had gotten all normal on us, though, the album closes with the most extraordinary version of the theme from Bonanza you will ever hear. It's hard to say why anyone would want an entirely serious album from NRBQ, but All Hopped Up is closer than most, and proves their charm and their talent is what makes them great, not their idiosyncratic sense of humor. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

1		Ridin' in My Car
2		It Feels Good
3		Cecilia
4		I Got a Rocket in My Pocket
5		Call Him Off, Rogers
6		Doctor's Wind
7		Things to You
8		Help Me, Somebody
9		Still in School
10		Honey Hush
11		Queen Talk
12		Bonanza
13		That's Alright
14		Chicken Hearted
15		Do the Bump
16		She's Got to Know
17		Start It Over