Paul K - Clippings - Lansing Capital Times

	Lansing Capital Times FEBRUARY 9, 1997
	Rock Options
	by Mark Deming
	WRITER'S WORKSHOP DEPT. Paul K & The Weathermen: Love is a Gas (Alias). Paul K can crank out memorable songs with roughly the same expenditure of time and effort most folks put into walking to the corner store for a soda, and the amazing part is that most of 'em are great, and I've yet to hear a Paul K album that wasn't memorable. But Love is a Gas may be his best work to date -- Mr. K has had great collections of songs, but Love is a Gas is a great album, managing a stylistic consistency he doesn't always allow himself, and Maureen Tucker's production (yep, Mo from the Velvet Underground) gives the sound a strength and body that's supportive but not intrusive. And while Paul's fascination with life's darker side has often led to comparisons with Lou Reed, he sees a lot less glamor in drugs and death, has a good bit more compassion for his characters, and I'd like to see Lou pull off a killer Stevie Wonder cover like Paul does here. (And by the way, the Weathermen kick it out on this album.)