Camper Van Beethoven's 'Popular Songs of Great Enduring Strength and Beauty'

Camper Van Beethoven’s been around since the mid-’80s and have managed to remain the national music scene while keeping out of the mainstream the whole time.

Their latest release is their own version of a “Best of” CD, and a nice introduction to anyone who hasn’t heard the alt-rock’s off-the-wall lyricism over pop/ska/country/punk mixes before.

Throughout the compilation, you can picture them sitting around a smoky room writing down whatever happens to cross their minds and making it into a song. Such as, “There’s not a line here that rhymes with anything” from “Take the Skin Heads Bowling” and, in the same song, “I had a dream I wanted to lick your knees.”

Talk about imagery.

With song titles like “ZZtop Goes to Egypt,” “Skinhead Stomp” and “The Day Lassie Went to the Moon,” you know you’re in for a trippy time.

mixerpick: “Opie Rides Again/Club Med Sucks.”

Contact Kristin Day at 329-9579 or kday@coxnc.com.