NRBQ
One in a Million
Creem/MVD

NRBQ
Dummy
Edisun

"The Q" self-releases the Dummy CD while celebrating is 35th anniversary. Putting the CD next to the DVD One in a Million shows two different sides of the diverse band that has become a musician's band and garnered praise from Hendrix, Paul McCartney, R.E.M., Iggy Pop and more. Admittedly, some of the sound seems dated. ("Call of the Wild" could be from the Huey Lewis and the News soundtrack. "Imaginary Radio" could be classic Elvis Costello.) The charm of this band on record is part of that. And, talk about catchy. There are choruses here you will be humming instantly and for a long time. It seems a miniature music box containing the joys of pop rock and underground rock from The Fleshtones to The Pretenders. Breaking out of the pop rock topic mold for such lowbrow, punkish topics as those on "Do the Primal Thing", "Hey Punkin Head" and the title track just adds to the cultish appeal. Combine that with excellent production and technical ability and you have a record that will win narrow but zealous appeal. Also, this is one you can enjoy again and again. (3.5)

The DVD has a bonus video of "Dummy" featuring exclusively the lifelike ventriloquist dummy representations of the band featured on the CD cover art. The rest of the DVD is a hard rock performance by the band from 1989. It is a quintessential rocking show. I can just picture some movie filmmakers mulling over how to place a hard rock concert scene in their movie and make it so "with just a few seconds of footage the movie viewer will know the scene takes place at a kick ass rock 'n' roll show." A normally quiet production assistant increases the angle of his career's ascent as soon as he utters: "I know what we need, just a few frames from the NRBQ One in a Million DVD!" (3)