This is one of those albums that shows off a band’s rich musical heritage. It is a very interesting mixture of rock, ska rhythms and artsy rock influences. Each track on the album is positive, upbeat and reveals a strong joy of living. Tent Show Troubadours bear a very strong sonic resemblance to Talking Heads and The Modern Lovers, as well as the acoustic funky punk of The Violent Femmes, who also hailed from Wisconsin. Tent Show Troubadours have the same uncanny knack at crafting insanely catchy melodic hooks, with razor sharp guitars wielded in quick burst staccato ska rhythms and the bass boogies like a midnight on the bayou. While Tent Show Troubadours clearly have a love of music past, the lyrical matter of The Last Bookstore deal with both the present and the future, taking stock of the changing world, wondering what will happen next. Album track "The Last Bookstore" does a wonderful job of symbolizing the seismic cultural shifts we're all navigating, using simply the image of an empty bookstore as a lament for the death of literacy. Similarly, "May Heart Sinks" straddles this dichotomy, using the imagery of a restless nocturnal drive to get over a heartbreak, with a delirious woozy synth over toppling tom-toms and a particularly memorable and melodic guitar solo, reminding us of why post-punk and New Wave was so imperative to begin with. Tent Show Troubadours offer hope of a world that is both freewheeling and funky, while still being self-aware and conscious of the past. This balance is razor-fine for artists, who no doubt have whole pantheons of patron saints that they love and admire, that set them on the path towards being musicians. We all must pay homage to these influences, without succumbing to parody or emulation. There's no good name for this style of music, which is a shame as it would make it easier to seek out. Those that dig acoustic funk ska-a-billy rock 'n roll with a big vocabulary and a big heart need to hear this now! ​