Since paring away most of their eccentricities (more or less by 1988's 16 Lovers Lane), the Go-Betweens have been harder to get into: they have quality on their side, to be sure, but the songs tend to lack the compelling curb appeal that more aggressive or unusual-sounding songs might. So I'm unsure what to make of this record: the songs apparently aren't catchy, in that I can't recall them after having been away from the album - yet every time I listen to them again they all sound very familiar. It seems Robert Forster and Grant McLennan trust listeners’ patience: that the quiet strength of their songs will eventually make itself known. Is this a virtue? It's certainly not a marketing virtue - but it may well be a musical one, in that many songs that grab me by the lapels and shake me end up walking away to leave no impression, whereas a number of songs that initially seemed only pleasant have ended up as long-term favorites. "Caroline & I" is a strong opening track, featuring class Go-Betweens descending melody line, and "In Her Diary" livens up the sound with violin and a roller-rink organ. "Old Mexico" is the hardest rocking piece here (not that it rocks all that hard - but people don't go to the Go-Betweens to rock), plus its instrumental breaks feature a fine electric piano sound. "Make Her Day" features vocal harmonies from new bassist Adele Pickvance, evoking the classic Go-Betweens albums with Amanda Brown. The CD closes with the lovely, pinao-based "Unfinished Business," whose brevity and abruptness convey its title with emotional precision. Quite possibly if I had the chance to listen to Bright Yellow, Bright Orange ten times in a row under ideal listening conditions, I'd find out sooner whether it's another Go-Betweens classic - or one of those albums destined to remain forever unobjectionable, but unexceptional as well. The Go-Betweens’ track record with me, though, favors the former.