Pitchfork give Action Musik's re-issue if 'Free Expression' a solid 8.0. An excerpt from Joe Tangari's incisive review...

"Velvet Crush are the perfect power-pop band: bookish, aware of their influences and unafraid to flaunt them (the way they use the "Velvet" in their name is a hint), and full to bursting with songs that get stuck in your head the first time you hear them. Core members Ric Menck and Paul Chastain are the kind of guys who have huge record collections and know them by heart. The Beatles, Big Star, Byrds, Badfinger, Beach Boys and any other melody factory you can think of that begins with a "B" all show through in their work, in much more overt ways than a lot of other bands. To call them a Teenage Fanclub for the Western world wouldn't do them too much of a disservice, though they were more consistent for longer..."

Read more, click on the dang link.