Here's an unsolicited testimonial about The Very Idea! from chrischrischris, posted on The Divine Comedy Forum:

Wow!

I have a new favourite band!

What a sound! Great pick of covers. Like the Dears blended with Nick Cave, served up on a bed of Tom Waits, Johnny Cash and The Bees -- mixed with a generous helping of Velvets, Byrds & Costello in some Twin Peaksian, deep south bloodthirsty timewarp...

...ahem...

Tonight We Fly - Great! You have a fantastic sound.

Soul's Island -- Smooth, sumptuous lead vocals, dramatic harmonies, mmmmmm. I'm sure I have a version of this, but I can't for the life of me think who it's by.

The Graveyard Of Love -- Dark, haunting, like an old woman stroking the nape of your neck with her false teeth -- a tender experience but with hints of liquid danger.

Meet the Incredible Shrinking Man -- Dreamy Procol Harum-esque delay on the vocals, more delicious backing harmonies. Man, those harmonies are as sweet as lemonade fellatio.

15 Minutes of Fame -- Inspiral Carpets meets the Monkees meets MC5. Fab!

My Death -- Very good interpretation. Campfire stuff.

 

You're going to be huge.

 

As long as we're tooting our own horn, here are some comments from Terry Isachsen, guitarist extrodinaire:

On our recordings:

Fascinating tunes and arrangements. ["My Death"] is one of the most stunning vocal performances I've ever heard. No foolin' man. It knocked me out. You guys are definitely on to something...

On a TVI! performance in January 2005:

Such a cool variety of stuff. The kind of band where you wonder what they're gonna do next. No chance of being bored by the sameness of the sound or style from tune to tune...

Man, I needed a good war tune [Bob Dylan's "Masters of War"] -- I've been so down about that stuff -- and you spit it out with venom. That was great to hear. The Roy Orbison ["Crying"] was fabulous. I didn't know you could sing that high stuff also... You guys definitely have a distinctive, unique thing happening which isn't that easy to do in the R 'n' R world any more.

 

Dave Ahl, drummer of seminal Twin Cities punk band The Suicide Commandos, sent us this email:

I finally listened to Off Jack. Most cool & fun! I like it, thanks fer givin' me one.

 

And last, but certainly not least, here's what veteran Twin Cities singer Curtiss A had to say:

Your recording of "The Lantern" is BETTER than the Stones' version!