"Over the years, my memories and love for this album haven't
changed all that much BUT, have also come to think of 'Starfish' as an album
that is missing a certain ingredient.
There's something 'mechanical' about its sound. It lacks the 'dynanicism'
that albums such as 'Heyday' had. Also, where I've always
considered 'Heyday' 'bright' and 'alive' sounding, 'Starfish' over
the years has come to sound almost 'brooding' in its nature."

You aren't crazy-I feel exactly the same way! "Mechanical" is
probably as good a term for whatever it is that is lacking. Perhaps
(trying to make this look like a good thing) this is due to it being an
album much more 'down-to-earth' than their previous releases-more
sober, less-fantasical (and I say this as someone who likes that
element in their music!), disillusionment being a stronger facet than
before. Even the most 'upbeat' song, "Hotel Womb" (a definite
fave for me) can be seen as looking backward to the cold dead past,
and not (as you might think on the initial listen) as looking forward.

For me this was just another Church album, and, while I was
hopeful (and shocked!) when UTMW made it to like 30 on the US
charts, I didn't let it affect me much, knowing that they would
keep making great music commercial success or no (of course we
then got GAF which is their worst album IMHO).

Lost, UTMW, NSEW, and Reptile are also excellent cuts (anyone
have an ex- who reminds them of "Reptile"? ;-). Overall despite
the lack of 'feel' it is in the top half of all their albums. 4.1 stars.

John DiFool