Excellent album, sadly overlooked
Happy Harry | 10/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is almost never mentioned among the Fall's essential works, but it certainly should be. I'm no Fall apologist either - I'll fully admit that they put out some real stinkers in the mid-90s. That said, this album can easily stand next to "Hex Enduction Hour" and "This Nation's Saving Grace". It's not nearly as ferocious as either of those, but the awkward techno experiments that marred so many of their albums from around this time are kept to a minimum and the songs are universally strong. "Free Range" is the single that most Fall fans have already heard, but "Return", "Birmingham School..." and "Just Waiting" are also excellent tracks. Definitely pick this one up."
Tinny and at times half-baked
A. Davis | Berkshires | 01/02/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"From the Fall's house/dance period, which produced some amazing tracks that are must-haves, but also a certain amount of filler, weaker tracks, songs without distinction, some cliches, and it's too bad as well that the production is just so tepid. I look at Shift-Work and Code:Selfish as transitional albums. From the Brix 80s fallout, and the very strong if uneven Extricate album, they link to the solid Infotainment Scan of 1993, and then to Middle Class Revolt, which has some of the highest high points of this period. I can think of maybe three tracks on Code:Selfish that are really indispensable. But you might as well get it because you'll enjoy it, and Mark E Smith is admirable even on albums like this. He doesn't play memory-lane hits, always looks forward, tries and sometimes fails, and embarrasses most of his generation just by example."
