Listen to these amiable pop tunes just once and you could be forgiven for thinking they were like fast food to someone who hasn't eaten for days - initially fulfilling, but ultimately as throwaway as the box the food came in.
However, listening to 'Get Ready For Eytan' just once would be as much of a mistake as choosing fast food in the first place, because given more than just a cursory spin, the majority of the 13 tunes on offer here prove themselves to be cleverly written, irritatingly catchy and boundlessly energetic.
Part of the appeal of this album is the warm and sprightly melodies which contrast spectacularly with some witty, acerbic lyrics. Titles such as 'Allergic to Fun', 'Somebody to Blame' and opener 'Outta Sight (Outta Mind)' are hopelessly pessimistic yet wrapped in glorious melody.
As a result, songs like the aforementioned opener echo the acidic and carefully crafted power pop of Candy, the Loveless and Elvis Costello, and even though Mirsky obviously can't lay claim to such legendary status just yet, this is still a hugely entertaining collection of songs.
3-minute wonders such as the bouncy 'Life of A Pretty Girl', the self-pity of 'What Do I Do' and the quite brilliant 'Something About The Night' may have you hooked, but there is a lot more to Mirsky's music than just zippy melodies.
'Allergic To Fun' is a prime example, twisting the happy go lucky arrangements of Beach Boys songs with such lines as 'Fun Fun, I'm Allergic to Fun'. 'Tell Me That You're Foolin' reveals a similar knack for economical wordplay as well as highlighting Larry Saltzman's sparkling guitar work.
Mellower moments are found in the endearing 'Somebody To Blame' and 'Found', while the comic scenario of 'All The Guys You Loved Before' provides further evidence that in Mirsky's 'don't bore us, get to the chorus' pop world, every winner loses.
After all that, it comes as no surprise to learn that Michael Stipe is enough of a fan to have covered one of Mirsky's songs ('Happiness' - for the film of the same name), and as you can bet your life members of R.E.M. don't eat at McDonalds, you can trust his judgement on this one.

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