AMG Review of Surprise Surprise Surprise

Denise Sullivan
All Music Guide

Three years after the debut EP, Miracle Legion had finessed their very R.E.M.-like sound into something a little more their own. "All for the Best" and "Everyone in Heaven" (with vocals by Kevin Hunter of Wire Train) are both literally remakes of the engaging "The Backyard," the band's first jangly signature song. Overall, this record is darker in tone, and save for Neal Ray's studied version of the Peter Buck guitar style, there are few traces of the Athens sound here.