A review in the October 1996 issue of Q magazine ventured that it "may well be the best rock book ever".
“Debut novelist Alan Simpson’s semi-autobiographical tale of life as a porn-store clerk The Mop (PL70.net HARDBACK, OUT NOW), is great, sleazy fun and may even be the birth of hip-hop dirty realism.” Q magazine, issue 317, Recommender column
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He has drawn cartoons and covers for Punch including the Chandleresque comic-strip "Luke Carew, Lone Wolf Detective - The Hogfather", Radio Times, Q magazine and others, and has also drawn for DC Comics, Marvel Comics and 2000 AD He is an associate artist with Comic Company, illustrating educational publications featuring health and social advice for children and young people.
This album was recommended in the October 2007 issue of Q as recommended further listening for KT Tunstall's Drastic Fantastic.
Reviews were generally positive: Music Week described it as 'packed full of musical depth and surefire radio hits', Q Magazine praised its eclecticism and Ireland's Sunday Business Post gave it a four star review, praising it for having "yearning lyrics, poetic metaphors and an agreeable dose of spite".
In 2000 Q magazine placed it at number 77 in its list of the 100 Greatest British Albums Ever and was also featured in the book, 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.
Recorded with Paco Loco (Golden Smog, The Sadies, Josh Rouse) in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain, the record met with significant acclaim from Q magazine, Mojo, Uncut, Classic Rock and The Word.