Answer the Phone, Dummy

The album was produced by Kurt Bloch, who also wrote the songs. For the first time in their career, Fastbacks were able to record an album in a single studio, from beginning to end.[2]

The band used six different drummers during the recording sessions for Answer the Phone, Dummy.[4]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]
Chicago Tribune	[6]
Daily Breeze	[7]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide	[8]
Spin Alternative Record Guide	7/10[9]

Trouser Press wrote that "between the ganged-up female vocals and the raggedy, surging electric sound, the Fastbacks here resemble a looser-limbed Breeders."[10] Greil Marcus, in Artforum, thought that "as always, the smallest incidents of memory or present-day this-’n’-that rush forward with a sense of fate and consequence, practical joke and tragedy, puzzlement and wonder."[11] The Chicago Tribune stated that "bassist Kim Warnick and guitarist Lulu Gargiulo are the primary vocalists, and they bring a diehard optimism to even Bloch's most plaintive laments ... Fastbacks deliver fashion-resistant songcraft straight out of the Buzzcocks/Ramones school of pop thrills."[6]

The Times Colonist called the album "an off-centre, modern pop song cycle that is barbed with lyrical and sonic hooks," writing that "Warnick and Gargiulo's garage sale harmonies have an unpretentious, cheesy charm."[12] The Vancouver Sun determined that "with thrash, crash and some careful guitar musicianship, the band plays solid 'alternative' fare with a healthy dose of humor."[13] The Daily Breeze concluded that "the band has found ways to upgrade its musical proficiency while losing none of its freshness."[7]

AllMusic wrote that "while Kurt Bloch wrote a batch of great tunes (as usual), this set lacks a certain aural cohesion the pacing is inconsistent, with the album sometimes struggling to maintain a steady momentum."[5]