by Dave Thompson Warming up for the delivery of their masterpiece, the Things Your Mother Never Told You album, Jayne County & the Electric Chairs are nonetheless at the top of their game across their sophomore album. An artful blend of County's characteristic outrage and the pure pop genius that lay behind the garish accoutrements, Storm the Gates of Heaven jams its eight tracks between two undisguised classics, the anthemic title track and a so-optimistic reading of "Tomorrow Is Another Day." The energy scarcely dips in between times, however, as a mold-breaking cover of "I Had Too Much to Dream Last Night," the freakish "Mr. Normal," and the self-affirming "Man Enough to Be a Woman" all deliver career-defining moments (incidentally, the latter was elevated to title track upon this album's release in Canada). Then there's "Trying to Get on the Radio," a positively buoyant confection dedicated -- musically and lyrically -- to exactly what it says on the label. Prior to release, it was easy for critics, should they be so disposed, to simply write County off as a New York-centric circus sideshow. Storm the Gates of Heaven brought an end to all such condemnation. This was rock & roll at its most fiery and dramatic -- and things were only going to get better.