His insularity hasn't given him any wisdom, but that's a criticism that was hurled at him well before Phobia. Ironically the title track and "Stand Up Comic," an atypically jazzy monologue, are such crotchety putdowns of the crass media vultures outside his door that one wishes he was too self-obsessed to bother. Compared to the indie rockers he has influenced — like ex-Guided by Voices band leader Rob Pollard, who recently released his own postband solo debut — Ray is honest about his issues and reliably professional. But the only people who need to buy Other Peoples' Lives are the fans who don't need to be told.
