Mishka Shubaly must be given credit for discussing alcoholism in some very original ways, although it's difficult to prevent laughter when verses contain one-liners like, "I only start to need a drink after the liquor stores are closed." The album is like guilt many have felt for exploiting the entertaining drunk.

Musically and lyrically, How to Make a Bad Situation Worse is not a match for the first Crooked Fingers' album, sounding instead like Butch Willis and The Rocks covering Jack Logan. The nite club attraction definitely exists, but Mishka Shubaly is exposed to such an extreme at times, the flat energy can make the album drag. "Gideon's Bible" and "Home" work together well, combining the most rocking track with the most thoughtful track. Even those of us not enveloped in alcohol that've ever played live, know about the shows hoping to at least be paid in beer. "Gideon's Bible" also has one of the more honest couplets heard in a song: "Give me one more pitcher of PBR on my credit card/If you don't hear the telephone ringing, it's my A&R."