The Aquabats Return To Freak People Out, Dawg!
Written: Jun 15 '04
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: diverse, catchy
Cons: Todd-1 kinda sucks
The Bottom Line: The Aquabats are back and sound more focused than they have in a few years. Definitely check out this ride.
|
|
|
| MattA75's Full Review: Yo, Check Out This Ride - The Aquabats Movies |
For the past four and a half years, I have waited, sometimes patiently, sometimes not so patiently, for Cali new wave/ska/punksters The Aquabats to step foot again in Massachusetts. And then, about a month ago, I got the email: they were finally coming back, June 17th was the date, and even better: they had a new EP in the works for June 5th, titled Yo, Check Out This Ride.
As it is not quite June 17th yet, I can't very well review the show, but I can review said EP.
Working as a stop gap while the band records a new full length, this is the first release from the band since 2000's odds and sods collection Myths, Legends, and Other Amazing Adventures Vol. 2. The band has had a few personnel changes, which has affected how much they've been able to record and tour. They also released a DVD late in 2003 titled Seriousness Awesomeness, which this reviewer has been meaning to do a write up on for about six months now. Don't you hate when the happens?
Anyways, Yo, Check Out This Ride has five tracks, a mix of covers and originals. Some of the cover material may surprise those who may want to pigeonhole this band, while the original material finds the band moving farther and farther away from ska and closer to an upbeat kind of new wave inspired rock and punk.
The title song kicks things off. One of the two originals on the EP, it works well as a bit of a commentary on the Pimp My Ride phenomenon on MTV, but done with the normal tongue in cheek formula that has made the Aquabats a favorite of the ska/punk scene for almost a decade now. Musically, it's built on a simple power chord progression and a driving bit of work from the rhythm section. Perhaps the best part is the hip hop tinged bridge ("I bought a '91 Celica and lowered the back, I dropped some deuce with some juice on the front of my cat...You peeps is getting panic attacks when I roll through Iraq, with a sack of fat stacks and an airbrush of Shaq on my Cizzadallac...and I'm freaking people out dawg!").
We then move into a track called Todd-1 in Space Mountain Land. This track very much shows off the band's Devoish tendencies, with the creeping melody and the use of keyboards that add an extra layer to the song. With that being said, it's probably the weakest song of the bunch.
The cover songs are then presented. Zero Hour, originally done by The Plimsouls, is a rollicking bit of rock and roll with some nice keyboard work done by Prince Adam, and some nice guitar melody laid down by Chainsaw.
Some might think it a bit of a stretch for the Aquabats to take on a Kinks song, but they do a remarkable job on Big Sky. I've never heard the original (I'm more of a casual Kinks fan), so I can't compare the two, but the Aquabats version is a gorgeous sunny California pop song, complete with some nice harmonizing and a big hummable melody.
Lastly, Throw Away The Trash is by far the most anthemic song on the record, with a driving sound reminiscent of past Aquabat favorites like Pizza Day or Pool Party.
Yo, Check Out This Ride is only available at the Aquabats website at http://www.theaquabats.com. The band is also, as mentioned, on tour, and is hitting cities east of Chicago for the first time since 1999. While I would have preferred a full length disc, this is definitely an EP worth the price of admission. Longtime fans, once they get over the band's move away from ska, will embrace the new songs, while new fans get a nice taste of everything the band is capable of.
4 stars.
More on The Aquabats:
The Return of the Aquabats
The Fury of the Aquabats
Vs. The Floating Eye of Death
Live in Worcester, MA 11-24-99
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
MattA75
|
 - Top 50 |
|
Member: Matt Aucoin
Location: South Berwick, ME
Reviews written: 1162
Trusted by: 464 members
About Me:
Gonna be a daddy, April 2010!
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.