The Aquabats - Charge!! Review
by Kevin Wierzbicki
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What to make of the Aquabats? Band members have stage names like Jimmy the Robot and MC Bat Commander. On stage they wear identical outfits and masks that make them look like the hybrid of a Mexican wrestler and a cheesy comic book super hero. Then there are song titles like "Tiger Rider vs. the Time Sprinkler!" and "Nerd Alert!" And yes, each exciting song title ends with an exclamation point!
What to make of the Aquabats? How about a damn good time? The costumes and the funny lyrics were twin gimmicks to get this group noticed, and it worked. And it stuck. You would think that by now (a decade in) the boys would have abandoned the shtick to show that they're "serious musicians." Instead, they have revved up the ridiculousness to a level way beyond novelty, to a point where it becomes sophistication. MC Bat Commander has a singing voice and style that approximates that of Oingo Boingo's Danny Elfman; that combined with the Aquabats' penchant for zaniness should please fans of the long disbanded Boingo. Some of the funny stuff here is more overt than sublime though, particularly the story of an eternally dumped guy, "Hot Summer Nights (Won't Last Forever)!" The wild ride of "Demolition Rickshaw!" has a funny sing-along chorus too. But the bottom line here is that these guys have mastered their version of ska/punk; the cartoonishness just adds to the fun.
CD Info and Links
The Aquabats - Charge!! Label:Nitro
Rating:
Track Listing:
For Your Own Safety!
Fashion Zombies!
Stuck in a Movie!
Tiger Rider vs. the Time Sprinkler!
Nerd Alert!
Plastic Lips!
Look at Me, I'm a Winner!
Hot Summer Nights (Won't Last Forever)!
Meltdown!
Mechanical Ape!
Demolition Rickshaw!
Waterslides!
Awesome Forces!
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