Chixdiggit!

Chixdiggit!: Chixdiggit!Chixdiggit! (1996)
Sub Pop Records

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: lostcausegiveuplostcausegiveup
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on September 23rd 2011While going through the reviews, I noticed that one of my favorite pop-punk records of all time was missing. I decided that the situation must be rectified. I first heard this band from Calgary, Alberta waaay back in the '90s, and I've kept up with them ever since. They've been around for 20 years (.

While going through the reviews, I noticed that one of my favorite pop-punk records of all time was missing. I decided that the situation must be rectified. I first heard this band from Calgary, Alberta waaay back in the '90s, and I've kept up with them ever since. They've been around for 20 years (crap, I got old) and haven't messed with their formula much during that time-and for good reason. This album was released in 1996 and was their only album on Sub Pop, having moved to Fat Wreck shortly thereafter.

The album starts off with a minute-long instrumental called "Dolphins Love Kids". It pretty much shows off their musical "chops" to perfection. No harmonized guitar or crazy solos or breakdowns with these guys-straight-up, three-chord pop-punk all the way through the album. The lyrics are clever and, at times, downright laugh-out-loud funny. Like "Shadowy Bangers from a Shadowy Duplex", which, as you'd probably guess, is about a bunch of stoner metalheads.

"Well I love when you drive me to the liquor store
You call the man that works there mister proprietor
Sometimes I wonder how you get to learn those words
You got a dictionary in the back of your Firebird"

The album clocks in at a couple of minutes under half an hour. It's got a good, quick pace, with a couple of slower tunes thrown in to break things up, like "Hemp Hemp Hooray" and "Song for R" , as well as their biggest "hit", "Like Your Mom".

The standout track, and one of my all-time favorite songs, is the album closer "(I Feel Like)(Gerry) Cheevers (Stitch Marks on My Heart)". It's a love song, as many of their songs are, but uses the NHL goalie's facemask as a metaphor for his heart. It doesn't get much more Canadian then that. "Angriest Young Men (We're The)" is an excellent two-minute ripper of a tune about how ridiculous it can be to be young and, well, angry at everything.

I'm a fan of everything these guys have recorded, right up to this year's Safeways Here We Come EP. This album for me represents everything I used to (and still do) love about pop-punk. Five stars all the way.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

abcdefuck (October 4, 2011)

Love the original, not a fan of the rerecorded one.

SilentStorms (September 27, 2011)

Great Legs is one of their catchiest tracks of all time. I love this album.

Also, they have an amazing track called 'Church' that was on the Best Hung Carrot in the Fridge compilation EP. That is probably my fave.

dlangl4 (September 27, 2011)

Wow. Will be checking this out. I have a long list of albums that have yet to be reviewed on this website. I'll try to start posting it on a regular basis.

dethrock (September 23, 2011)

Such a good album. I need to find it on vinyl though.

lostcausegiveup (September 23, 2011)

glad so many people agree on this album with me. i'd like to submit more retro reviews, since i buy so few new albums/bands these days.

jimmynorville (September 23, 2011)

Someone should review that European re-recording of this called "II"

RedScare (September 23, 2011)

Great record!

kaibosworth (September 23, 2011)

great record, but not quite perfect

skolarx (September 23, 2011)

i remember missing a show with Chixdiggit opening for the Muffs and The Groovie Ghoulies (around the time Reanimation Festival came out and the Ghoulies became my favorite band) because i didn't know anything about the Muffs other than a few songs and absolutely nothing about Chixdiggit. Easily the show i most regret not going to. Luckily i got to see Chixdiggit with the Ghoulies about a year or so afterwards and then again with The Hi-Fives. Really wish they would come back through Detroit sometime.

This album and the follow up are 100% perfect.

jephso (September 23, 2011)

Always enjoy these retro reviews.

lafours (September 23, 2011)

Thanks for this review. I 100% agree. Everything Chixdiggit! records is incredible. It's cool when a band's first album that's got way less production then their later releases is arguably their best. Green Day's 1,039 is an example. This is definitely another one.

Safeways was fucking awesome and I hope KJ and the band release a new album sooner than later.

AllAgesPete (September 23, 2011)

I love this album

kidgotham (September 23, 2011)

The best.

i-like-food (September 23, 2011)

One of my favourite pop-punk albums of all time.