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Me First and The Gimme Gimmes

Blow In The Wind (2001)
Fat Wreck Chords

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Contributed by: Scott
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Published on April 25th 2001

The third time is definitely the charm for this punk rock supergroup. For those of you who don't know, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes is the all-cover punk band constructed out of former and current members of NOFX, Lagwagon, Swingin' Utters, No Use For A Name, and more. Their mission: to punkify a decade's worth of songs in less than a half hour. Do they succeed? With flying colors. MFTGGs' first album, while highly entertaining, had some clunkers [do we really need a punk version of "Mandy" or "Fire and Rain?"]. Their second album is a personal favorite of mine, consisting of redone showtunes. The problem was with their audience -- how many 14-year old skatepunks do you know who avidly enjoy Evita, Phantom Of The Opera, and Porgie And Bess? I've been hearing those songs all my life and loved hearing MFTGGs tear up Broadway, but I don't think many other people did. But they finally hit the nail right on the head with their latest album. The theme? The Sixties. Everyone, and I mean everyone knows these songs. "Sloop John B," "All My Lovin'," "My Boyfriend's Back" -- these are classics in any form. There honestly is not one dud out of the 13 tracks on here, and some of the song openings will make you do a double take. While covering these 60's popsters, The Gimmes managed to weave in some punk licks from No Use For A Name, Bad Religion, NOFX, and even The Clash, making for an extremely entertaining listen. I highly recommend this to anyone who even remotely likes punk in any form -- this album will make you laugh, it will make you smile, and it will make you drive around with the windows down singing Bob Dylan and Cat Stevens licks at the top of your lungs.

[taken from A different kind of greatness webzine]

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thrasher (June 22, 2005)

I like the sound of this band and ho gives a shit if there a cover band this is just a fuck around band for them so get over it.

M4CH1N3 (December 3, 2002)

The gimmes write the best punk covers there are, and it's far more difficult than it looks...The singing is amazing, and the riffs added to the nostalgia of the tracks they cover make a great album. Can't wait to see them live.

Anonymous (July 11, 2002)

Novelties get old real fast.

theboywhocriedangel (December 17, 2001)

reading the comment below mine, i almost wonder if it wasn't some kind of crude joke... nah. probably not.

theboywhocriedangel (December 17, 2001)

"eddie w.," maybe you should spend a little more time either a) picking up a little more culture, or b) reading liner notes more often. the gimme gimmes haven't written any of the songs they have recorded, they are strictly a cover band. sorry to sound like such a smart-ass, but the comment about not being able to understand how one band can come up with so many "catchy, upbeat lyrics" just struck me as kinda funny...

OedipusWrecks (November 11, 2001)

I personally think that Me First and the Gimme Gimmes may be one of the only bands I have any respect for anymore. I mean face it, the guys are geniuses. They produce song after song and I don't understand how one band can come up with so many catchy, upbeat lyrics. They are really terrific and creative, I wish I could write like that, justy one song. That would be enough for me to feel accomplished for a lifetime. These guys have talent.

-Eddie W.

Anonymous (August 13, 2001)

Even my brother, who hates punk, laughed at "My Boyfriend's Back" and "Stand By Your Man." Oh, man... The little booklet is hilarious too.

-Senor Potpourri