Me First and The Gimme Gimmes

Me First and The Gimme Gimmes: Take A BreakTake A Break (2003)
Fat Wreck Chords

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: maverickScott
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on July 1st 2003There's no point in reviewing this. I could say this is the worst thing to be released in an audio form ever, and you'd still buy it. So I'll try to keep this short. If you've been living under a rock since 1997, let me fill you in - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a punk rock allstar cover ba.

There's no point in reviewing this. I could say this is the worst thing to be released in an audio form ever, and you'd still buy it. So I'll try to keep this short.

If you've been living under a rock since 1997, let me fill you in - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes is a punk rock allstar cover band consisting of Fat Mike [NOFX], Joey Cape and Dave [Lagwagon], Chris Shiflett [No Use For A Name/Foo Fighters], and Spike Slawson [Swingin' Utters]. The band has three albums previously released, and each one has been themed [70s/Broadway/60s]. The band's newest album, Take A Break, has the common link of R&B songs from all decades.

Okay. So. Are these any good? Of course they are, these guys have the "punk rock cover song" formula down pat. Standouts on here include R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" as well as Boyz II Men's "End Of The Road" [amazingly, both are available for download directly below].

Okay, "End Of The Road" just came on my CD player, and I just want to say that Spike Slawson could make any girl melt in her Chucks by singing to her. Like woah.

Once again, the Gimme Gimmes keep up their tradition of kitschy packaging and hilarious liner notes, as well as creative intros to songs. Everything from Black Flag to the Cars is used on this album, and somehow they all segue into whatever R&B classic they're meant for. There is such a vast amount of talent in this band it's sickening.

My only real complaint is that the trademark vocals of Fat Mike and Joey Cape are scarcely found on this CD, whereas on past efforts you can almost always hear Mike crooning backup here and there. The song selection is somewhat lacking, too - these aren't all as easy recognizable to the naked eye [er, ear] as past efforts.

Not that it really matters, as you and your friends and your friends friends will all go buy this CD [or download it, whatever].

So in conclusion - it's not their best, but it's still fun. If you're new to the band, get "Have A Ball" first and see where it all started.

MP3s
I Believe I Can Fly
End Of The Road

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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.

Anonymous (September 4, 2005)

hahaha using black flag music to cover seal is fucking hilarious

Anonymous (June 25, 2004)

not really necessary..

Analog_Boy (July 29, 2003)

Canadian Music channel MuchMusic seems to think seems to be complimenting this band and playing the 'i believe i can fly' video a few times in the last couple days. Geez.

Anonymous (July 7, 2003)

All you have to do is name a song they are going to cover and I can already hear it in my head. Wow this is funny and cool and makes me smile. I want to dance and take off my shirt and rub my nipples. This shit was old 2 albums ago. How about they cover...their mouths. Now those are some covers I'd love to hear.
twat

Anonymous (July 7, 2003)

Not only that, I think Isn't She Lovely starts off sounding like Green Day - Longview. They've done this. Sloop John B begun like Lobotomy. Elenor sounded completely like London Calling, Favorite Things began like Bad Religion - Generator. You've Got A Friend = Blitzkrieg Bop and Blowin In The Wind has mike rambling like from Punk In Drublic. That's all I recognize.

Anonymous (July 7, 2003)

tried Reset. Pass.

Anonymous (July 7, 2003)

"not some 25 year old Canadian poser"

Ever heard of RESET? There used to be one of the BEST canadian punk bands around!!! Check out some of there shit, he used to be in that band. I agree Simple Plan fuckin blows, but that guy didnt always suck...

Anonymous (July 7, 2003)

Me first needs to do a cover of cheesy pop-radio-punk songs. Imagine Spike singing like Avril or Good Charlotte. That would rock! They could do a Simple Plan song and people would laugh because it's Spike singing "I'm just a kid" and not some 25 year old Canadian poser.

Anonymous (July 6, 2003)

They used an intro from a Cars song on the new album.

Anonymous (July 5, 2003)

no...they only "steal" parts of existing punk songs.Its really more of an homage.Like on every cd of theirs, 2 or 3 of the songs will have an intro from a popular clash or ramones or something song.Most of the songs are covers of pop songs with original punk music.

Anonymous (July 4, 2003)

Uhhh... So do these guys basically steal punk music and put it to "pop" songs? Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not trying to be snobby, I really want to know.

maverick (July 4, 2003)

To the guy 3 posts down:

Yes, that was me in the photo pit during Moneen and Brand New's sets. Moneen fucking rocked it, too... Too bad the crowd didn't respond at all.

-Scott

Anonymous (July 4, 2003)

no.It is not a beatles song.Youre thinking of Elenor Rigby,which is a differant song.

also...bad religions generator on "my favorite things" and the ramones teenage lobotomy on "sloop john b"

CallingLondon (July 4, 2003)

i know London Calling is used on Elenor on an old record. That's a Beatles song, btw.

Anonymous (July 4, 2003)

On a completely different note, Scottie ddi I see you almost stage taking pictures of Moneen at the Metro or was it your equally fat and beautiful twin Jesus?

inagreendase (July 4, 2003)

i guess it was just what you needed, huh? bwahahaha

Anonymous (July 3, 2003)

yeah...then the clash intro is for another song.also black flags 6 pack is used.Now other people should list what other pieces from punk songs have been used in gimme gimmes songs......go!

toma (July 3, 2003)

YES! just what i needed. man that was bugging me

Anonymous (July 3, 2003)

its either the clashs "im so bored with the usa" or the cars "just what i needed".I know both of those intros are used,but i cant remember which gimme gimmes song uses them.

toma (July 3, 2003)

the intro to i'll be there sounds insanely familiar and i feel like an idiot for not knowing where i've heard it before

Anonymous (July 3, 2003)

This CD rocks. It certainly does have lots of energy.

Anonymous (July 3, 2003)

There are a couple good songs on this cd like "Where will broken hearts go" and "I believe I can fly" but for the most part it lackes the energy of their last 3 cd's.

Anonymous (July 3, 2003)

please forgive my ignorance but: I've heard people talking about the musical rips from other songs, like on the last records they put little bits of Bad Religion and the Ramones and the Dickies in their songs, and I've heard people say there are a few on this record, but I can't tell what they are. could someone who knows about old punk enlighten me?

toma (July 3, 2003)

hahahahahahaha... i don't even think me first and the gimme gimmes have the ability to sell out. let's see, they're a bunch of guys in different bands covering old songs as a joke exactly as they did in 1997 with have a ball. i can't think of anything that has changed since then except the guy who used to be in no use is in the foo fighters now, which has absolutely nothing to do with the gimme gimmes as a band at all. these guys are the same guys, doing to same thing, on the same label (which one of the guys owns). if you wanna use a negative word sellout is definitely the wrong one to use in this context. calling them stale i can understand, but crying sellout is just stupid. anyway, stale or not, this album is hilarious just like their other 3. it makes for really good driving music.

Anonymous (July 3, 2003)

underground? sellout?

HAHAHAHAH man this was the best laugh that i had this week.

ok now whoever said that, get that stick out of your ass and open your eyes, this band is just for fun, and its fun to listen to them, its the best party music that is out there, so please, please lighten up.

Allular (July 3, 2003)

I used to like this band when they were still underground. The early stuff was edgy and raw, but it sounds to poppy now. Did someone say "sellout?"

Whoever said this is really, really, ignorant.

Anonymous (July 3, 2003)

Great album. When was Me First ever underground? They've alway been a so-called "supergroup." The only time they were underground was during their fictional past which never existed in the first place. Try again.

Anonymous (July 2, 2003)

It's funny that Fat Mike calls his wife Skinny Erin.

Anonymous (July 2, 2003)

now that's good satire

Anonymous (July 2, 2003)

"I used to like this band when they were still underground. The early stuff was edgy and raw, but it sounds to poppy now. Did someone say 'sellout?'"

I think you just did. They're a cover band. They stick to the hits. How can a band that has no pretense of keeping it small sell out?

Besides, sellout is just a word that insecure music snobs use when they can't think of a better reason to hate a band.

Anonymous (July 2, 2003)

I used to like this band when they were still underground. The early stuff was edgy and raw, but it sounds to poppy now. Did someone say "sellout?"

Anonymous (July 2, 2003)

the kid kind of looks like fat mike and his voice sounds like andy dick. weird...the funniest part about the fear show was busey talking about cryogenics and the kid to rub ice all over his fuckin body.

Ramo

maverick (July 2, 2003)

"I'm With Busey" is pure comedy gold, although I didn't laugh this week as much as I have in the past - Busey was actually making sense with some of that fear stuff, and the kid was just turning into a pussy.

I have to wonder how much of that show is staged, because the whole "going into the desert to find the magic Indian" thing was fucking ridiculous.

-Scott

Anonymous (July 2, 2003)

for the record, me first rendition of jimmy cliff's "harder they come" is great. check out the original song. and "i'm with busey" is funny. busey says that the government is spying on the other dude's mother.

Ramo

BeaArthur (July 2, 2003)

I was hoping "I'll be There" was the Four Tops song, but in retrospect, I think that one's called "Reach Out, I'll be There." Whatever.

Anonymous (July 2, 2003)

Wow, the resemblence is uncanny.

Anonymous (July 2, 2003)

fat mike really does look like the guy from "i'm with buesy"

Analog_Boy (July 2, 2003)

Everyone has to be the funny band? oh... not really. It seems everyone has to be the angry, whiny bands these days. I just see a select few bands covering the funny. NOFX, Lagwagon... being there.

Oh yeah, this alblum is cool. Erm, hm. I enjoyed the older ones more though.

Anonymous (July 2, 2003)

Why does everybody always have to be the "funny" band....give me a break.

TahoeJeff (July 1, 2003)

I have to agree about the new Mxpx...ouch...a couple of catchy numbers...but meh

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

Just wondering if anyone else has noticed the Uncanny fucking resemblance between Fat Mike and that annoying "funny" guy on "I'm with Busie"

seriously, they look like TWINS.

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

Fat Mike is a god among men.

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

"Yeah, why the hell was Fat Mike even called that back in the day? I mean he was never exactly skinny, but fat? Not really..."

in the 45 or 46 songs....booklet he says that he used to be skinny,and then when he went to college or something he came back and had gained some weight,and he wasnt really fat,but more fat than he used to be.

or something

i dont know

this cds good.

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

I just got this today, it is a sweet album. Spike's voice kills me, its good as hell. Joey's Cape's spoken word is, for lack of a better phrase, sick bro. Have a Ball is my least favorite Gimmes album, by the way...I think I like each Gimmes album more than the last, but we'll see where this fits in. I like the little coke mirror that they sell! Haha

hey_sailor (July 1, 2003)

Joey's guest vocals (where they can be found are fucking hilarious)...just had to point that out. Joey Cape is a fucking idol.

evildeadalive (July 1, 2003)

I like Me First and I don't really like any of the bands the so called all star cast belong to (well, except for Swingin Utters).

Yeah, why the hell was Fat Mike even called that back in the day? I mean he was never exactly skinny, but fat? Not really...

krowdsurf (July 1, 2003)

Yeah, but when you're singing along to "End Of The Road" and everybody in the car is staring at you, it's not a good feeling.

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

Come on, who doesn't know "I Believe I Can Fly"?

krowdsurf (July 1, 2003)

I'm very familiar with the original versions of every single song on this album, and for that.....I am ashamed.

Mr_Pink (July 1, 2003)

I would guess a lot of the people who see these guys at Warped and love it don't even know who the "allstar cast" is. Fun is fun, regardless of whether it's a punk supergroup or not. Your strange feeling is probably just jock itch. Try some Gold Bond next time.

dignin (July 1, 2003)

I have a strange feeling if not for the allstar cas of Me First, you'd all hate them.

StratManX (July 1, 2003)

remember when Fat Mike wasn't even all that fat...

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

Fat Mike is getting rather fat.

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

I'm digging this. However, I did hear that new MxPx today...OUCH!

As a side note, there is a nice little banner for the Thrice record -- Almost here, yay!

- Scott
http://www.local-felons.com/
(Work, work, work...)

TahoeJeff (July 1, 2003)

last 2 posts were mine

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

I almost forgot to say how much I enjoyed this album

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

scott...I think that "Have a ball" is more of a soft rock theme rather than songs of the 70's. For example, Uptown Girl was realeases in 1983, and one tin soldier was in 1969.

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

Man, this CD rocks.

Fuzzy (July 1, 2003)

Their cover of The Harder They Come on the Warped comp this year (maybe on this album?) is really terrible. Overall, I am generally not a huge fan of this band though, short of Country Roads and their Simon and Garfunkel covers.

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

2 ironic biases i should say

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

yeah, me first and suicide machines molest the closing-songs-with-"yeah!" thing, but it's kinda funny because you can shout along with him because it's so predictable; but you would feel so empty without it. i disagree with the song recognition thing though, scott, i actually recognized more songs on this album than others; and my 2 biases are that i never ever listened to r & b at all, except for when the pop station was on on the bus, and when my parents had the classic rock stations on in the car - which was ALL THE TIME. i was still singing along during my first spinning of this disc more often than not however.

inagreendase

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

I have em all but can't remember, is "Only the Good Die Young" only on the Punk-O-Rama 2 comp?

-sickboi

aubin (July 1, 2003)

It's ok, but "Have a Ball" is amazing. I mostly hate the majority of the original songs they covered on that one, but they did such an amazing job.

"I am a Rock" is classic Gimms. Oddly enough, the original doesn't do anything for me.

toma (July 1, 2003)

i'm getting this as soon as i get paid. i love how spike ends most of his songs with YEAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH~~~~~~~~ and he did it in i believe i can fly tooo

maverick (July 1, 2003)

Typo? What typo?

[Thanks, I fixed it.]

-Scott

Anonymous (July 1, 2003)

To the guy below: It's a fucking typo, get over it.

Ant (July 1, 2003)

If you're new to the band first, get "Have A Ball" first

is it just me or does that sound wrong?

Hulka (July 1, 2003)

Strictly speaking, "Sloop John B" is a traditional folk song, done first by the Weavers, then popularized by the Kingston Trio. The Beach Boys borrowed the Trio's arrangement for their version.

FatTony (July 1, 2003)

I don't think they'll ever be able to top "Are a Drag," but I'll still continue to buy their albums and support this band because they're fucking amazing. Now if only they'd tour once in a while...

Guy/girl below me..."Sloop John B" was originally a Beach Boys song.

gutterhippo (July 1, 2003)

who is sloop john b by originally? I'm only familiar with the catch 22 song

ElVaquero (July 1, 2003)

They actually played I Believe I Can Fly on the radio when I was in Boise. That was really awesome, until they played the Yeah Yeah Yeahs right afterwards... still a long way to go.

CallingLondon (July 1, 2003)

ooh i wanna get this! yay! their version of sloop john b is phenominal.

irish_joo (July 1, 2003)

I prefer blow in the wind, but im sure this one will rock