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| Me First and The Gimme GimmesHave A Ball1997 Fat Wreck Chords 
 Review by: soulbleed See others by this writer Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on February 13th 2004 Punk covers have always been a fan favorite since the genre's origin. Listeners have always lent open ears to their favorite bands covering songs that their parents listened to -- not because kids secretly enjoyed their parents music, but because pop music was constructed to much better ability during our parent's childhood years. In all reality, the likelihood of bands from our generation writing songs that were as eagerly catchy as those from the past did is practically null -- occassionally, some pull it off, but most barely come close. Me First realized this and decided to make a career of adding their own punk-pop spice into already-established pop tunes from different eras of rock history. Have A Ball tackles popular rock songs from the 70's (although one or two songs might be from the early 80's?), ranging from Billy Joel to Kenny Loggins. It's a very enjoyable album from start to finish, and the band easily captures the original heart and soul of all the songs they've decided to cover. Especially great are the covers from Paul Simon: "Leaving On A Jet Plane" and "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" kick some serious ass. They even managed to make Barry Manilow sound cool -- "Mandy" is one hell of a power ballad. Last but not least, check out "Rocket Man." Great stuff -- this is a good starting point for people unfamiliar with the band, even though Take A Break is just as good. [Just remember not to take this seriously.] Highly recommended.People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
blink 182 is not true punk its pussy punk for all u pozers that say there punk (suck a dick) Every Me First CD is incredible. You can always sing along. is there anything sadder than a guy in his mid-to-late-20s acting like that? concerning the whole argument about these guys making a career out of this band. I think it's very safe to say that these guys have not made careers out of this. sure, maybe right now this band is making them more money, but that doesn't mean these guys didn't put a ton of hard work into their original bands. especially fat mike. i mean, come on, you telling me owning your own damn record company isn't enough of a career, let alone being part of two other bands, one of which is very much responsible for the state of music today? so what if this band happens to make these guys more money now? if people like it, and they actually still enjoy doing it, i see no wrong in that. they're not forcing people to buy their albums. if all these guys give up their other jobs to soley focus on being a cover band, then i'd start worrying. just because you don't make a lot of money for something, doesn't mean it means nothing. Here is the odd thing about Blink-182 and i'm a huge fan of them and shut the fuck up cause it's true.... The Gimmes are fun, simple & good. Just that easy, I love all their discs! I know my opinion mean shit, but.. "Nofx hasn't released a listenable album since punk n drublic" i meant hoss is essential . oops. this score is for hoss. excuse me ASSHAT i know where these assholes come from, BUT if you look at sales of the me first records as opposed to most of these people's other bands you'd realize that they are making more money off of this than their full time projects. gah?! look at the post below and try not to kill yourself "and Blink 182 are Punk rock! this is the mfagg album that i still listen to on a reagular basis Yeah so this takes me right back to 1999. I still pull this shit out when i have a bunch of people over to my house who probably wouldn't want to listen to my SPAZZ discography. to quote goonies.....kids suck "Would have scored higher" I should say This score is for what I think about this album today, had I scored it 4 years ago, it would of scored higher, but so many of the songs have negative connotations attached to them for me now and the music just sounds cookie cutter! Hey Fat Mike, get a REAL job, asshole. New Found Glory have already done the movie theme tune thing so i think The Gimme Gimmes would rather do something original! Yeah and Blink 182 are Punk rock! hey fat mike, i wanna hear a punk version of the ghostbusters theme tune (If Fat Mike reads this:) If you're running out of good ideas for the next Me First album, please get Me First to do an album just of popular movie themes/songs, now! yea i read an interview with fat mike, where he said he loves doing the gimme gimmes because he gets paid alot to play other people's songs Screeching Weasel covered an entire Ramones album front to back. I can see why Ben Weasel was so inspired by them, its a great album. Covering it note for note was probably just paying hommage to such an inspiring band to him. I cover all of Apathy and Exhaustion by the Larry Arms but I would never release it on anything cause I suck Can't stand them, their songs, their live show or Fat Mike. Once again if you read it i did say MOST of the other bands... the foo fighters being the one exception "BUT if you look at sales of the me first records as opposed to most of these people's other bands you'd realize that they are making more money off of this than their full time projects." "This schtick was old before it ever began. Cover songs are great live to spice up a set, or great things to round off a full length BUT to do an album of them is just pushing it a bit far (and a career of it is just fucking ridiculous). These guys need to choke on their hawaiian shirts." I don't know about a covers album pushing it, it's always interesting to hear your favourite band's take on someone else's songs. "Cover songs are great live to spice up a set, or great things to round off a full length BUT to do an album of them is just pushing it a bit" this review suited my short attention span.thankgs. This blows the newer one out of the water, but Blow in the Wind is my favorite. i like their version of "rocket man". This schtick was old before it ever began. Cover songs are great live to spice up a set, or great things to round off a full length BUT to do an album of them is just pushing it a bit far (and a career of it is just fucking ridiculous). These guys need to choke on their hawaiian shirts." occasionally I forget how many twelve year olds there are on this site. There's a law of diminishing returns on Me First albums. First time you hear it it's awesome, then each listen after that it gets less and less interesting. That's only true for the CDs though, the live shows are a consistent blast. Blow In The Wind is the best one out of the bunch. scores for the review. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. fuck you. Stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums stop reviewing old albums Leaving on a Jet Plane is by John Denver. For shame. Actually, "Danny's Song" is by Kenny Loggins, and it is on this album. John Denver. uhh, i didnt read the posts yet, but hopefully someone knows that 'leaving on a jet plane' is not a paul simon song, but i forget who it is. classic. reminds me of the morning after new years 99/2000 car ride home. Easily their best album. The schtick's getting quite old now. I don't think any of their albums are better starting points than any other. They are all pretty well known songs. |
