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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Save Ferris

It Means Everything
1997
Epic

Save Ferris - It Means Everything (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Eddie
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Sony BMG (Logo)

Published on September 24th 2004

When listening to Save Ferris's 1997 album It Means Everything it becomes quite obvious why the used music store always has about twelve copies in stock.

This is the kind of album everyone would buy during the 1990’s ska craze, but, unlike the credible and lasting work of, say, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones or Reel Big Fish, would quickly forget and ultimately sell a year later.

Regrettably, too many songs are just…okay. “Nobody But Me” is basically the same thing as “The World is New” with a few extra words; “Under 21” is fun to move to, but has some of the dumbest lyrics I’ve heard (I only want to have a little fun/But everytime I try they tell me/You’re not 21); the horns and vocals in “Spam” sound wonderful, but once again, the lyrics are dreadful (Spam is “my best friend”? What the hell?); “Lies” makes a admirable attempt at using a string arrangement, but it doesn’t fully work—especially on a ska record.

On the plus side, though, lead singer Monique Powell does have a great voice, and has a greater range and more energy than your average female rock singer. And the few stand-out tracks include the opener, “The World is New,” “Little Differences,” a lively cover of “Come On Eileen,” and “Sorry My Friend,” which has a nice catchy chorus and a cool saxophone solo from Eric Zamora.

So basically, you get what you expect. There’s nothing relatively new or exciting, just an average bunch of ska/rock songs with a few interesting crumbs of creativity (various horn solos, bouncy choruses, great singing, etc.). This is certainly the kind of band more enjoyable live than on your stereo.

When we look back on the history of ska, Save Ferris will be nothing but a footnote (if that), but It Means Everything is still marginally entertaining. Not nearly the best 1990’s ska album out there, but if you come across a used copy for only three dollars (like I did), than it’s worth picking up on an impulse. Then let it collect dust in your closet.






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    Posted by joeg on 2005-01-23 00:44:25
    My Score:

    save ferris is decent but if you want ska punk with female vocals, definitely go with dance hall crashers.

    Posted by Apathetic on 2005-01-08 22:28:37
    My Score:

    pretty good cd...not great or anything but is still worth listening to

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 1, 2004 at 4:07 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Yes.

    The band Rooney got their name from "Edward Rooney", Jeffrey Jones' character from Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

    Save Ferris got theirs from the film's campaign and what was written on the water tower in Shermer.

    To spruce up your day, here is some poetry and gold from Ed Rooney:

    http://drakeshangout.com/humor/soundboards/edwardroone y.htm

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 30, 2004 at 2:19 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I liked it 6 years ago, definately hasn't withstood the test of time.

    -notfeelingcreative

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 at 5:12 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    It had its moments. Monique does have one of the most powerful voice out there

    Sara( no h)

    Posted by soulbleed on 2004-09-29 12:35:44
    My Score:

    Old reviews rule. Especially when there's no good CDs coming out ina given week .. like when The Used drops a new cd. Barf.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 29, 2004 at 9:43 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i'm actually glad this album got reviewed. it just adds to the amazing catalogue of reviews.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 28, 2004 at 5:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    what a waste of time and space this review was, congrats!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 27, 2004 at 11:01 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    dance hall crashers>>>>>>save ferris. no doubt about that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 27, 2004 at 8:40 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I can understand reviewing old albums that are really good, but it just seems a bit pointless to review old ones that you think suck.
    Oh well, I guess there might be some kid out there who was wondering how this album was...

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, September 27, 2004 at 10:59 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    how come no one has mentioned that dude in save ferris with the teddy bear hats? he was fucking cool! it's just too bad that the stuffed animal hat style never really took hold in the ska scene... it would've sent pork pie companies out of business.

    personally i always kinda liked dance hall crashers a little more than these guys during the 3rd wave ska craze.

    Posted by sickboi on 2004-09-27 10:56:05
    My Score:

    Ugh. I NEVER liked this band.

    Is that band "Rooney" named after the principal? That'd be pretty sweet.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 26, 2004 at 11:01 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "Fuck this band.

    I thought this was PUNKnews.org?!?!?!"

    come down fuck meister.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 26, 2004 at 11:03 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i am punk and shop at hot topic

    look at my anarchy sign

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 25, 2004 at 11:15 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Fuck this band.

    I thought this was PUNKnews.org?!?!?!

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 25, 2004 at 5:19 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I liked them as an alternative to Gwen's uber-squeaky voice of No Doubt, but once they morphed into an alt. rock act on "Modified," I knew they were going down--

    Score is for "World is New," "Goodbye," "Come on Eileen," "Lies," & "Superspy." It's ska-swing, which is a great departure from what everyone else gives a shit about: ska-punk...

    "Sideshow Bob" Mulhulland

    Posted by joeg on 2004-09-25 14:46:36
    My Score:

    i kinda liked this record. sure some of the lyrics were corny as hell but the songs weren't too bad.

    Posted by Chason on 2004-09-25 14:38:02
    My Score:

    ferris bueler (however you spell it)

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 25, 2004 at 1:39 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    But who is Ferris?

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 25, 2004 at 10:16 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I've heard worse. This album was alright. Not a great record. But not horrible.

    -ObeyYourParents

    Posted by fattony on 2004-09-25 03:44:57
    My Score:

    I used to love this album back in the day. Now it's just "meh" in my book. I'm just pissed I never got to see them live.

    Posted by TheOnetrueBill on 2004-09-25 02:38:03
    My Score:

    I remember when Ska was cool. It's weird to think back to it now.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 25, 2004 at 2:25 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Why the fuck shouldn't he review the album? Yeah, it's old, but there was no other review done for it. I'd rather have as many albums as possible reviewed here than have an older album never get reviewed just cuz no one reviewed it when it was new. Going by your logic, there shouldn't be any reviews on here from before 1999 cuz the site didn't exist before then.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 25, 2004 at 1:03 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    guys who review old albums are teh ghey.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 24, 2004 at 10:31 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i was at ska summit, and she has turned into a fat slut. i used to have such a crush on her.

    Posted by maverick on 2004-09-24 21:43:25
    My Score:

    I have a picture of Monique and me from the '98 Warped Tour. Oh man, that was a sweet day.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 24, 2004 at 9:00 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    eddie, quit reviewing shit that came out 7 fucking years ago. you're wasting our time. go listen to sha sha you fucking faggot. this shit sucks.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2004-09-24 20:32:21
    My Score:

    Ironically enough I actually saw this in the used section CD shopping today.

    Posted by Cos on 2004-09-24 20:24:01
    My Score:

    A friend of mine said that this band would go down when Epic found out they couldn't release the same album 3 times (about half or more of this CD could be found on their first EP/CD). Sure enough...

    --Cos

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 24, 2004 at 8:05 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I love Kid Dynamite man, why dya ask?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 24, 2004 at 7:58 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i take it you're not a kid dynamite fan?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 24, 2004 at 7:56 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    YO!
    I want reviews of new CDs ok. Don't be posting stuff up on here from way back in 97.
    Sort it man.

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