|
Review Navigator   FeaturesContestsReviews
| The VandalsOi to the World!1996 Kung Fu 
  Review by: Neill_Cawley See others by this writer Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on December 16th 2008
So it’s Christmastime once again. This year I wanted to get in the spirit of the holiday in ways other than sitting on Santa’s lap and licking super special candy canes, so I figured I’ll get in the spirit by contributing a review to the Punknews community. And what better to review than Oi to the World!, the Vandals Christmas album?
If God came down on Christmas DayThis grin is fairly consistent throughout listening to the album, as the Vandals' classic sense of humor is consistent throughout. A personal favorite is the track titled “Christmas Time for My Penis.” Sure, it sounds like a junior high schooler wrote the lyrics ("I see you've / been feeling down / When I needed you, you've been around / So this year I've a Christmas surprise / that will make your spirits rise"), but that’s the beauty of it. In this day and age, where chopping off your penis makes you an internet sensation, I’m sure penises everywhere welcome the warming thought; I know I do. The Vandals continue to get in the spirit of the season with some appreciation of popular Christmas tunes. I can certainly see myself dancing along to the punked out version of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies.” Additionally, their version of “Here I Am Lord” is also a standout track, with lead singer Dave Quackenbush’s classic, crackily voice. Sure, it might be more punk to listen to Bad Religion on Christmas, but, come on, it’s Christmas. Why not be punk and festive? While this record is the perfect background music while my stocking is being stuffed, it is not perfect. Some of these tracks are well-executed Vandals songs, but I can’t see myself listening to some of these tracks at the beach in summer (especially “My First X-Mas (as a Woman).” I can barely listen to that now, and it's in season. Fortunately, this is not meant to be more than a fun Christmas CD, and for that it delivers. However, don’t expect a perfect one, or even a perfect Vandals album. Merry Christmas! People who liked this also liked:         ![Bomb the Music Industry! / O Pioneers!!! - Split [10 inch]](/images/covers/thumb/bomb_the_music_industry_o_pioneers-split.jpg)  Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
If anyone cares Warren is the one that sings 'Hang myself from the tree' The Vandals totally have there moments. A gun For Christmas,Thanks For Nothing and the quintessential Oi To The World are the Vandals at their finest, perfect tracks for this time of year! Why? Incubus is a great band. I wrote a review of this in my high school newspaper about five years ago. I thought I was cool for reviewing a random punk album. Really it was just unnecessary. Nobody cared about this album. It didn't matter that I said it was a good album. People weren't going to go buy it. Anyway, the next month I gave a good review to an Incubus album and have regretted it ever since. @Nameless: I'm pretty sure the BR Christmas tracks were all bootlegs from a Christmas show they played in LA in around 1993 or 94. I just started listening to this again the other day. It's a great album for the holidays. I appreciate how you can hear bits of classic christmas songs worked into Vandals originals throughout the album. A Gun For Christmas is such a great song to start the record. Also, Joe Escalante is definitely singing on Here I Am Lord. I dislike The Vandals but this album is fun. Off topic, but since you kind of mentioned them in the review: Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure Jeff Rosenstock sings on Here I Am Lord. Album totally rules, and still holds up years and years later. I wish more bands did solid one-off goofs like this; no one really makes "funny" music anymore that is also artistically solid. Oh shit I just saw who this was written by! Is this a return to the glory days!?!?!? Joe Escalante sings "Here I am Lord" Welcome back This is a really fun album. A Gun for Christmas is awesome. I'm surprised this hasn't been reviewed on this site yet! It's one of the few Christmas type albums I listen to... which is really two others. Great album but I find the tracks he mentioned to be the weakest. I wrote this a year ago, and apparently didn't proofread it once in 12 months. Yikes. this album rules the christmas Great album, and without the Vandals I never would have gotten into punk. this is album is amazing, I usually forget to take it out though, better get on that shit, the older album art is way worse |
