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Bouncing Souls

20th Anniversary Series: Volume Three [7 inch] (2009)
Chunksaah Records

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Contributed by: Jelone
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Published on September 18th 2009

The year is almost over, and with it, the Bouncing Souls’ 20th anniversary bonanza. The band played a few birthday gigs, filmed a variety special, and is almost finished debuting a new digital download on the first of every month. 20th Anniversary Series: Volume Three collects three more of those downloads on vinyl (mine’s on tour-only green with black and red splatter, suckaz) plus another bonus track. The series thus far has been strong, but Volume Three might be the best yet.

Volume One and Two followed a similar formula -- two punk rock tunes on the first side, a mid-tempo and a mellow acoustic number on the flipside. Volume Three ditches that idea. “Ghosts on the Boardwalk” opens with some haunting feedback that saturates the whole song. Given that it’s a song about summer and the seven-inch is coming out in September, “Ghosts” takes on an appropriately wistful tone in the vein of Hopeless Romantic’s “Night on Earth.” Its companion on the A side, “Boogie Woogie Downtown” is the numb twin to Volume One’s “Gasoline.” The song is similarly bitter at the world, but the music’s subdued style is a departure from the band’s raucous material. It’s a logical followup to “Ghosts on the Boardwalk,” but man is it a bummer.

“Badass” opens the B side and completely washes away every melancholic thought anyone ever had ever. A fist-pumper akin to a less synth-soaked version of Team America: World Police’s “America, Fuck Yeah,” the song lists things that are badass. This includes Bruce Lee, snakes, vocal solos and The Pete’s mom. It’s a little out of place compared to the rest of the seven-inch, but it’s a really fun song, so shut up. As for bonus track “Uke Chek Girl,” it’s exactly what Souls fan should expect: Maniacal Laughter’s “Quick Chek Girl” performed on a ukele. But this isn’t exactly “Souls Go Hawaiian!”, although that would be a totally sweet movie. Rather, frontman Greg Attonito gives the song a somber makeover. It’s a chill way to end an already relatively placid record.

While three-quarters of its songs were released over the summer, Volume Three works better as an autumnal record. It’s a little nostalgic, both for company and kung-fu movies. But regardless of the season, it’s still good.

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10feettall (December 18, 2011)

this was pretty catchy

borntaloze (September 24, 2009)

I think this is the best of the 3 so far. Ghosts of the Boardwalk and Badass are two of the best songs they put out this year period. Even if Ghosts starts off all U2'y it works. And badass reminds me of shark attack and these are the quotes from our favorite 80's movies. it's nice to know that they haven't lost their sense of youth and humor. been a fan since 94.

thepopeofchili-town (September 22, 2009)

Glad I'm not the only one who thought "Badass" sounded like "America, Fuck Yeah!"

Vol 1 is still my favorite of these.

danpib08 (September 21, 2009)

Yup, I know exactly what you are talking about, I loved Anchors Aweigh and thought the Gold Record had it's moments but the new stuff really sucks, they need to call it day.

misterspike (September 20, 2009)

The Bouncing Souls always make me smile. Add "cursing" and "Bouncing Souls" to the list of that which is "Badass".

mikexdude (September 20, 2009)

: )

Jelone (September 20, 2009)

Telegraph - Amen!

Mike - Likes? Howsaboot craves? The Souls are one of the first punk bands I ever heard/loved, and they're still tops in my book. If Bryan Kienlen showed up at my door and asked me to join him on a cross-country motorcycle trip, I would sell enough blood to buy a chopper or hog or whatever the hey and follow him, no questions asked.

MN_DrNick (September 19, 2009)

This is the best 7" they've released so far in this series.

mikexdude (September 19, 2009)

Jelone likes the Bouncing Souls.

velvetbrass (September 19, 2009)

I kinda see what you're saying, telegraphrocks. I don't love this band by any stretch of the word, but for their sound, they're one of the best. Decent guys too, and their lyrics are great. Just not really my type of punk.

telegraphrocks (September 19, 2009)

Jerry, I totally disagree with ya. I'm fucking in love with all of these songs, minus "Badass", which I think is just "good".

This is one of the very few bands that I just can't accept people disliking. As in, you don't have to like ALL of their stuff, but for someone to say "I don't like The Bouncing Souls", I just don't get that at all.
In fact, there's only one other band I feel that way about.
Even my favorite band, The Suicide Machines, I understand and accept people not liking them... but not The Bouncing Souls... it just makes no sense.

Only dicks don't like The Bouncing Souls.

xIxKilledxJesusx (September 19, 2009)

my problem with this is that i feel that the souls really shine when an album is listened to as a whole. when they release songs like this one by one, they lose the wholistic album feel though the songs individually rock

jeffernator (September 19, 2009)

Oh yeah, and the score is in comparison to other Soul's records.

jeffernator (September 19, 2009)

I don't, JerryCola. I actually think it's got a similar vibe to The Gold Record. Lots of slower/mid-paced, chilled out tunes. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

JerryCola (September 19, 2009)

Ok, I purchased the yearly download subscription for these "20th Anniversary" Souls songs, and with nine songs in so far I think it has been completely disappointing and forgettable.

It's a shame because I really enjoyed the Gold Record and Anchors Aweigh but these songs have just felt like to me that it's just them going through the motions.

Anyone else feel this way?