The Presidents of the United States of America: These are the Good Times People
Friday, 07 Mar 2008 17:20
Do The Presidents of the USA need to change the record?
Cooking Vinyl, out March 11th
In a nutshell…
Play it again Uncle Sam
What's it about?
These are the Good Times People is the Presidents of the United States of America's fifth studio album and was produced by the Fastbacks' Kurt Bloch (Robyn Hitchcock, Mudhoney) and mixed by Martin Feveyear (Screaming Trees, Amber Pacific, Epoxies). Joining founding members Chris Ballew on vocals and bass and Jason Finn on drums is new addition Andrew McKeag on guitbass.
Who's it by?
The Presidents of the United States of America have been around for well over a decade, with a string of hits on their self-titled debut album, including Lump and the Grammy nominated Peaches, announcing the PUSA's arrival on the music scene in 1995. More albums followed and the PUSA also released successful covers of the song Video Killed the Radio Star, Cleveland Rocks and Ca Plane Pour Moi. 1998 saw the band breakup before a reform in 2000 had them on their way to being together again permanently in 2004 with the release of Love Everybody.
As an example…
"You twisted your ankle, I carried you. You got a divorce so I married you. You feel off a cliff so I buried you. I wish there were more bad times to see you through" – Bad Times
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys?
Not this time
What the others say…
"It's pretty much what you'd expect from band who patently seem to be believe that Greenday are still the hottest new talent in town" – Alan Sargeant, Crud Magazine
"PUSA have clearly had a good time recording this album, but is it such a good time for us? On the whole yes" – Paul Chapinal, Music-News.com
So is it any good?
Fifth time's a charm? Well... maybe not. These are the Good Times People is really quite an enjoyable album, it's just a shame it's not more like the Presidents of old.
From Truck stop butterfly a skirt-hitching, boot kicking country hoe-down-type tune complete with plucking banjo, to the swing and jazz efforts of Flame is Love, the Presidents cover a lot of musical ground on this album. In usual PUSA style, the lyrics are pointless and odd, working well in Bad Times and Loose Balloon, despite the fact that these sound very Shins-like and in this sense, a tad familiar.
The magic of their earlier hits, though equally as lyrically stupid, came from the Presidents ability to play fun and somewhat meaningless lyrics against heavier sounds. Singing "If I had my little way, I'd eat peaches everyday" was refreshing when banged out loudly over crashing metal. Sure, they weren't Slayer, but dammit, they could make noise too. Rot in the Sun is possibly the closest they get to their former sounds and though there is a lot to like on These are the Good Times People, this is the one song that killed me based on the sad fact that it only reminded of what could have been.
I was hoping the album would be more like this, and though I like them all pop and happy, The Presidents have always been more successful playing their fun lyrics against the heavier grunge.
These are the Good Times People is definitely a lot of fun but I can't help but ask myself – if these are the "good times" for the Presidents, why am I longing to be back in 1995?
5/10
Louise Cadell
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