Genres collide on Aquabats’ ‘Charge’
Satire, mythological creatures, lost loves and post-ska sounds on fifth album
By Paul Unger
E-mail
Print- Share on Facebook
-
Seed Newsvine
- Text size:
“Charge” dives into sounds attacking your eardrums with nerdy lyrical antics and an amusing clash of musical genres.
Ahoy cadets, the Aquabats have arrived once again with their fifth full-length album in five years.
A departure from their first two purely ska albums, “The Fury of the Aquabats” and “The Return of the Aquabats,” the new album, “Charge,” dives into sounds attacking your eardrums with nerdy lyrical antics and an amusing clash of musical genres — incorporating punk, some ska and elements of new wave.
This poppy, punk/ska Southern California band lost some members and instruments through the years, but they are still able to compose enjoyable songs about mythological creatures, lost loves and hardships of growing up in the world today.
While the musical sound of “Charge” changes from earlier albums, its content still conjures up strange creatures from far away lands with such songs as “Tiger Rider vs. The Time Sprinkler” and “Mechanical Ape.”
The album’s first single, “Fashion Zombie,” jokingly jabs at the fad of teenagers dressing up in goth, with song lyrics like “… walking through the world like the undead zombies.”
They also enlighten the growing, easily persuaded youth, about the controversial issue of plastic surgery with the song, “Plastic Lips!”
In “Nerd Alert” and “Look at Me (I’m A Winner!),” they express the idea that everyone is special in his or her own way. The band itself is a crowning example of this idea, leaving musicians and critics in awe with their super hero-like costumes and zany slapstick jokes.
Although musical styles have changed from ska to pop/punk (accompanied with keyboards) progressing the sounds of the Aquabats fury; their quirky and satirical sense of humor is still evident as it has recently rocked its way to record label Nitro Records.



> Comments