I was quite surprised to find this CD in my collection, since I have no recollection of buying it. Perhaps I was drunk at the time! Actually... that is quite a plausible explanation...
Wolfman Johnny continues in the whimsical, eclectic style established in their previous EP. The song is a bit ragged around the edges, abruptly jumping around at times. But it does well to support the humorous lyrics, so I guess it does its job.
Katastrophy Wife shines both musically and lyrically. Small gripes about the tuning of the horns aside (who cares... it's a ska band!), the song flows nicely between bouncy verses and a heavier style for the chorus. To top it off, the lyrics are silly yet engaging; somehow creating a vocal version of a comic.
Things get pretty loose for More Beer. Even by their carefree standards, it's pretty loosely stitched together. However, all the elements are catchy and the lyrics give it great appeal as a novelty song. Also, the Simpsons reference is brilliant!
Ska's For Nerds is another example of comedy being a key component to ska. Like Reel Big Fish's The Kids Don't Like It, self-deprecating ska has a special appeal. This song also shows some nice musical range from the band, since the smooth reggae style is wonderfully executed. However, that all goes out the window for the completely immature ending. Which is great!
I've said it before, I'll say it again: the flute is a great addition to a ska horn section. It cuts through the brass instruments brilliantly, and adds a unique element. Phasmaphoria is a fantastic example of this. The music and lyrics are in perfect harmony of whimsical excellence. It's not rocket science, but damn it's fun.
However, Women With Guns takes the instrumental cheesiness a bit too far, especially for the main horn line. On the plus side, the chorus is super catchy and the bridge's call-and-response lyrics are hilarious.
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