I was first introduced to the force that is Bowling for Soup on a trip to Mexico, where my housemate's music options were Toadie, Christina Aguilera, or BFS. The more I listened to them, the more I laughed and loved "Drunk Enough to Dance". Once home, I instantly bought it, and later got "A Hangover You Don't Deserve" when it came out. Both rock! This CD is BFS's first, and, like they say on their website, they were still trying to find their sound, and jazz and ska were big when it was recorded. So it definitely has a different sound than their two more recent albums. But that's not to say this isn't a great, stand-alone album.
1) 2113- Music-wise, very fun mixture of a fast punky beat with ska-style horns that enhance, rather than intrude on the style. Has almost reggae-like, slow interludes with the horns, but at the same time never loses its edge. Lyrics tell the sad story of a boy's chance meeting with another girl when his date's a no-show, and finally realizing he's just a boy on the side. Very touching, actually, especially when he compares himself to chocolates set on the shelf- and understandingly says you probably shouldn't eat them all the time- but warns not to let them go to waste. 5/5
2) Scope- Best song on the album, hands-down. Absolute punk, with great drumming and guitar. No traces of ska in this song. Totally sing-along chorus, and very hummable melody on the verses. Very classic BFS lyric theme of liking the unlikable girl, and the chorus is just very sweet. 5/5
3) Valentino- Classic BFS tale of the crazy, mean girlfriend, and lamenting for a new one. Pretty cute. Music is okay, punk and no ska, but it doesn't blow me away. Chorus is pretty enjoyable due to the harmonizing "I"'s as each band member chimes in higher than the last. 4/5
4) Corndog- Pretty long intro, the music is rather bland in my opinion. Lyrics touch me as being sort of whiny- the poor guy's trying to find a reason why he lost the girl. I dunno. I don't like this song. It doesn't have a real chorus and it doesn't invite you to sing with it. Kind of drags on, too. 2/5
5) Cody- A hit!!! The music is so rockin', and only enhanced by the fun clapping. The verses are good, and only topped by the amazing chorus. It's fast, funny, and I dare you to listen and not head-bang, toe-tap, or full-out dance to it. Lyrics are criticism of "Queeny", who's very full of herself. Song has a very jazzy interlude complete with finger-snapping and rockabilly guitar. This is a very fun song. 5/5
6) Belgium- I first heard this song as a soul-wrenching acoustic ballad hidden track on "Drunk Enough to Dance", and later as a funny, boy-band spoof hidden track on "A Hangover You Don't Deserve". Didn't know this was it originally. I'll always love it slow and acoustic, but this is great, too (I just think the fast beat kind of trivializes the very deep, beautiful lyrics.) Ska-style horn section, but only makes the song infinitely better.
7) Milo- a good song about a rather annoying female fan who's obsessed with the band. The music rocks, period. 5/5
8) Captain Hook- An okay song, in my mind, grouped with 'Corndog', but better because at least it has a decent melody and functioning chorus. Depicts the poor guy who's flustered by the girl he loves with all his heart. 3/5
9) Ack!!- Love this song. The music is wonderful, just great (and, sadly, rather difficult to describe). Another tale of that crazy girlfriend who punches you when you offer your hand, etc. Just an all-around good song. 5/5
10) Thespian- Equally awesome, music-wise. Makes big on ska horns, but that perfectly fits the song, especially the absolutely sing-along chorus. Starts out as the date that's going great, but disintegrates into a sad parting (making good on the two different interpretations of the chorus "I might be dreaming, if I am, don't tell me, I don't want to know."). 5/5
11) Kool-Aid- Good song about the neurotic guy who feels shaky about his relationship, when everything's fine. 4/5
12) I Don't Know- Wonderful, from the minute you hear them start to sing. Ska horns feature big, but in a very good way. There's really no set chorus to this song, but you don't notice the lack thereof. Really a fun little ditty. 5/5
13) Wisk- Starts out so quickly you think it's part of the last song. Good music, better lyrics. All about a girl with some problems- stole his dad's car, broke a bottle over her best friend's head- who he, despite his misgivings and her loser status, is falling in love with. Probably the cutest song on the album, classic humorous, sweet BFS. 5/5
14) A**man- Good song. The music is okay, in my mind, really picks up in the sort of dark-sounding chorus about Batman and Robin. All about his funny problems with a girl, and his pleas that she and he be hero and sidekick-like friends (very funnily inserts famous couples- John Lennon and Yoko, Donnie and Marie, etc.). The only problem with the song is that the chorus seems to be in a power struggle with the chant of "I didn't know it!" 4/5
15) Friday- Another apparentlessly chorus-less song, but the music saves it, (even though you want to sing along, you find it a bit difficult). Lots of ska horns, and this song has heavy doses of that reggae-like feel. It's a good song, in spite of its weird sytle of repeating various verses instead of verse/chours format. An super-long and rather unnecessary guitar solo at the end (pretty much unimpressive to me). 4/5
The problems of this album are outweighed by the good stuff- its inventiveness, creativity, good music, and overall eagerness that a band's first CD has. Nevertheless, fans of later BFS work will probably be irritated by:
* Presence of ska. It's different, I'll admit. But give it a chance. In some songs, it really makes a difference, in a very good way. And in a lot of songs, it's just punk rock.
* Length/structure. On first listening, the songs seem to go on and on. Once you get to know them, it doesn't seem so much that way, but its still apparent that BFS hadn't yet learned the art of brevity (i.e. don't let your music run on and on without you singing) and the tried-and-true format of verses, hook, and chorus.
* Song titles. I cannot for the life of me see where any of these song titles come from, because usually the word isn't even mentioned in the song. Maybe I'm missing something. It just really makes it hard to find a song, because of course the chorus you know and love doesn't match the song title on the back of the CD as you desperately look for it.
Overall, the CD is 5/5. Buy it, you won't regret it!
Awesome First CD
Before BFS hit their groove
15 tracks
