Search - Chainsaw Kittens :: All American

The All American

Jared N. Canada | Norman, OK USA | 09/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The All American by the Chainsaw Kittens marks their first release in four years. For some, the wait has been far too long. Amazingly enough the Kittens have gone unoticed by the mainstream, although huge successes critically and through their dedicated fan base. The All American is a remarkable album and truly shows the talent and originality of the Norman, Oklahoma based band. The album opens up with "Light", an upbeat pop little number. The disc just gets better with every song. There are twelve songs total and some of the highlights are, "International Me", probably the most radio friendly song, although we may never here it on the radio. "Calling From Space" shows their distinctive song writing ability and has a guest appearance courtesy of Mike Hosty (another Norman musician) on the slide guitar. "Hedonist" is my personal favorite though, with lyrics that actually make you think courtesy of Tyson Meade (lead singer) and a great guitar part, it's hard not to want to put it on repeat. "Wedding" is another great song, written by Tyson for Trent (lead guitarist) on his wedding day. "We Got The Beat" closes out the album, of course a cover of the Go - Go's hit single. The track was originally recorded for the Go - Go's tribute album, but also included on this disc for a fun way to end the album. The album clocks in at fourty-six minutes with twelve tracks. The All American is full of songs that you wish were singles you could here all day, but know will probably never be. The only way to feed your addiction is to listen to the album again, something I've been doing for over a week since I pre-ordered the cd direct from the label. Buy and enjoy."

Yet Another Classic Chainsaw Massacre

Jared N. Canada | 10/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""John Wayne hates gays," croons Tyson Meade, the soul of the Chainsaw Kittens, at approximately the middle of his group's fifth full-length album. "Said he had a child," Meade continues, "tied to a fence post on an average, Wyoming day." The song morphs into a surreal first-person elegy to Matthew Shepard, with Meade's voice soaring as if he feels Shepard's pain. He does. Meade came of age, gay, in tiny Bartlesville, Oklahoma. After four Chainsaw Kittens albums that were at once indispensable and disposable -- driving music and crashing music -- the All American is the best yet. Meade is in his usual rare form, lyrically and vocally, singing lines like "Now I just married Eric Menendez, so why can't I get conjugal visits?" as if they're the singular reason for his existence. The band itself is tight and mature. "Light" is huge and beautiful; "All American Wiggle Wiggle," with its "do-do-do-do-deep" intro and proud "You don't have to hold your stomach in" refrain, couldn't be more perfect. It all collapses onto itself with "The Treasure Is Love" and falls to the floor with a drugged-up cover of "We Got the Beat," from last year's Unsealed -- A Go Go's Tribute. Tyson Meade is a star, and the All American is all the proof he needs."

A spectacular return for the kittens!

Jeffrey P. Gustafson | St. Louis, MO USA | 09/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first got into the Chainsaw Kittens when they released their self-titles album on Scratchie. I became a huge fan and snatched up their entire back catalogue. But for the past 4 years, the Kittens have been pretty quiet. As their albums gradually dissapeared from print, the kittens dissapeared from the minds of the music fans (those who were lucky enough to be in the know in the first place, that is.) Now, finally, Tyson and the gang bring fans a brand new collection of songs. Continuing down the path of their last album, All American builds the Kittens reputation as a pop band with the introduction of a piano to many of their songs. Of course, the wonderfully catchy music and beautiful vocals by Tyson remain unchanged. The only dissapointing thing on this album is the presence of the previously released "We Got the Beat," which, while it is a good song, seems awkward in this album, and after 4 years I would have rather had a new song in its place. Still, a wonderful album for any music fan to own."