Search - The Aquabats :: Charge!!

Robin S. (OutOfBody) from WYNNEWOOD, PA
Reviewed on 3/5/2008...

This album is very different from their old stuff, as they have gotten rid of their brass section, but it's still great. They've still got their upbeat sound and wacky lyrics, and are a lot of fun to listen to.

Totally Freakin' Awesome!!! - 4.5 stars

Alan Pounds | Minneapolis, MN | 06/29/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was starting to think The Aquabats called it quits after all these years. The MC Bat Commander, Crash McLarson, Chainsaw, Jimmy The Robot, and Ricky Fitness finally return to the scene after a 6-year dry spell with "Charge!!". The geeky jokes, hilarious pop references, and superhero villain obsessions are still intact. What they have done over the years, is tightened up their musical approach. "Charge!!" does not bounce around from punk, ska, pop and new wave as much as it's predecessors (although those elements are still unscathed). Instead, they refocused they're attack, which includes a hard driving guitar and keyboard section, which actually works quite well. Old-school fans will notably miss the abundance of horn sections their previous releases showcased. But The Aquabats, being a smart band, knows that things need to be changed up with maturation. Not to say that they're "mature" per se. The countless Revenge Of The Nerds stories, and tales of losers losing the babes are still a large part of their repertoire. But their approach to these subjects have always been unique. When most pop-punk acts tell these stories, they come off as whiny, which certainly isn't the case with The Aquabats. I'm not usually a fan of gimmicky bands like The Aquabats. But after I heard "The Fury of the Aquabats" (1997) I have always made an exception for this great bunch of musical visionaries.



"Charge!!" drives through for a full solid listen. Chainsaw (guitarist) and Jimmy The Robot (keyboards) really bring the music to life with their outstanding talents. Crash McLarson (bass) and Ricky Fitness (drums) provide a very energetic rhythm section to match. The MC Bat Commander (vocals) is in full form, writing some of the best lyrics he's ever brought to the table. "Fashion Zombies!" kicks of the album with some commanding energy. But it was "Stuck In a Movie!" that hooked me first. It includes a nice quick guitar rhythm and great lyrics. Songs like "Tiger Rider vs. the Time Sprinkler!" and "Plastic Lips!" gives you an infection helping of tweaked out keyboards. One of my favorites would have to be "Nerd Alert!". I like this lyric quite a bit - "We're fat, young and hungry / But we don't care / We got big old brains / Like Mexican candy / We got some complex flavor / Running up in here / So get stupid on your time / Get the bud bowl off the air / Diffuse the land mines". "Look at Me (I'm a Winner)!" is also one of my favorite, which includes more great lyrics. Other highlights include "Mechanical Ape!" and "Demolition Rickshaw!". The album is concrete from front to back.



All in all, this is The Aquabats at their best. It's hard to compare it to "The Fury of the Aquabats", since it was filled with a lot more horn sections and theatrics. But this is just another side of their quirky personalities. I'm pleased to say, after 6 years, The Aquabats can still capture that flavor that we all loved and still love."

Music Still Has A Pulse

Dr. Montgomery Montgomery | New York, New York | 07/16/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In an age where it's the fad to be serious and not have any room for having fun (i.e. The Killers/The Bravery/any other band featured on Mtv 2), comes The Aquabats - back from their six year slumber. It is a musical blessing to have these guys back when music is in such a sad state of affairs to bring back fun and fast-paced, goofy music. The tunes in "Charge" are are so catchy that you should start seeing a psychiatrist because you'll constantly be hearing keyboards and choruses. While there is not a single horn in this album like The Aquabats' previous albums, the keyboards make up for it. The upbeat music and catchy choruses more than make up for the absence of horns. I seriously think that this album cover should be in the Random House College Dictionary under the word "catchy" (have I said that enough?). You would need to get checked if you have a pulse if you don't get into it right away from the first 'woah' in "Fashion Zombies" to the last 'boo-ya' in "Awesome Forces." Thank goodness these guys are back. Hopefully they'll come out with more albums and save us from this bland music that inhabits the mainstream. Life is too depressing already. Music should be our escape from reality, and The Aquabats are the train conductors of the train out of it and into a musical haven."