Spring Break
CD Review: Queers mix Beach Boys, punk on Munki Brain
Justin Pacheco
Issue date: 3/6/07 Section: Entertainment
03/06/07 - I love February: the sunny days, the warm weather, going to the beach and surfing.
Oh wait. I can't surf. And it's not summer. But The Queers seem to think it is, with their Beach Boys tinged release Munki Brain. The Queers have been pop-punk luminaries for almost 20 years now.
However, I wouldn't be surprised if you've never heard of them. Much like its idols, the Ramones, the band has been writing hit singles without garnering actual hits. When was the last time you heard "Psycho Over You" or "Punk Rock Girls" on the radio? Probably never.
The Queers persevere despite its lack of recognition. They continue to put out enjoyable pop-punk records through the years and Munki Brain is one of their finest efforts to date.
The Queers' front man (and only constant member), Joe Queer, has an unabashed love of all things Ramones and Beach Boys. This is exemplified by the fact that no song on the album is more than three minutes, and the track "Brian Wilson" is a loving tribute to the genius behind the Beach Boys.
The album boasts more variety than the typical pop-punk record. The Queers range from standard sing-along punk like "Houston We Have A Problem" and "Tangerine" to the more politically-charged "Monkey In A Suit" and "Whatever Happened to Philthy Phil."
But the biggest and best surprises here are the tracks that stray from the punk trail. Examples include the surf rock of "Duke Kahanamoku," the doo-wop of "I Can't Stay Mad at You" and the two wonderfully produced ballads "Brian Wilson" and "I Think She's Starting To Like Me." Both would not be out of place on a Beach Boys album.
This is a truly wonderful album that's enjoyable from beginning to end. Too many albums come out with the singles as the only good songs and the rest of tracks serve as mediocre filler.
Munki Brain isn't one of these; each song is good enough and catchy enough to be a hit single. None of them will be hit singles of course, but that's O.K.
I honestly love this album, but it's not without its flaws. First off, it is short. Very short.
It barely squeaks past the half hour mark, which is pretty typical for both the genre and the Queers, but it may leave you feeling a bit empty.
There's also an odd quality to the vocals. In Queer's effort to emulate the Beach Boys, many of these songs have backing vocals. However, the Queers have only one singer - Joe Queer, and he apparently has himself backing himself, which is just odd.
Also, this album won't be everyone's cup of tea. People looking for angst-ridden lyrics to accompany their miserable lives will be disappointed as well as miserable. Honestly, anyone looking for serious lyrics will be disappointed.
Munki Brain is incessantly cheerful and thoroughly enjoyable. The bouncy beach tunes may be a bit out of place in February, but it doesn't hurt to pretend it's sunny out, if only for a half hour.
Oh wait. I can't surf. And it's not summer. But The Queers seem to think it is, with their Beach Boys tinged release Munki Brain. The Queers have been pop-punk luminaries for almost 20 years now.
However, I wouldn't be surprised if you've never heard of them. Much like its idols, the Ramones, the band has been writing hit singles without garnering actual hits. When was the last time you heard "Psycho Over You" or "Punk Rock Girls" on the radio? Probably never.
The Queers persevere despite its lack of recognition. They continue to put out enjoyable pop-punk records through the years and Munki Brain is one of their finest efforts to date.
The Queers' front man (and only constant member), Joe Queer, has an unabashed love of all things Ramones and Beach Boys. This is exemplified by the fact that no song on the album is more than three minutes, and the track "Brian Wilson" is a loving tribute to the genius behind the Beach Boys.
The album boasts more variety than the typical pop-punk record. The Queers range from standard sing-along punk like "Houston We Have A Problem" and "Tangerine" to the more politically-charged "Monkey In A Suit" and "Whatever Happened to Philthy Phil."
But the biggest and best surprises here are the tracks that stray from the punk trail. Examples include the surf rock of "Duke Kahanamoku," the doo-wop of "I Can't Stay Mad at You" and the two wonderfully produced ballads "Brian Wilson" and "I Think She's Starting To Like Me." Both would not be out of place on a Beach Boys album.
This is a truly wonderful album that's enjoyable from beginning to end. Too many albums come out with the singles as the only good songs and the rest of tracks serve as mediocre filler.
Munki Brain isn't one of these; each song is good enough and catchy enough to be a hit single. None of them will be hit singles of course, but that's O.K.
I honestly love this album, but it's not without its flaws. First off, it is short. Very short.
It barely squeaks past the half hour mark, which is pretty typical for both the genre and the Queers, but it may leave you feeling a bit empty.
There's also an odd quality to the vocals. In Queer's effort to emulate the Beach Boys, many of these songs have backing vocals. However, the Queers have only one singer - Joe Queer, and he apparently has himself backing himself, which is just odd.
Also, this album won't be everyone's cup of tea. People looking for angst-ridden lyrics to accompany their miserable lives will be disappointed as well as miserable. Honestly, anyone looking for serious lyrics will be disappointed.
Munki Brain is incessantly cheerful and thoroughly enjoyable. The bouncy beach tunes may be a bit out of place in February, but it doesn't hurt to pretend it's sunny out, if only for a half hour.
