BOWLING FOR SOUP
The Great Burrito Extortion Case
Jive Records
b
y
Tammy Adin
I’ve been a
longtime fan of Bowling For Soup. Their music is upbeat, funny,
irreverent as shit, and always puts me in a good mood. Their latest
CD, The Great Burrito Extortion Case, is no exception. In fact,
this is my favorite of all of their CDs. I think almost every song
there could (and should) be a radio hit. Lots of catchy hooks… in
fact, this CD has inspired me to get out that bass guitar I have
been trying to learn, print out some bass tabs, and learn to play
along. The first song is “Epiphany” -- a sweet song about breaking
up: “There’s a picture of a girl somewhere that fits this empty
frame”. The second track is sure to be the first big hit off this
CD - “High School Never Ends”. Shit, I graduated from high school
over 30 years ago (eeeek!) and I have to say that it's still true!
“Val Kilmer” is about how the singer’s life is less like a comedy
and more like a chickflick – “but in the sequel, honey, I’m the guy
that gets the girl”. The fourth track is “I’m Gay” and it has
nothing to do with sexual preference, but is a dig against the
“serious” bands - “It sells records when you're sad these days, It's
super cool to be mad these days, I think rock and roll is really
funny when it's serious”. I love the pledge you’re invited to
repeat (hand over heart, of course…although it’s a bit awkward
trying to put your LEFT hand over your heart as the singer directs,
“It’s perfectly fine to be a happy individual”.
Tracks #5-8 are
all about breakups. “Why Don’t I Miss You” is a poignant song. “A
Friendly Goodbye” has to be one of the funniest songs I’ve ever
heard, telling someone off without actual profanity “I’m sick of all
the ‘S’ word you put me through, so ‘F’ you”. I could see that song
being a big radio hit (are they allowed to say ‘F’ You on the
radio?), as it’s so catchy. “Luckiest Loser” is all about when that
best friend of yours breaks the friend code and dates your ex, “and
did I mention that youbothsuck.com”. “Love Sick Stomach Ache” has a
great chorus that sticks in my head for hours after I listen to it.
The ninth song is “Much More Beautiful Person”, kind of an anthem
for the unpopular. “Friends Like You” is funnier than hell “I just
want all my CDs back In the cases with the artwork still intact”.
Don’t we all?
“When We Die” is
a surprisingly serious and very pretty song. “99 Biker Friends” is
directed towards a guy who beats his girl - “she’s wearing shades
but we all see behind the tinted glass, and I’ve got 99 biker
friends that wanna kick your ass”. “Don’t Let It Be Love” is one of
my favorites on this CD. It’s one of those songs you just have to
sing along with. The final song on the CD is “If You Come Back To
Me”, another breakup song that is sweet but has a lot of humor
thrown in… the singer asks “where’s the magic”… and then “I used to
think Pop Rocks were magic”. Me too, buddy, me too.
All in all, the
band is tight and the vocals are great, and I vote for this CD to be
the best one to listen to if you are in a bad mood. I live a pretty
high-stress life and I’ve got this one in my car CD player almost
continuously and it never fails to make me smile, and sing along.
