Customer Reviews

American Cheese

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Nerf Herder, best known for having performed the theme song for BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (they were also the band that performed in The Bronze the last time it appeared in an episode of Buffy), is actually a pretty decent band. To continue on the Buffy theme, they do songs that pretty much like what you would imagine "The Three" from Season Six would have written. In other words, they are practitioners of Nerd Rock, not quite as accomplished as Fountains of Wayne, but not at all bad. Most of the songs on the album are at least listenable, and I don't think anyone who enjoys alternative rock would dislike this album at all. It won't be the best album in your collection, but neither would it be your worse.

There is, however, one thing that tempers my recommendation, and that is the presence of two of my favorite comic songs of recent years. Although many of the cuts on the album are excellent--"Rock City News" and "New Wave Girl" both stand out--two songs are classics in the making: "Mr. Spock" and "Jenna Bush Army." The former is the ultimate nerd love lament. The singer upbraids his would-be girl because no guy is good enough for her except for Mr. Spock. Yeah, that Mr. Spock, the pointy ears Vulcan from STAR TREK. The second verse is as surreal and strange as any in rock. The singer explains that Capt. Kirk descended to a planet's surface to fight the Man Lizard (a reference to an episode where Kirk engages in gladiator-like combat with a powerfully built reptilian humanoid, and defeats him when he reinvents gunpowder) and in defeating him saves all the lives of the Enterprise, at which point in the song the singer screams accusingly: "But that's just not good enough for you. Is it?" I play this song for friends, and they just shake their head in disbelief. By the way, when I say Nerf Herder was the last band to play in The Bronze on Buffy, this was the song they performed.

The other future classic is "Jenna Bush Army," which despite being about one of the president's two twin daughters is amazingly nonpolitical. Jenna, if one recalls, is the one who was arrested for underage drinking, and perhaps that misstep is why she because the subject for the song rather than her sister. Basically, the song is a nerd drooling over what he perceives to be a hot looking gal, and the closest the song gets to politics is his singing that being a hormonally challenged young male he will vote with his groin ("Sir I'm horny/And I vote"). It is a pretty hysterical song.

So, I suppose whether I recommend this album to someone depends on whether one is looking for an album that is great all the way through, or merely decent at its low points, better at others, and phenomenal only a couple of times. Personally, I wouldn't want to do without an album with two songs as good as "Mr. Spock" or "Jenna Bush Army," but other might. Definitely a fun party album.

I first decided to purchase this cd because there was a slice of american cheese on the cover...yes, that's the honest truth, I am a bit of a cheese (like actually cheese, that comes from like cows who have like 4 stomachs) fanatic and well, there it was blatantly staring me in the face saying "buy me, buy me...please?" So, I bought it... and it doesn't suck. Well, it sucks if you're into complex, beautiful poetry lyrics or sad, depressing lyrics, or country, or jazz, or well, a lot of other genres besides alternative rock infused with comedy (which is like the soul of nerf herder, I'm sure).
Through all the hilarity of Mr. Spock, Welcome to my world (or as I like to call it, "the song that makes me want to watch Mr. belvedere"), and Jenna Bush Army, there are those redundant boring songs like Rock City News and Jacket and Defending the Faith (which aren't even really that bad unless you have freakishly high standards for your music) that I swear are the same song with entirely different lyrics, themes, beat, etc. So, yeah (I swear it makes sense, just think about it). Overall I think this is a great album especially if you want to laugh and feel like you are sharing one big inside joke with the band Nerf Herder.

This album, though not quite as great as the Nerf Herder self-titled album (golf shirt cover), is still a decent rock. Most songs, like "Jenna Bush Army" and "New Jersey Girl" are good singalongs. The single "Mr. Spock" is so darn catchy that I've been singing it for three days and the video showcases the cheesiest of Star Trek camera tricks. "Welcome to my world" is also a great song, reflecting the loneliness of rejected males as distinctly and humorously possible.
Nerf Herder is going on tour soon in the NE U.S. (after their European leg). I certainly hope to get to see them.

The first thing I noticed about this CD when I bought it is that it wasn't exactly like the previous releases from Nerf Herder, who I'd been listening to since their debut album. It took me a few listens, but I finally put my finger on the fact that this record is just slightly more mature than the previous two. Now don't get me wrong, there's plenty of nerd-core hilarity on this record, but there's also a slightly contained serious side, particularly on tracks like "Jacket" and "Mister Spock" which slant slightly towards the Emo point of view- songs about relationships that just aren't working. Yes, they still talk about "Whackin' it" on this one, but it seems like they had a little bit more to say besides that. This will probably be a turn off to many fans who just wanted as many Star Trek and Masturbation and Heavy Metal jokes crammed into the record as possible, but I like the newfound maturity Parry and his pals seem to have come across. I think it looks good on them.

Pretty good album overall. It starts out strong with "Welcome to my world." The rest of the songs are pretty average. But this is being compared to their last 2 albums which are really really good. This album still has hillarious lyrics like the past 2 albums, but the music is just not as catchy as self titled and how to meet. if your a fan, pick it up, if you are new to nerfherder, get their self titled first.

I first decided to purchase this cd because there was a slice of american cheese on the cover...yes, that's the honest truth, I am a bit of a cheese (like actually cheese, that comes from like cows who have like 4 stomachs) fanatic and well, there it was blatantly staring me in the face saying "buy me, buy me...please?" So, I bought it... and it doesn't suck. Well, it sucks if you're into complex, beautiful poetry lyrics or sad, depressing lyrics, or country, or jazz, or well, a lot of other genres besides alternative rock infused with comedy (which is like the soul of nerf herder, I'm sure).
Through all the hilarity of Mr. Spock, Welcome to my world (or as I like to call it, "the song that makes me want to watch Mr. belvedere"), and Jenna Bush Army, there are those redundant boring songs like Rock City News and Jacket and Defending the Faith (which aren't even really that bad unless you have freakishly high standards for your music) that I swear are the same some with entirely different lyrics, themes, beat, etc. So, yeah (I swear it makes sense, just think about it). Overall I think this is a great album especially if you want to laugh and feel like you are sharing one big inside joke with the band Nerf Herder.

I am writing this in 2010...as you can tell. This album came out many moons ago. I flipped thru my cable and on the Alternative channel they were playing Nerf Herder's Van Halen, I remember the song from back then, so I went to find it online...I came across a host of Nerf Herder songs, now if you have heard Nerf Herder before...and most people only know Van Halen you might think...well its ok...but please give this CD a listen. I read a few titles...Mr Spock? What kind of garbage is that. I gave it one listen and I was hooked. For a band who has childish ADD lyrics about nonsense they write some of the best most catchy songs you will ever here. I highly recommend Mr. Spock, Jenna Bush Army and just about all the songs on the album. They are timeless. If you have time check out the Mr. Spock video online. Its ultra geek rock..that actually rocks. I have since become a massive Nerf Herder fan...8 years late. BUY THIS ALBUM!

This is a pretty average cd by Nerf herder and is not on par with the s/t and how to meet girls but still produces some good songs like Jenna bush army, Mr spock and jacket. The track which insults the fender squire is probably the worst on American cheese as whats wrong with the squire it's the quality of the player what counts and the general concept of the songs pretty dumb. I'd get How to meet girls and the s/t release before even thinking of getting American cheese as it's not really up to the quality that nerf herder usually releases the humours even quite tame on American cheese aswell.

I bought this album after hearing "Mr. Spock" on the radio. How could I resist the mix of poppy punk rawk and nerdiness? ...

Anyway, several of the other songs are as fun and catchy as "Mr. Spock," namely "Welcome to My World" ("No, you needn't shed a tear, 'cause I've got waffles, and I've got beer, and I've got 'Mr. Belvedere'") and "High Five Anxiety." I also like "Jenna Bush Army" -- particuarly the hilarious line, "Call up your congressman, here's a quote: 'Sir, I'm horny, and I vote!'" However, the song is somewhat marred by a deragotory word for homosexuals.

Other songs aren't particularly good OR amusing. "Jacket" is a rather dumb tune about how his ex used to borrow his jacket, but now it just reminds him of their breakup. "Rock City News" is a lame song about making it in music. The lyrics include the lines: "Rock city news, you gotta pay your dues at the rock city news, if you want to sing the blues." Original stuff, that.

I'd say two-thirds to three-quarters of this CD is worth listening to. The rest could have been safely left off -- and in the future, the band might want to keep in mind that a CD with eight or nine great tracks is better than one with 10 songs, of which three or four are filler.

These guys are hilarious! Classic nerd-rock. Funny, catchy songs like their first record "Nerf Herder."