Customer Reviews

Blonder & Blonder

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This album has to be one of the most refreshing punk records in recent memory. It comes off with a certian unique freshness that the genre has been lacking for quite some time.
The album definately is not lacking in production. Big crunchy guitars, clean drums, and crisp vocals carry through 'til the end. This might turn some hardliners off, but for the rest of us it is nothing less that a sonic treat.
But what definately seperates this from all the bland punk music out there is Kim's vocals. If you haven't heard her before, picture the sweetness of 60's-girl mixed with the snideness of '77 brit-punk and that is what you'll get. And then, out of nowhere comes "the scream" (the best in the biz & used to it's fullest potential on this recording)... which you just have to hear for yourself I suppose.
I've heard a few other Muffs albums in my day, and i think this is their best effort to date. Start here for sure.

I have no idea how to classify the Muffs, but The CD is EXCELLENT. "On and On" and "I need a face" are probably my two favorite, Alternative powerpop with an attitude. I am just suprised more of the alternative radio stations have not picked up on this. (The Muffs are a must-see Live band!)

I LIKE the screaming, but it's not just screams. It's nice melody and harmonies and catchy tunes. It ROCKS!

I was perusing my cassette collection when I came across The Muffs' second album "Blonder and Blonder". I almost forgot how much I played this tape to death back when I was a big alt-rock/punk geek almost a decade ago. I remember hearing "Won't Come Out to Play" on a local radio station in Milwaukee, WI (when I lived there for a few years) and was hooked right from the get go. Unlike their counterparts such as Blink 182 and Good Charlotte (gagging sounds), The Muffs actually have street cred with the underground punk scene especially in the LA/Silverlake scene. I don't care what the reviewer who said that Kim Shattuck was a fourth rate songwriter, apparently s/he hasn't listened to the likes of Avril Lavigne and Good Charlotte. If that person wants to listen to deep lyrics, may I suggest for him/her to go listen to Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell? Kim may not be Bob Dylan or Joni Mitchell but she has a keen ear for infectious pop-punk music. BTW...I love the fact that her voice isn't polished but rather raspy. It is hard not to have songs like "Red Eyed Troll" and "Bad Tomorrow" stuck in your head for days. "Blonder and Blonder" is a fun catchy album. Why the public hasn't caught on to their music and yet they listen to the ilk of Good Charlotte and Blink 182 is beyond my comprehension. The Muffs should be bigger than those two bands with their radio-friendly music.

Down to a trio (Kim, Ronnie and the drummer), the songs are even better than on the debut (Jim DeRogatis' comments notwithstanding). As great a summertime, roll the windows down and sing along album as ever existed.

While "The Muffs" should be a term in everyone's vocabulary, this band has somehow continued to simmer without becoming the most popular punk band of all time. One listen to Blonder And Blonder should reveal to you that punk rock songwriting genius just doesn't get any better. Slightly less infectious than Green Day, The Muffs are more advanced punk rock craftsmen. Roy the drummer is a complete phenomenon, with skills to hush the greatest in history. What really makes The Muffs is the subtle yet impossible to emulate songwriting style of Kim Shattuck. The intricacies of her melodies greatly surpass anything else that has even been done with pop punk. These Muffs albums are very solid purchases, textured, and well produced.

this is my favorite album of the last ten years or so. Beautiful screaming (at times) female vocals, loudass guitar, just great pop punk

lose a band member, gain tons in sound production! the Muffs' 2nd LP proves it's no accident: this is loud guitar pop in it's truest sense, akin to early british invasion days -candy you can't stop...

When I was listening the first two Muffs albums I also had Green Day's 'Dookie' and I always thought the Muffs would go along the same road fame-wise. Their first album was superb and this one also does not let you down.

Right from the fast start with 'Agony' and 'Oh Nina' up to track 4, the very poppy, almost commercial track 'Sad Tomorrow'. The highlights are definitely in the first half (or A-side if you have the LP). After that there are some misses ('Ethyl My Love' or 'I'm Confused') but also some perfect punkrock songs in 'Won't Come Out To Play' or the funny 'I Need A Face'.

After this album it went somewhat downhill with the Muffs, but this will always be a classic in my collection.

I wish that I had been able to see the Muffs when they came to the UK. My band had their first gig the same night as they played, this is a source of constant pain to myself and constant happiness to all my friends who went and had a bloody marvelous time. Still, at least i've got the albums. I think that the music on here has just as much in common with early Beatles as the Ramones and every song is just damn simple, straight ahead rockin brilliance. I've never heard 3 chords used in such a variety of combinations. It helps that you've also got a singer who can scream like she's shut her finger in a blender and a drummer that has that relaxed falling-down-the-stairs feel to his fills that really suits the songs. There's always arguments as to which of their albums is the best - the first 2 are great, the 3rd (Happy Birthday To Me) is great but not up there, and Alive Today is kind of ok, but it sounds like by that point they had lost a bit of hunger due to being on an indie label rather than WB. If you like Green Day / Blink 182 even Hole's poppier moments then you will just lick this up.