Customer Reviews

Are a Drag [Vinyl]

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Gimmicky? Not as much as one might think. While a lesser band might have intended this collection as a batch of cynical parodies, Me First & The Gimme Gimme's Are A Drag comes off as a loving tribute to Broadway and other assorted musicals. The tunes are played quite straight-faced, and the tight musicianship and raw yet charming vocals make for some very enjoyable repeated listenings. Think a great pop-punk band hooked on Andrew Lyodd Webber and Rodgers & Hammerstien. Other bands might attempt to do what the Gimme Gimme's set out to accomplish (see New Found Glory, whose movie theme song covers come off as more grating than particularly entertaining), but it doesn't get better than Me First. Any band that can pull of a ska-punk version of "Cabaret" deserves a pat on the back.

And for those who'd like to know....the songs and their corresponding musicals:

Over The Rainbow (The Wizard Of Oz)
Don't Cry For Me Argentina (Evita)
Science Fiction Double Feature (Rocky Horror Show)
Summertime (Porgy & Bess)
Favorite Things (The Sound Of Music)
Rainbow Connection (Muppet Movie)
Phantom of the Opera Song (duh)
I Sing The Body Electric (Fame)
It's Raining On Prom Night (Grease)
Tomorrow (Annie)
What I Did For Love (A Chorus Line)
Cabaret (duh) (why does every website list this a "Stepping Out"?)

MFATGG can do no wrong. On this, their second full length album, the best cover band ever has moved from covering the soft rock hits of the 70's to reworking the songs of Broadway into punk classics. 12 covers of showtunes. Most are two minutes or less, and always leave you wanting more. The best songs are "Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz, "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess, The Phantom of the Opera theme song, "Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music, and "Stepping Out" from Cabaret. "Favorite Things" also steals it intro from the Bad Religion song, "Generator". This CD is so good, no matter what kind of music you, like you'll have to at least appreciate these songs. They play them with a sense of reverence and not at all with a condescending or 'punker than thou' attitude. Go. Buy. Now.

Musically one of the tightest punk bands around, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes belt out one of the best albums in my collection with this compilation of Broadway and Film tunes.

A long time fan of punk (from the Dead Kennedy's days, when they were still together), I find myself going back to this album, and the rest of the Gimme's library, for solid, competent punk that simply kicks your butt over and over again with each listen.

Standouts on this album (personally) include Science Fiction (from The Rocky Horror Picture Show), Over The Rainbow, and a fantastic rendition of Summertime. Summertime hit me hard when Fantasia Burrino sang it on AI3, which is a powerful song to begin with. Me First accomplish an incredible feat with this song, turning it into punk while retaining its' soul.

You simply cannot go wrong with this album, nor anything in the Me First arsenal of punk hits.

I hate showtunes. Now I know the words to "Phantom of the Opera" I blame Me First & the Gimme Gimmes.

WOW! I got this CD for Xmas from my roomate! I never had the chance to really listen to it and would like to kick myself in de toosh. This weekend I went road trippin with two frenchies who understood NONE of the cultural references and still fell in love with the.. ahem.. Orchestrations.

The Fact remains, these guys are incredibly clean, tight musicians, and the music is just hard enough, with enough pop, and heck, we ALREADY know all the lyrics, to make it an instant favoirte. No matter if you are learning the harmonies with two frenchies in thier wonderfully broken english. Quintessential party music.

I love Me First and The Gimme Gimmes. The whole idea behind a cover band is great and this is the best album the guys have put out to date. The Gimme Gimmes usually go with a theme on each album and this one is show tunes. The classic show tunes your mom and grandmother will know.

I love "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Everybody has Judy Garland burned into thier mind with this song and there cover changes that real quick. It's loud and powerful and has the same catchy chorus that's made it a legendary song.

I liked "Tommorrow" a lot. Once again you hear this song and think Annie. It's a fantastic song and the guitar rifts are fast and heavy in this one.

"The Phantom of the Opera" is my favorite on the album. Spike really does display his vocals on this track. He won't leave you disappointed.

The rest of the covers are all great. I think those are the best three. This is the best album no one has ever heard of. To often do these guys get confused with New Found Glory. Glory isn't worthy of Me Firsts' drum sticks and guitar picks. This is the only way I'd ever sing show tunes. I think my mom almost flipped out when I walked down the hall singing opera. I've owned this album for almost four years and it's one of the best I own. If you like punk rock you won't regret this one.

This CD is amazing. THat's all I wanted to say about the CD. There is a review saying Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are comprised of artists from Swingin' Utters, Lag Wagon and No Use for a Name. Well they were half right. Dave the drummer and Joey Cape the quitarist are from Lag Wagon. Spike Slawson is the Bass player of Swingin' Utters (though he is the singer in Me First and the Gimme Gimmes). There is also the great Bass player Fat Mike (The singer and bass player of NOFX) and then there is the occasional Jake Jackson the Guitarist from the Foo Fighters.

Anyone who likes punk will love this disc! These guys take their classic punk spin on Broadway hits. It makes a great sound - all those songs that will forever be stuck in your head now have a new twist. The band is all made up of members of other punk bands and the lineup is always changing. At one time or another Me First has had members from Green Day, NOFX, and Lagwagon.

This CD is my all time favorite. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are an awesome band and their twisted covers of old Broadway hits are incredible! They've preserved the good lyrics and writing of these songs but blended in their own punk/rock side of it perfectly. This CD is a definite must have for anybody out there who likes punk, nay, anyone who likes music at all! Get this CD now, you won't regret it!

All I have to say is that while playing "Rainbow Connection" in the stereo system, my fiance took a listen to it, remembering the original, and saying "that's awful!" I knew I had a winner.

The only reason I say 4 stars and not 5 is that the beloved 5 star rating should be saved for the classics, but 4 isn't bad either. Not only do they cover the songs well but their clean, crisp style makes it all the more joyous to listen to. But I can imagine the band playing in a bar and having the crowd slam to songs from the movies "Annie" and "The Muppet Movie" just because it's a good punk sound.