Customer Reviews

Take a Break

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I just wanted to comment on this brilliant fusing of covers. Combining "I'll Be There" and "Just What I Needed" by the Cars has to be the most astute observation I have seen in a while.

On a similar note "Isn't She Lovely" gets the same treatment with getting combined with "Right Here, Right Now" by Jesus Jones.

Think about, a punk band that does covers of R. Kelly and Bob Dylan, punk rock style. That's absurd!! Actually, it's actually quite interesting. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes new album, TAKE A BREAK is their cover of major black artists like R. Kelly, Lionel Richie and Vanessa Williams, that kick some major butt. NOTHING COMPARES 2 U is a great cover of a cover(confusing huh?) Even R. Kelly's I BELIEVE I CAN FLY is turned from a sincere, uplifting ballad to a punk rock worthy uplifting song. Album closer NATURAL WOMAN shows how funny and embarassing the band can get by calling themselves natural woman, even though the whole band is guys. To any fans of NOFX and AFI would love this band, or if you just want to hear new versions of classic songs, than i suggest picking up this record and banging your head to R. Kelly, Lionel Richie, and Sinead O' Connor(Didn't think it was possible to do that huh?)

I can't believe how well R&B songs translate into punk. None of these melodies seem clumsy or out of place, it all works very well. The disc is hilarious too, I love the "IknowIknowIknowIknowIknow" part of "Ain't No Sunshine," and playing the intro to the Sex Pistol's "Pretty Vacant" on "Save The Best For Last" was pretty cool too.

As a whole, this album is just good fun. They take a very boring genre of music, and they rock its face off! I swear, if the original R&B songs didn't sound waaaaay tooooo sloooooowww before, they will after hearing this album. Highly recommended for people who don't take their music too seriously.

My brother first introduced me to MFATGG about five years ago, and since then, I've been a devoted fan. I love their tongue in cheek covers from the first three albums (not to mention all those lovely EPs!), and this album is no disappointment. This band is a riot!

Also, as a shameless plug for MFATGG's guitarist, Chris Shiflett, have a listen to the EP for his new band, Jackson United. The songs are very catchy, and Shiflett's voice is just distinctive enough to make the band stand out from your average indie-rock band. And of course, they have an awesome live show - what with all the stage experience the Shiflett brothers have (scott with face to face and chris with the fighters of foo and MFATGG). Check it out!

Me First & The Gimme Gimmes may do a lot of things,but fail to impress....NEVER! First they covered 70's polyester,then Showtunes (who saw THAT coming?),and then they punked up the 60's...now M.F& The G.G.'s say "Yo!" to Motown!

The brilliant thing about this band,is not only do they love their hardcore roots,but they have a genuine love of the music they are dismantling as well. Which makes the lunacy that much more inspired.( And Spike's vocals just get better each outting.)

Lionel Richie's "Hello" as a Three Stooges routine? Bill Wither's "Ain't No Sunshine" as a thrash tune? The Jackson 5ive's "I'll Be There" as a headbangers anthmn? Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" with an Adam Ant drum beat?

WHUT UP?! Indeed! Like all good things,don't ask how or why it works....just enjoy it,G!

I beleive that to have chosen such common songs that everyone knows but have dropped out of popularity was very clever.I know that it took alot of talent to redo to the songs in their own style yet keep the original essence of the songs original version.My husband is a huge fan of this band and has the other two albums.He introduced me to the band about 2 years ago,and since then I am a fan too.I love each song on this album because I know all the words by heart already from hearing the original versions.I do enjoy listening to the new versions just as much if not more so.I think that they are truly being original in making this album.I suggest you all take a listen to it.

Wow, this is their best CD Yet. It's so sweet, It's like a joke, but the joke is on anyone who doesn't already own it. The band's style and tone have improved vastly from their first CD and it really shows. "Isn't she lovely" and "Save the Best for last" are both awesome songs and, for my money, some of their best.

I dunno... it's okay and all, but...

The first album was fantastic, damn near a revelation. The first time we played "Danny's Song" in a room full of bored people, everybody perked up, stared at the speakers, and were happily addicted within minutes. The songs were kitschy, but you got the feeling that, like all of us, the band had a certain kind of affection for them. Updating them was funny, but it was also an expression of love for songs that nobody wants to admit to actually liking.

As subsequent albums were released, a basic sense of that affection was still there, if no longer as intense as the first time. The choices began to feel less like an act of love and more like a running gag, but there was still enough love there to carry the album, and there were always a few really solid tracks to keep you hooked.

But this one... this feels more like a calculated effort, all joke and no real enthusiasm. What's worse, stylistically they're moving closer and closer to their own sound; what's the artistic difference between MF&GG's cover of "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and The Atari's recent cover of "The Boys of Summer"?

I've really enjoyed Me First's first three albums, and I had high hopes for this one. It doesn't completely suck... but don't expect to feel anything like what you felt the first time you heard them.

Another CD of more of the same from Me First, which really isn't a bad thing. A powerpacked half hour for you to wake up to, for you to drive fast to, for you to scream along the words to. Ok so it's r&b covers mostly, but these are all songs I'd heard of - so you may know only the chorus but still that's better than nothing - I can imagine this wouldnt be as good an album if you weren't familiar with the original songs (like say Mona Lisa / Nat King Cole). Still it's a fun cd - rock out!

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes do it again. The best cover band makes another great record of covers done in the punk fashion. If you liked the others, then you'll like this one too.