Customer Reviews

Love Their Country [Vinyl]

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is problematic. I am a Me First and the Gimme Gimmes fan, and I am a country music fan (I have the originals of a fair sampling of the material they've covered here), and this is probably the first time on any of their records that I can see some clear, distinct errors in judgment and execution on the band's part.

The plus side for the album is that it's a set of moderately effective punk rock covers of country songs of various popularity. While not ambitious, the music is generally well executed. It's not a CD I'm sorry I bought.

However, there are some problems with this album, particularly when compared with some of their earlier fare. For starters, the song selection here is incomprehensible. Annie's Song? I mean, John Denver showed up a lot on the country charts, but this is not one of the songs that gets a lot of radio play in a lot of markets. It's also not a song that's particularly friendly for conversion to the punk ruck genre, because it is, in its original form, essentially a vocal showcase for Denver with only a minor part for the backing instrumental parts. Country Roads would have been a good choice here (their cover of that song is more than adequate), and Thank God I'm A Country Boy would probably have been more in keeping with the feeling of the album.

Similarly, Lookin' for Love is not really the hallmark of Johnny Lee's career. Cherokee Fiddle would probably have converted better, and would have better allowed for performances from the band. The Hank Williams number selected (I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry) is adequate and one of the more creative and interesting on the record, but I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive might have been an easier sell and even Hey Good Lookin' might be more recognizable. Other songs just aren't very effective on the record (Ghost Riders - a song I have grown to hate in all its various forms, and Jolene - a song that uses the same word four times in a row to form the chorus and casts serious doubt on Dolly Pardon's abilities as a performer). East Bound and Down - which will be most recognizable to folks as the theme song to Smokey and the Bandit - is similarly not the best they could have done in Jerry Reed's catalog (Guitar Man might have worked better, or even Amos Moses).

Some songs, however, are gems. I don't much like any country music perpetrated after 1985, but Much Too Young and Goodbye Earl are probably as good as they could be. Sunday Morning Coming Down is very well done as well. Comparing this to Are A Drag and Blow In The Wind, however, you see where the CD has some tracks that you might conceivably just want to skip over, and given the album's 25 minute running time, that's a pretty big problem.

Mostly, I suppose I'm just disappointed with the end result they've got here, which shouldn't really be surprising. It's easier to shoehorn pop music into the punk rock formula than it is country, if only because the two genres share a lot more qualities. This is a noble effort for what it's worth, but one that ultimately disappoints.

Buying Recommendations: For fans of the band, this isn't really a matter of choice. There is a new record. You'll buy it. It's not as good as some of the earlier work, but it's good enough. For new listeners interested in the band, if you've only got the money for one or two CDs, I'd tend to steer you towards Are A Drag and Blow In The Wind before this record. For country music and punk music fans interested in hearing the mashup of styles, you should be satisfied, if not really deeply and fundamentally impressed.

This is exactly what I would expect from the punk supergroup we all know and love. Another fast CD with catchy covers and an expectedly short running time. Great stuff as usual.

When it comes to "Weird Al" Yankovic, it's always the parodies that get all the press, but for me, it's the polkas that make the album. The parodies are always hit are miss, but Al has never made a bad polka and can usually turn an unlistenable song, much like the Pussycat Dolls Don't Cha on his latest album, into thoroughly enjoyable medleys. If you are like me and find Al's polka medleys entertaining, here's a band for you: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes who take pop songs, but there genre of choice is punk. Comprised of members of NOFX and Foo Fighters, the band has been converting songs into punk since 1995 and you have not lived until you have heard their rendition of R. Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly.

After albums featuring songs from the 60's and 70's (Have a Ball), show tunes (Are a Drag), R&B (Take a Break), as well the live album Ruin Johnny's Bar Mitzvah which was recoded live at some dude named Johnny's actual Bar Mitzvah. But on Love Their Country, the boys naturally focus on country music. Now even if you are like me and avoid country like the plague, you will most likely still recognize most of the songs here like On the Road Again (Willie Nelson), I'm So Lonely I Could Cry (Hank Williams Sr.), Looking for Love (Johnny Lee). Also look out for other country artists that actually don't suck like Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers (not to be confused with the cheating baseball player), John Denver, and The Eagles, and yes Desperado is basically a country song.

But the highlights of the album are their versions of Dolly Parton's Jolene and the Dixie Chick's Goodbye Earl if only it's extremely hilarious hearing a dude singing very female specific lyrics which they don't change at all. If there is one complaint it would be that the band chooses Garth Brooks Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old) with the begging to be mocked Friends in Low Places. Well that and the under a half an hour run time. Plus the album has the potential to get old real quick, but I'm just knit picking here.

Well I have always been a fan of all these guys groups and I love their other cover albums. My mom really liked the covers they did and she is a big country fan and she loves this cd. She plays their cds at work for the handicapped people she takes care of and they love them too because they give them faster versions of their favorite songs and helps them with speaking skills. Plus they really get into the beat which is real good. Love these albums!

Strictly a punk rock cover band, The Gimme Gimmies set their sites on the country music scene this time around. Funny thing is I hate country, but I love this album. Some songs I recognized, and others I sort of knew. Either way, the group has managed to find a way to make me appreciate country a little more, and will probably have the same effect on you. Now I've found myself tracking down the originals as well as the band's back catalog.

...Oh dear, poor old Wojo(name seems despairingly appropriate somehow)still doesn't get it(see review for "Ruin Jonny's Bar Mitzvah"). But, I guess, like a boomerang, it may just come back and hit him in the heart. These guys really do like their country and it shows on this delectable offering of cow-punk-pie. Rip roaring country fare deliciously interpretated; the Dixie Chicks can kiss goodbye to Earl, quite literally, as the Gimmes have made it theirs.
The best of the West by the best damn cover band in the world.

I've been into this band for a few years now, and I think this is one of their better CDs. I loved their rendition of "On the road again" where they fused the beginning of "Astro Zombies" by the Misfits into the song. All in all it's not a bad album.

I am a huge admirer of MFATGG, but with each new release I keep expecting their schtick to wear thin. I thought they had probably reached their creative zenith with their live concept album recorded at a Bar Mitzvah. But this album proves there is still plenty of gas left in tank for this band. True, they do only covers, but their obvious admiration for a catchy tune is infectious. On this album I found "Goodbye Earl," "Ghostriders in the Sky", and "East Bound" to be standout tracks. I could have done without their version of "Stand By Your Man." I think the Blues Brothers own the trademark on the ironic cover of that tune.

I'm not the biggest fan of the country genre. It doesn't appeal to me that much because of the things I find kind of stupid that are associated with country music. I was pretty excited to hear that Me First was going to cover some country songs.

I hand't heard of alot of the songs they covered here. It starts off fantastic with a cover of Garth Brooks Much to Young to Feel this Damn old. I loved this song. Desperado is pretty good as is the cover of On The Road Again.

It's a very short album clocking out at around a half an hour. I find myself listening to it again. I love the first six songs more than the rest. This is not the best album they've made of cover songs. I like Blowing in the Wind and Are A Drag the best. This album though is a nice funny poke at country music. If you have any of there albums you won't be disappointed. It's a fun album. I wouldn't call it a must own, but you shouldn't be disappointed by it.

It's strange; I love The Outlaws version of Ghost Riders in the Sky which clocks in at over 6 minutes, but I also love the Gimmes version which comes in at a tidy 1:35. It's just a great song which is why this is such a good CD. The Gimmes chose some excellent country songs to cover and did it with their usual frenetic but respectful style. Jolene is one of my favorite songs and the rendition here is excellent. I like the use of bagpipes of all things on I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry and who hasn't sung along with the inane but catchy East Bound and Down from Smokey and the Bandit. I love this CD