Customer Reviews

These Are The Good Times People

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

On These Are The Good Times People, the Presidents continue their streak of making absurdly fun, eminently-listenable punk-pop gems. There's not a bad song in the bunch here, something that is almost always the case, but couldn't necessarily be said for the last album. While there's not a lot here to pull in someone who didn't care for them before, they do break some new ground on a few of the tracks.

"Sharpen Up Those Fangs" is the kind of song that gets in my head all day and just won't leave. The lyrics are fun and catchy, but with enough weight and mystery to keep you thinking, as well as a song structure that makes it anything but boring.

The Presidents also branch out a bit with the Stray Cat-esque number, "Flame is Love", bringing in a horn section and a jazzy sound while still rocking the joint.

In the vein of "Tremelo Blooz", "Back Porch", and maybe even a bit of "Highway Forever" (off of their previous albums), there comes "Truckstop Butterfly" a great little twangy hoe-down number about, you guessed it, a butterfly at a truck stop.

Finally, perhaps my favorite of the album is "Deleter." Bringing in backup female vocals courtesy of nu-jazz singer (and fellow Seattle-ite) Fysah Thomas, The Presidents manage a sound quite unlike anything they've ever done before. It's still upbeat, incredibly fun, and rockin' like nobody's business, but it is quite unique in the Presidents' catalog.

If you remember Peaches, Lump, or Kitty, or even if you just like fun rock & roll, you owe it to yourself to give this album a try. It's the Presidents as they've always been... only better!

I will say this about the new album from Seattle based band the President of the United States of America, and it is this: If you didn't like them before, you probably won't like them now. However, if you were a fan of their absurdly catchy punk-fueled pop music, with lyrics given to satire, irony and general goofiness, then you're going to love These Are Good Times People. They were on FIRE when they made this one, racing through 14 tracks, mostly hitting highs, with no real lows. They've also gotten more sophisticated with the song arrangements, adding a horn section to some songs, as well as other clever and subtle touches here and there, all to enhance your listening pleasure. These Are Good Times People is just a lot of smart, wildy entertaining rock and roll fun, the kind of album where your favorite tracks are bound to change the more you listen to it. Standout cuts: "Mixed Up S.O.B.," "Sharpen Up Those Fangs," "More Bad Times" and "Riot In The Sun."

A satisfying album by PUSA. PUSA fans love it including me. Nothing changed drastically. New elements from their previous albums were also used in this album (piano, conga...). The music approach is similar
Love Everybody'.

Opening first track is 'Mixed-up SOB'. I thought I don't like their first single UNTIL I turn up my speakers. Hey folks, it's rock music gotta turn it up and feel the earth shakes. My next favorite track is 'French Girl'. It's such a funny song. All their songs are catchy and sing-along ready. Check out 'Deleter', there's a nice guest female vocal on this track. What a sensational song!!!

I don't know how many of you think of this. For each album they released, it's a reward for the well-established fan. For my point of view, they're really just wanting to deliver their unique music to their loyal fans more than fame, money, etc like any other bands. A fan like me enjoy it this way!

You just need to go buy this CD! Unbelieveably great. These guys should be millionaires! Great songs, vocals. The guitar tones are fantastic thruout the entire CD. I could go on and on, but the truth is simple: this is a GREAT CD. If you liked their first two CD's, you'll definitely love this!

This is the perfect logical follow-up to everything PUSA has done before this.... It keeps the catchy hooks, grungy pep, and adds in blues, R&B, country twang, swing, and more. Flame is Love BLEW ME AWAY. I felt like I was listening to another band. PUSA has brought a level of maturity (in their music if not their lyrics) that was missing. One of my favorite CDs I've bought this year.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this CD. These songs definitely stick in your head all day. I absolutely love the upbeat feel and the irreverent lyrics about everyday observances that seem to pop into Chris' head. I love it. Bugs, butterflies, and troglobytes! The lyrics remind me of their first CD. Is it just me or could you see "Ghosts Are Everywhere" playing during the possible GhostBusters III movie?

PUSA get back to the form that made them popular in the first place. With fun, clever, witty and sometimes crazy lyrical content, they go a long way to make this album very listenable. It also rocks pretty hard!!

This entire album is upbeat and listenable, but it is noticably missing the input of Dave Dederer on Guitbass!

I read an interview once where Dave Dederer stated that while Chris wrote most of the "cutesy" songs, his own contribution was adding the heavier rock/punk influence to the music. That rock and roll edge is what is missing from this album. Which makes it, not bad, but also not rockin'!

The standout songs are definitely:

-"Mixed Up S.O.B.": Which is another wild song about a crazy girl, in line with "Lump" and "Lunatic to Love".
-"Ghosts Are Everywhere": A catchy tune with lots of "Na-Na-Na's" like "Tiki God" from II.
-"Riot In The Sun": Which is the closest thing to edgy, with it's distorted shouts of the title at the beginning.
-"Deleter": Which is a very good experiment, using horns and a female vocalist with some great attitude.

Again, the album is enjoyable, but not one I want to listen to all the way through like "Love Everybody" or "II". Dave, come back to us!

Sometimes a little break can be a good thing. The Presidents have come back after a short break with another great album with their brand of smart and funny lyrics and rocking songs. I have always like bands that can say what they want to say in a song within 3 to 3 1/2 minutes.

Presidents rock ! There isn't anything wrong about this album.
Like the title says these are the good times people.
14 amazing tracks is gonna make you feel good.