Description:
Chris Ballew's quirky Presidents didn't exactly rise from the vaunted Seattle scene of the early '90s and step gleefully outside its often constraining alt-rock clichés to forge an unlikely stardom on their own, often goofy terms. Here, they not only continue the refinement of their humorous ethos begun on 2000's reformation album, Freaked Out and Small, (and continued on 2004's Love Everybody,) but expands it outward with the help of new guitarist Andrew McKeag (replacing co-founder Dave Dederer) and veteran Seattle producer Kurt Bloch. If the effervescent opener "Mixed up S.O.B.," and lyrically precious tracks like
Chris Ballew's quirky Presidents didn't exactly rise from the vaunted Seattle scene of the early '90s and step gleefully outside its often constraining alt-rock clichés to forge an unlikely stardom on their own, often goofy terms. Here, they not only continue the refinement of their humorous ethos begun on 2000's reformation album, Freaked Out and Small, (and continued on 2004's Love Everybody,) but expands it outward with the help of new guitarist Andrew McKeag (replacing co-founder Dave Dederer) and veteran Seattle producer Kurt Bloch. If the effervescent opener "Mixed up S.O.B.," and lyrically precious tracks like "Ladybug" and "More Bad Times" can seem beholden to the band's earlier freewheeling fancies, there's a sharper, more satisfying musical/lyrical focus on the Francophobic sarcasm of "French Girl" and irresistible, stream-of-consciousness country psych of "Truckstop Butterfly." The languorous "Loose Balloon" and feverishly swinging, horn-punctuated "Flame is Love" show just how far the Presidents' second coming has pushed their previous, punk rock-dominated envelope, before the slinky, closing funk workout "Deleter" (featuring sassy turns by r&b singer Fysah Thomas) busts it wide open. --Jerry McCulley
Album Description
With These Are The Good Times People, new and old fans alike should find little problem joining the party with PUSA circa 2008. 'I know this stands up strong against our entire catalog. And I hope our fans agree. We've finally gotten to the point where we can let the vibe come to us and then we jump out at it and reel it in. I think we've really brought our `A' game to this album. I feel like we've given as much as we ever have on this record.' Forgoing the director role he has assumed in the past, Ballew says a democratic dynamic steered the project and greatly improved the energy of the band. Playing to their strengths on this CD, Chris concedes, 'I've just kind of learned over time that it's a lot of stress for me and I don't necessarily end up with something better. I just decided to lay back and not care while caring deeply, letting the cream rise to the top.'
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Manufacturer: Fugitive Recordings/EMI
Release date: 11 March 2008
EAN: 5099951884024
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