The Aquabats take “Charge!!”
The CD: “Charge!!” (Nitro Records)
The Artist: The Aquabats
Imagine if DEVO, Oingo Boingo, and The Power Rangers teamed up to fight space monsters. That’s the sound of The Aquabats.
Originally a third-wave Ska band from the same Southern California music scene that spawned No Doubt and Sublime, The Aquabats have gone from being a quirky semi-novelty act to carving out a solid career as a smart but fun band whose music shows a tremendous level of craftsmanship and cleverness. On the West Coast they have a huge following, with lots of younger fans (”Aquacadets” they call themselves) who are fiercely loyal.
In a refreshing contrast to much of the current music scene, The Aquabats make some of the most entertaining noise you can hear today. Their songs are loaded with good-natured self-deprecation, ridiculous fantasy, and really cool imagery straight out of cheesy sci-fi movies. This shouldn’t be a surprise, coming from a band that took their name from some obscure henchmen in the old 1960s Batman TV show.
“Charge!!” marks a new stage in The Aquabat’s evolution. With this album, their horn section has departed. Their last few albums have featured less and less of their original Ska sound, and more of the type of synthesizer-driven rock that makes me drive faster than I should. “Charge!!” sounds like pure early-80s New Wave, with percolating synthesizers, crunchy guitars, and crisp production. The tunes are like New Wave flies in amber. And since this is the type of music I devoured in my formative years, I’m loving it!
The Aquabats have always chosen offbeat topics and themes for their songs. With their penchant on previous albums to sing about action figures, alien girls, and fighting giant monsters, the ‘Bats at times seemed intent on usurping the crowns of the reigning kings of Nerd Rock, They Might Be Giants. The difference is that the Aquabats are less artsy, and loads more fun.
On “Charge!!” The Aquabats treat us to an adventure song about “Fashion Zombies” (the video of which can be seen here), as well as killer bursts of energy like “Mechanical Ape,” “Plastic Lips,” and “Demolition Rickshaw.” Another memorable highlight of the album is “Look At Me (I’m A Winner),” a Cheap Trick-esque anthem for guys who manage to be happy with nothing but “Four radios blasting classic rock.”
“Awsome Forces” is another in a long line of songs where the Aquabats tell us how they’re protecting the downtrodden from a variety of menaces: “We are your average ordinary superhuman punishers of evil rock n’ roll band.” “Hot Summer Nights (Won’t Last Forever)” is a very funny song about a guy who falls in love with a girl who goes to great lengths to avoid him.
Underneath the goofy lyrics and superhero shenanigans, The Aquabats are very crafty tunesmiths. The songs are bright and well-constructed and fun for the whole family. Kids love the way these guys cavort on stage in superhero costumes, and the songs are strong enough to hook anyone else. A bonus for nerdy guys my age is the subject matter. There’s an obvious connection with anyone who grew up under the influence of Batman, Star Wars, Rat Fink, monster movies, and just about anything else really cool in pop culture for the last half-century.
“Charge!!” is a terrific wake-up call and real bright spot for anyone depressed at the current state of the world. Once again, The Aquabats come to the rescue!
— By Rudy Panucci
