Album Review

The Presidents Of The United States Of America – These Are The Good Times People

• 14th Mar 2008

like most of you, probably remember The Presidents Of The United States Of America most fondly some thirteen years back with their debut album and the accompanying hit singles such as ‘Lump’ and ‘Peaches’. But have since slipped off my and everyone else’s radar. They return with their fourth studio album ‘These Are The Good Times People’.

From the picture on the inner sleeve you could easily be forgiven for mistaking them for a R.E.M cover band. The sound is almost exactly what I expected it to be, it’s hard to escape familiarities with a voice as distinctive, but yet almost generic as lead singer Chris Ballew. The album opens with single ‘Mixed Up S.O.B’, it totters towards Green Day, and straightforwardly ticks all the necessary boxes that are needed to fulfil the listeners expectations of a Green day-esq. song, or any other American sounding post-grunge band for that matter. The album continues to follow in a similar vain, the territory upon which you tread whilst listening to it has not just been previously tread upon, but has had thousands of revellers trudge over it. But they seem perfectly comfortable and at ease with this, It’s kind of hard not to at least crack a smile at a band that appear so care free and jolly.

Genres are plentiful throughout the album ‘Flame Is Love’ is an attempt at Rockabilly and Jazz, but ends up sounding like a muddled, drunken wedding band enjoying themselves far more than is strictly necessary. ‘So Lo So Hi’ is an enjoyable piece a harmless pop, and if I was the age I was when their eponymous debut was released I would be instantly drawn to their catchy, accessible noise. However I am not, and although the album is not bad, it is utterly uninspiring, unoriginal and unmoving. But I don’t think that was ever the bands appeal or intention, they were fun, entertaining and lyrically comedic, and still are to a certain degree.

’Ladybug’ is perhaps one of the best moments on the album, but this still never really eludes the tag of being ‘okay’. This will never occupy your stereo for weeks on end, nor will it change your life, and if you can bear the moments of resemblance to the Chilli Peppers whilst being ‘funky‘, and JET(’Deleter‘). Then you may just derive some pleasure from this album.