The Presidents of the United States of America Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
Is Lump fast asleep, or rocking out with the band? The year: 1995. Mauled by the grunge animal, the nation embraces a different sound from Seattle -- a new leadership -- one with eight steel strings to its name and a clutch of songs about kitties, peaches, and lingering last in line for brains. The Presidents of the United States of America hit Mach 2 with their wry punkish platform, and rode it all the way to platinum before quietly disappearing. While the band's sound had fit perfectly into the screwy '90s, it was a novelty memory by the 21st century. Which is too bad, because 2000's under-the-radar LP Freaked Out and Small was pretty damn good, and 2004's Love Everybody is even better. A little older and rocking the family life, two-string "basitarist" Chris Ballew, guitarist Dave Dederer, and drummer Jason Finn have focused the beam of their wit laser on their tightest melodies yet. The sound's as stripped down as it ever was -- dry punk-derived chording with peppy basslines and consistently propulsive drumming. But the new songs' chorus harmonies are more consistently inviting, and the occasional keyboard flourish keeps things interesting. The Presidents have also settled into a sort of sardonic humanism. They still write songs about animal eyes in the gooey darkness ("Munky River"). But "Zero Friction" considers a drum machine as a metaphor for the meaning of life, and "Poke and Destroy" celebrates little boys' universal need to break stuff. "You gotta love everybody," the opening title track directs, "and make 'em feel good about themselves." "Some Postman" is the perfect Presidents song, with its simply effective mix of acoustic and electric guitars and that energetic chorus. But it's also a love song, its quirkiness fueled into clever lyrics about a long-distance relationship. Other Love Everybody highlights include the ruckus-raising "Clean Machine" (dig that fuzzy tone), the almost Spoon-sounding "Vestina," and "Shreds of Boa," which harks back to their 1995 style, but is just a stronger song all around. Love Everybody is an enjoyable and welcome return for the Presidents of the United States. As it turns out, the peaches are even sweeter on the other side. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide
'Freaked Out and Small'
Release Date 9/12/2000
Tracks 12
Label MUSICBLITZ
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What The Critics Say
As the Presidents of the United States of America were turning out novelty hits in the mid-'90s, it was easy to take them for granted, ignore them, or even hate them, depending on your disposition. First of all, they were stuck in the midst of a flood of post-grunge guitar bands that turned on the fuzz boxes, bashed out a few chords, and occasionally hit a hook or two. POTUSA weren't all that musically dissimilar from those punk-popsters and sludge rockers, except for their knack for ingratiatingly catchy hooks and a relentlessly irreverent sense of humor. That humor could come off as silly or smug, especially when placed in the context of the age of uber-irony. Once that age died in the late '90s, so did the Presidents and the band disappeared, only to surface again with Freaked Out and Small on a small indie label in the fall of 2000. Apart from the times, not much has changed with the Presidents, who still make catchy, punky pop tunes, but dammit if they don't sound better than they ever did. Maybe it's because the album stands in direct contrast with the teen pop and rap-rock that dominate the mainstream rock audience, or maybe it's because their jokes are now clever and silly, the production is varied, the songs are breezy, melodic, and catchy. Or maybe it's just because in this stripped-back production, the band never sounds self-conscious. They just sound like they're having fun, and that fun is contagious -- something that wasn't always true with their first two albums. Maybe the Presidents are just blessed with fortunate timing, releasing this album in a year nearly devoid of fun, hooks, and silliness, or maybe they really have gotten better. Either way, Freaked Out and Small feels like the best record they've ever done. Chances are, it's the one that the least amount of people will hear, but anyone that seeks it out will be surprised by how much fun it is. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'The Presidents of the United States of America: II'
Release Date 11/5/1996
Tracks 14
Label Sony
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'The Presidents of the United States of America'
Release Date 1/1/1995
Tracks 13
Label Columbia
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