|
|
|
|
|
|
THE NEW BARDOTS
"Already Been Chewed (A Return to
Bubblegum" (Bongo Boy Music; 2020)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
Yeah, you read that right. You're reading a review of an album with "bubblegum" in the title here on Rough Edge and, yeah, we're talking bubblegum music, not the so-much-cooler "I'm either to kick ass or chew bubblegum, and I'm all out of bubblegum" from John Carpenter's "The Live." We're a hard rock/heavy metal/punk rock site (i.e., Kiss/Judas Priest/Ramones) not a bubblegum site (i..e, The Monkees, The Archies, The Beatles -- yeah, The Beatles ... if you don't believe "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" is one of the most bubblegum songs of all time then we have to agree to disagree).
But here's the thing: "Already Been Chewed (A Return to Bubblegum)" by The New Bardots is a tribute to bubblegum music and its done with such vibrancy and high-energy that we just had to write about it here. It's an EP collection of four cover tunes and two original tunes that not only pay tribute to the bubblegum era, but rock pretty hard as well, especially the cover of Robert Hazard's "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'."
"Already Been Chewed" often has that cheesy, bubblegum quality but how can it not with classic songs that include lyrics like "Yummy, yummy, yummy, I've got love in my tummy?" Regardless, The New Bardots make each track their own, giving them a modern punch that, man, almost makes them fresh again.
Is "Already Been Chewed" for every reader of Rough Edge? Of course not. A Slayer fan probably isn't looking for this kind of music. But if you're looking for fun, uplifting music with a dose of nostalgia, this might be right up your alley.
For more information, check out https://www.facebook.com/TheNEWBardots/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2020 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
