Some bands like U2 write songs of great social and political import about things like war and assassinations. And that's fine. If you have the platform and that's what you want to do, go ahead. But then there are bands like Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso (quite a name, isn't it?) who write songs about things like taboo sex acts, going commando, and sneaking into a neighbor's pool for some night swimming. OK, so they're not exactly tackling world hunger, but then they don't need to.
My first impression of this band is that this is what would happen if Mighty Mighty Bosstones collaborated with Jimmy Buffett. "Swimming in the Summer" has that island beat to go with loud guitars, ska-style horns and rapid-fire delivery of the vocals. It is a great song to open the album if only because of the energy with which the song was recorded.
It didn't take me long to realize that my first impression of the band was incomplete. It wasn't wrong. It just took me a couple songs to realize that this album is what would happen if Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Jimmy Buffett got together to perform songs written by Jimmy Pop Ali of The Bloodhound Gang. I know what you must be thinking. "Oh, this is a band that writes really sophomoric lyrics about sex. And you're right. The lyrics (especially in "Eternally Missing You" and "Pee in the Butt") are incredibly sophomoric. But these songs are also incredibly catchy. In fact, you might find yourself singing along despite your own reservations about the lyrics. Yes, I'm serious. The songs are that catchy.
"Commando" is just as catchy as the two aforementioned songs, and potentially less offensive. This song is about the measures taken by an elementary school kid to avoid getting wedgies from bullies. Again, it's going to be hard not to sing along.
I am also a big fan of "Kansas Here We Come." In this song, Johnny Cakes sings that he would rather be anywhere but California. That only tells me that this band has actually spent some time in California.
I realize that this album is not for everyone. Does it have a lot of immature themes? Yes. Is it well-done and catchy? Absolutely. Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso is a good reminder that rock and roll should be fun. This band won't win any Grammys, but it will provide a lot of good times, and that has to count for something.
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