Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

To call Me First and the Gimme Gimmes "consistent" would be to understate things–perhaps "predictable" is a better word. But predictability isn't always a bad thing, and this punk super-group cover band proves it. Any familiarity with the original versions of the songs on Have Another Ball! means you have a pretty good idea of exactly what these versions will sound like, but that doesn't make them any less fun. All of the songs here come from the sessions that produced that band's 1995 debut, some of which have found their way onto compilations in the past. In under 30 minutes, they blister through versions of Billy Joel's "Only the Good Die Young," Hall and Oates' "Rich Girl" and Paul Simon's "The Boxer."

What makes these covers special is that they're done in fun, but they are also sincerely reverent. A listen to the heartfelt closer, "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," eliminates any sense that they're making fun of these songs. There's no doubt that they truly love them.

Have Another Ball! isn't going to change anything about the way you perceive these old classics, and it may not even demand repeated listens. But for half an hour, it's fun to hear some fans' take on some of their favorites.



—Nathan Atnikov
07.31.08

Billed as a "lost album" in a liner-notes story that involves danger, intrigue, and a Malaysian Quonset hut, Have Another Ball! features tunes by Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, Diana Ross, and other past pop stars as re-imagined by Fat Wreck Chords' Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Whether this album was truly meant to be the original version of their 1997 release, Have a Ball, is questionable, but it certainly is a companion piece, with many of the same artists featured on both. That's not the only thread of familiarity -- the Gimme Gimmes give another frenetic performance here, as could be expected, and their enthusiasm for the material is palpable. Like the rest of its releases, the band is both passionate and tongue-in-cheek to some degree throughout Have Another Ball!, but the group is never derisive; the bandmembers love these songs too much to be so. Instead, they concentrate on adding their own flourishes to the songs they cover -- adding elements of "Blitzkrieg Bop" to James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend," turning the melancholic pedal guitar of "The Boxer" into a ringing punk riff, and appropriating a synthesizer introduction for use on electric guitar in a brilliantly executed version of Neil Diamond's "America" -- all while maintaining the same energy and glee that infused Have a Ball 11 years prior. But be warned: it all goes by quickly, perhaps too much so. Due to the tempo of the songs, the number of them included, or both factors, the album feels more like an EP than a full-length release. When the Gimme Gimmes hit "Only the Good Die Young," the ninth song out of 12, it feels as if they're just getting started. Still, the infectious, addictive nature of these gleeful covers is a testament to the group's enthusiasm and talent for tributes. Have Another Ball!'s brevity (it clocks in at just under 30 minutes) may necessitate repeated listens, but it's well worth playing the album as often as required. ~ Katherine Fulton, All Music Guide