Two years after punkifying some of the '60s' more popular songs for
Blow in the Wind,
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes return with
Take a Break, their stab at some of R&B's classier, yet almost forgettable, tunes. The So-Cal five-piece is as rowdy as ever and their own punk rock polish is undeniably infectious. What made
Blow in the Wind so great is exactly what makes
Take a Break even cooler. It's straightforward rock & roll without the swagger -- tomfoolery without being lame -- and
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are clever in giving new life to some of these tracks. Whereas
Lionel Richie's "Hello" and
Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" banked success with their heavy-hearted tones,
the Gimme Gimmes spike that mood for a punchy, feel-good time. A more electric, rough-edged alternative of
Seal's "Crazy" is equally fashionable and slick to the original version. Add a bit of quick wit and pinch-hitting percussion, and the energy of
Take a Break is more than enough to impress the new millennium punk kids. If not, the band's pouncing ukelele dance of
R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" will do it.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes do rock & roll the right way because they don't try too hard.
Take a Break once again showcases why they rock in the first place. ~ MacKenzie Wilson