![Review: Bowling For Soup – One Big Happy [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/geek/gars/images/2/0/3/4/1/bfs.jpg)
![Review: Bowling For Soup – One Big Happy [Album]](http://hangout.altsounds.com/altthumb.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fhangout.altsounds.com%2Fgeek%2Fgars%2Fimages%2F2%2F0%2F3%2F4%2F1%2Fbfs.jpg&w=500&h=500&zc=1&q=70){kind=small}
Spread the Social Love:
Bowling For Soup does not strike me as a band that is running out of ideas or even more so, running out of money. The group has a cult following, a host of successful albums already under their belts and let’s face it, when you sing about getting drunk and going to the toilet, new ideas can’t be too hard to find! However, this album suggests that either Bowling For Soup are running out of ideas or cash – fast!
One Big Happy is not what you would expect from Bowling For Soup Rather than releasing a new studio album with songs about rebuffed romantic gestures and passing out drunk at your best mate’s wedding, the band has teamed up with two of their friend groups, the Dollyrots and Patent Pending to cover two of each other’s songs, the point of which remains to be seen. If you have not heard of Patent Pending or Dollyrots before fear not, you are not alone. Bowling For Soup have a tendency to pick up unknown American pop-punk bands as they tour incessantly and the two aforementioned bands are just the latest associates in the Bowling For Soup address book. Neither offer anything special to the music world.
Almost as though trying to justify the release, Bowling For Soup have added one new, original song of their own in 'Let’s Go To The Pub' – the kind of title you would expect from them. It’s not a bad song – it’s about what you would assume with the kind of catchy guitar riffs that are so typical of Bowling For Soup. Patent Pending and Dollyrots also throw new material into the mix but none of these three new songs have the potential to be remembered for greatness.
As for the covers, it is not even as though the best Bowling For Soup tracks are covered. 'The Bitch Song' is perhaps one of the most popular tracks ever released from Bowling For Soup but 'Shut Up And Smile' is hardly worthy of the limelight when tracks such as 'My Wena' and 'Girl All The Bad Girls Want' have been overlooked. However, what Dollyrots' version of 'The Bitch Song' does prove is that Bowling For Soup songs that are not performed by Bowling For Soup are nowhere near as fun!
It is not a case that vocalist Jaret Reddick is the greatest singer alive; he’s not bad but he doesn't make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It is more that the band’s songs lack that classic, infectious Bowling For Soup energy that you only get from Bowling For Soup. The fact that Dollyrots sound like a glorified Avril Lavigne on the track doesn't help a great deal either!
In all fairness when we get to song writing Dollyrots are pretty much on the same scale as Bowling For Soup. 'My Heat Explodes' is a typical lovesick teenager song that Bowling For Soup cover well and do make their own with their unique brand of immature fun. 'Hyperactive' sounds like a half decent cover by Patent Pending of the Dollyrots original but you cannot help but question the dodgy vocals. Upon hearing their cover of Bowling For Soup's 'Spin Me Around' however, you soon realise that this is not a group blessed with a particularly good vocalist. Instead they over compensate with chuggy guitar riffs that almost purposefully cover the vocals.
Cover albums are never earth shattering but many are better than this. It’s nowhere near an album that is good enough to entice new people to Bowling For Soup but it does do a good job of showcasing the fact that the band are good at making friends. I'm sure it has done their kudos a world of good and possibly boosted their bank balances slightly but unless you are a die-hard Bowling For Soup fan, One Big Happy is just One Big Dissatisfaction.
One Big Happy is not what you would expect from Bowling For Soup Rather than releasing a new studio album with songs about rebuffed romantic gestures and passing out drunk at your best mate’s wedding, the band has teamed up with two of their friend groups, the Dollyrots and Patent Pending to cover two of each other’s songs, the point of which remains to be seen. If you have not heard of Patent Pending or Dollyrots before fear not, you are not alone. Bowling For Soup have a tendency to pick up unknown American pop-punk bands as they tour incessantly and the two aforementioned bands are just the latest associates in the Bowling For Soup address book. Neither offer anything special to the music world.
Almost as though trying to justify the release, Bowling For Soup have added one new, original song of their own in 'Let’s Go To The Pub' – the kind of title you would expect from them. It’s not a bad song – it’s about what you would assume with the kind of catchy guitar riffs that are so typical of Bowling For Soup. Patent Pending and Dollyrots also throw new material into the mix but none of these three new songs have the potential to be remembered for greatness.
As for the covers, it is not even as though the best Bowling For Soup tracks are covered. 'The Bitch Song' is perhaps one of the most popular tracks ever released from Bowling For Soup but 'Shut Up And Smile' is hardly worthy of the limelight when tracks such as 'My Wena' and 'Girl All The Bad Girls Want' have been overlooked. However, what Dollyrots' version of 'The Bitch Song' does prove is that Bowling For Soup songs that are not performed by Bowling For Soup are nowhere near as fun!
It is not a case that vocalist Jaret Reddick is the greatest singer alive; he’s not bad but he doesn't make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It is more that the band’s songs lack that classic, infectious Bowling For Soup energy that you only get from Bowling For Soup. The fact that Dollyrots sound like a glorified Avril Lavigne on the track doesn't help a great deal either!
In all fairness when we get to song writing Dollyrots are pretty much on the same scale as Bowling For Soup. 'My Heat Explodes' is a typical lovesick teenager song that Bowling For Soup cover well and do make their own with their unique brand of immature fun. 'Hyperactive' sounds like a half decent cover by Patent Pending of the Dollyrots original but you cannot help but question the dodgy vocals. Upon hearing their cover of Bowling For Soup's 'Spin Me Around' however, you soon realise that this is not a group blessed with a particularly good vocalist. Instead they over compensate with chuggy guitar riffs that almost purposefully cover the vocals.
Cover albums are never earth shattering but many are better than this. It’s nowhere near an album that is good enough to entice new people to Bowling For Soup but it does do a good job of showcasing the fact that the band are good at making friends. I'm sure it has done their kudos a world of good and possibly boosted their bank balances slightly but unless you are a die-hard Bowling For Soup fan, One Big Happy is just One Big Dissatisfaction.
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