Release: 2011
Tracks:
1. Miso Ramen
2. Swedish Rat
3. Since You Got A Dog
4. Found Love
5. Hot N Horny
6. I Hate Basketball
7. I Hope Things Will Turn Around
It is highly advisable that you pick this up as soon as this is released, or buy it at a show (they have a European tour coming up March/April!).
But first: a retrospective overview.
Chixdiggit! is one of those bands with a exclamation mark. They have been a band since the early nineties, beginning with selling t-shirts and afterwards starting a band, at the same time of being/learning their instruments. That's how the story goes.
Their first release was a demo tape called Humped, with recordings that would later end up on 'real albums', except the HIV song. I Should Have Played Football In Highschool turned up on the EP Best Hung Carrot In The Fridge, among other introductory songs to the sound that Chixdiggit! would perfect. The songs sound a bit messy every once in a while, but the originality is definitely there. It's pop punk with an edge.
Their George Michael cover is also noteworthy.
They get picked up by Sub Pop Records and in 1996 a fabulous self-titled album is released. This turns out to be a great, fun pop-punk album. Witty lyrics, great hooks, good overall songwriting. It includes classics such as I Wanna Hump You and Where's You Mom? Very enjoyable, danceable, singalongable popped up punk rock.
This was re-recorded and re-released in 2007 as Chixdiggit! II and featured 2 more songs. The new recording and production suit the band, who had obviously evolved a lot in those 10 years. Definitely not a waste! The artwork is really cool as well, for both versions in fact.
Back to 1998. Honest Don's, a Fat Wreck Chords subdivision releases Born On The First Of July, generally considered their best album. It has a lot of hits, most noteably My Restaurant, Quit Your Job, Chupacabras and Sikome Beach, but every song is killer, really. This could be one of those album who are perfect. Probably, I'm not sure. It could be. No fuss, just rock. Just doing their thing.
After 2 re-releases of Best Hung Carrot… (on CD and on 10" vinyl) and a split with Groovie Ghoulies on which they do 2 Boomtown Rats cover and a awesome Ghoulies cover, they yet again surprise the world with From Scene To Shining Scene. This might be a tiny bit underrated sometimes, but it is a personal favourite for sure. I remember being absolutely insane about Moto Foxe. I still get shivers when listening to it. You got me feeling just like everyday's a leap year. I don't know what it means, as with a lot of KJ's lyrics, but it sounds so damn cool. Going To The Peelers does the same. Great album including some of their best songs and some of their equally good songs. (This means all their songs are their best songs.)
So, I think I found out about Chixdiggit! in 2007, when Pink Razors had been released for 2 years. Pink Razors is just a genius continuation of their œuvre. More pop, more punk, more power, more songs. This album is bound to make the listener smile. Good Girls or You're Pretty Good should just ake anyone happy. C.G.I.T. and - from a different perspective - Nobody Understands Me don't achieve the same goal, but are fun/witty in their dramatic way. Nobody Understands Me ends the album with the best keyboard part ever written and performed.
They have played Belgium once since I've known them, but I didn't have the chance to see them then.
And now the almighty Chixdiggit! have returned with Safeways…, an EP that makes you jump around and sing. It makes you eat Japanese food, hate basketball, and reconsider your haircut. It makes you amoureux and horny and distolerate friends with dogs.
Can't wait to see them March 26th! Crossbone Fest in Houthalen, everyone should be there.
AND WHEN I'M NOT DRINKING, ALL I CAN THINK OF IS THAT I HATE BASKETBALL!
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