THESE ARE THE GOOD TIMES, PEOPLE - THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
The Presidents of the United States of America remain best known for their 1995 self-titled album. Luckily, the band hasn’t changed much. Instead of peaches and kitties, bandleader Chris Ballew now sings about ladybugs and French girls. But the sparse, compact formula that led the group to success in the mid-’90s remains intact. Punchy songs like “Mixed Up S.O.B.,” “More Bad Times” and the breezy “Loose Balloon” are not as immediately catchy as “Lump” or “Peaches,” but songcraft also makes them feel less like novelties. And that’s despite a video directed by “Weird Al” Yankovic (for lead single “S.O.B.”) and Ballew’s occasionally goofball lyrics. In an election year, it’s good to have these Presidents back.
