You know when you go into a Frankie and Bennies restaurant, and they have an awesome 1950's soundtrack on the go and you feel like you're in Grease? Well- that is the sound of The Baseballs - Elvis-esque rockabilly pop with a barbershop quartet vocal styling thrown into the mix. Its magnificently enjoyable, and if you're only just finding out about this awesome group then I suggest you reorganise your musical priorities!
Their debut, "Strike" was one of the freshest and most brilliant albums of 2010, taking modern classics by the likes of Rihanna and The Pussycat Dolls before twisting and reinventing them with their 1950's styling. The band is as talented as they are brilliant and utterly hilarious!
Their new album "Strings `n' Stripes" is their hugely welcome follow-up, and continues with their chain of successful music-making.
This release is full the brim of epic songs, and their reworkings are absolutely brilliant. Standout tracks include `Hello' (a Martin Solveig cover), Follow Me (an Uncle Kracker cover) and Tic Tok (a Ke$ha cover) - all of which are feel good and wonderful, whilst sounding utterly timeless.
Meanwhile they have once again managed to take a Katy Perry song and enhanced its excellence- previously `Hot and Cold' (From "Strike" which was outstanding), and this time `California Gurls'- equally phenominal and which manages to sound like The Beach Boys, Elvis and The Drifters all at the same time; which isn't exactly a bad thing.
Elsewhere, Britney Spears, The Backstreet Boys, Will Smith and 50 Cent get The Baseballs treatment, all sounding instantly classic and are immensely enjoyable, and the track `Hard Not To Cry' simply has "LUSH!!!!" written beside it on my notes!
The only upset on this album is their Lady GaGa cover of `Paparazzi', not because it's not good; but because it doesn't meet the standard of the original.
Otherwise, this is an amazing album- perfect for summer and completely feel-good; so much fun to listen- and sing-a-long too. And once you get past the funny side of the album - this may just be me, but I always find a 1950's reworking of a modern track tickles me a little bit - the album is a treasure to love over and over again.
NOTE: I currently only hold the European release of this album, and so have not yet heard the five live tracks on the end. As soon as I do I'll update the review- although I can tell you in advance it will be AMAZING because LOOK AT THE TRACKS- `Torn', `I'm Yours' and `When Love Takes Over' are going to be fantastic!