Advantages: catchy new takes on classic songs Disadvantages: nothing new
Spunge, the Tewksbury ska-punk quintet, have not put forth a proper studio album for a long time. Four years it has been now. To try and placate their fans they released this CD two years ago, a CD full of cover versions and live versions.
When I've seen Spunge live before, they offered a 'covers medley', where they played excerpts from the songs they play in full here.
If this band sounds like they interest you, check out my other Spunge reviews for more detail on more definitive Spunge albums.
Bear in mind that I have not heard any of the originals, so I will be able to offer comparisons in that respect.
The tracklist for That Should Cover It (even the name of the album seems to imply that they only released it to stop the gap between albums) is as follows:
1. Centre Fold
2. Circle In The Sand
3. Oliver's Army
4. Land Down ...
Advantages: great debut, some classic songs on here Disadvantages: some songs are just filler
Wow i can't believe this album has been out for many a year and no-one has reviewed it!
Spunge are one of my all-time favourite bands, hailing from our very own sunny shores of Britain, and are a ska oriented punk rock band. Ska oriented as opposed to ska as they dont use That many trumpets, but they do use of lots of upstrumming on the offbeat for their rhythm guitar. Punk rock as opposed to punk because they don't offer any sort of political message, just good clean old-time feel-good hits!
Whilst they only have three albums, this one being their first, this one still stands out very strongly from the other two, featuring some of their most classic songs, such as Lyrical Content, Idols, and of course, Kicking Pigeons. The several times that I've seen them play live, these songs still go down a treat with the crowd.
The tracklist is ...
Advantages: Excellent listening if you like underground Skater Ska/Punk Disadvantages: Really hard to get hold of...try their website.
, typical British Ska song and the best song to open the album up with, it introduces the listener into the genre, and the standard of music on the album. Their second single 'Roots', which made it into the top 50 despite any airplay, is also on this album.
Keeping up true [Spunge] theme, 'Skanking Song' is a whole song about haircuts. Just like any punk you can't take the lyrics too seriously, or you will be driven to insanity. The punk comedians are going from strength to strength, supporting some of the big named punk bands, such as NOFX, and playing alongside Metallica. The album is one, which shows them at their true potential, to really rock this world!
It is hard to find any flaws in this album, however to listen to the album once, you would think that all the songs sound the same, but give it a chance and listen to it a few times ...
