Uke-Hunt – “Uke-Hunt”

Album Reviews | Jun 14th, 2014

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Record Label: Fat Wreck Chords
Genre: Ukulelecore
Band Link: https://www.facebook.com/ukehuntband
Buy on Amazon.com

Spike Slawson from Me First and the Gimme Gimmes has a new cover band called Uke-Hunt. Let that name sink in for a minute. As you can tell by the name, the music is done with an ukulele but there’s two other people with Spike playing other instruments as well. It’s more of luau party music than Tiny Tim. If you ever wanted to hear ukulele covers of the Depeche Mode, Dave Clark Five, The Ramones, and yes even Barry Manilow, well you’re luck!

The 10 song album opens with Uke-Hunt covering Dave Clark Five’s “Because.” You’ll figure out pretty quickly if you’re on board with this album or not. The songs are done with more care than say, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. The songs aren’t butchered (on purpose) like Me First tend to do. I say butchered lightly but that’s what I love about Me First though. After all, these are supposedly Spike’s favorite songs so I can see why he might have taken a gentle approach with Uke-Hunt.

The Kinks’ “Animal Farm” is another standout track as well as Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy The Silence.” The later is probably my favorite Depeche Mode song so I was happy to hear Spike do the song justice. Even the little percussion noises in the background add to the song. You can really tell what song you’re listening to when you hear them.

“The Prettiest Star” was the first song I heard from Spike and Uke-Hunt. They released a single/EP earlier in the Spring and I was hooked as soon as I heard this cover. It’s definitely one of the best songs on this debut album. It’s just screams fun to me. I’m wondering how the band is live because they seem like they would be like Me First and the Gimme Gimmes a little bit. Jokey in-between song banter and not taking themselves seriously. The band has been busking live in San Francisco so I hope they make their way East.

I actually think I might like this album over the new Me First album. Different in style but both bands are cover bands. I think it has to do with the song selection and Spike & company have picked some awesome songs to cover!

Bottom Line: Amazing and hilarious take on classic songs done in a Luau style
Notable Tracks: Animal Farm, Needles and Pins, Enjoy The Silence, The Prettiest Star, Rainy Days and Mondays
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