Me First and the Gimme Gimmes – “Sing in Japanese” EP

Album Reviews | Oct 3rd, 2011

Record Label: Fat Wreck Chords
Genre: Punk Rock
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The punk supergroup Me First and the Gimme Gimmes continue covering music from around the world. So far they have covered bands from Australia, and now they have covered Japanese groups like Kai Band, Takuryo Yoshida, Tulip and others.

My next question is how the hell did Spike learn (and remember) to sing in Japanese? It’s hard to remember lyrics in English, but Japanese? Damn that must take some patience and skill. I guess Fat Mike had an Asian friend help them out with the songs and write out the lyrics phonetically to help Spike learn the words. Who knows if he even knows what the lyrics mean; they could say death to all Americans and we wouldn’t know. I’m impressed they jumped right to the Japanese groups instead of cover something easier. And all this for a punk cover band!? Well at least the next time they go to Japan, they could sing some karaoke in Japanese now.

The group starts off with catchy song “Hero,” originally done by Kai Band. Me First continues to cover punk bands in the beginning of the songs like in “Kekkon Shiyoyo,” you hear a bit of Social Distortion. The Blue Hearts’ “Linda Linda” cover is a reggae/ska version of the song, which breaks up the norm of the fast punk rock that Me First tend to play.

Whatever Me First and the Gimme Gimmes cover, they make it their own and make it fun! I’d like for them to cover something from France, Italy, Germany, and even something from India next!

Bottom Line: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes can clearly cover anything
Notable Tracks: Hero, Kekkon Shiyoyo, C-C-C
Overall Rating:

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