2008 Woodie Awards
Lemon Lime Tennis Shoes dish up catchy ska on newest album
Drew Mika
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Entertainment
- Page 1 of 1
11/15/07 - Take It or Leave It, Lemon Lime Tennis Shoes' most recent album kicks off with a bang.
The band, composed of URI students, starts the first track off fast with a ska beat, complimented by a terrific horns section. This seems to be a recurring theme throughout the album, as each song is dominated by the fast-paced guitars, incendiary horns and a driving drum beat.
The idea of being young is also a recurring theme throughout the album. Songs such as "Day Off!" "Selective Service," "Drag You Down" and "Save the World," display the band's youthful ideals. Meanwhile, the instrumentals continue that theme by playing fast energetic beats only a person hopped up on speed or under the age of 30 could enjoy.
Take It or Leave It represents the band well. The first track "Day Off!" prominently displays its youth (the oldest member of the band is only 21). It sings about leaving town and dismissing its problems: "I think I've got the remedy to take the whole day off." The band finely demonstrates its ability to still be able to drop everything and relax - a quality that many older people forget how to do.
"Selective Service" is the first song on the album that really emphasizes and focuses on Colin Gillespie as a guitarist. The opening exhibits his talent well with a short, but intricate lead. The band once again brings up being young in the chorus singing, "Who have I become?"
It's clear that the songwriter is still young and trying to find himself. You might call him a coming-of-age character. After each chorus, Gillespie compliments the vocals that dominate the song with guitar work. Although the vocals aren't the most poetic and intricate of all lyrics, they get the point across and mold the song well.
The next track, "Drag You Down," is definitely the album's best song, from its catchy hook "Don't let me drag you down, she said/Don't let me drag you down," to Wade Zawatsky's jazz-like trumpet solos, which take the song to a whole new level. Like many of its songs, the lyrics aren't the most dynamic words ever written, but Matt Kelley can write well and proves it here. He brings his point across clear while telling an interesting story, and did I mention just how catchy it is? Definitely one for the ladies - it's a dancing song.
"Save The World" is by far the album's most complex song and displays the band as they should want to be displayed. In this song, the band's youth is fully exhibited - it puts their lives on the line here. Like many people their age, it's still reality to them that they may be able to influence the world.
Unlike fine wine, people do not always get better with time. With this song, it's evident they're not burned out yet; there's still hope.
This song showcases Matt Kelley's best lyrics on the album; it's something many people can relate to and it's even enough to inspire an uplifting attitude.
Take It or Leave It is more or less your run-of-the-mill ska album. It's nothing revolutionary, but it's by far more than entertaining. This album will easily enough put the band on the map and gives great material for live shows.
This is a party soundtrack. If you're looking for something fun - this is the album.
The band, composed of URI students, starts the first track off fast with a ska beat, complimented by a terrific horns section. This seems to be a recurring theme throughout the album, as each song is dominated by the fast-paced guitars, incendiary horns and a driving drum beat.
The idea of being young is also a recurring theme throughout the album. Songs such as "Day Off!" "Selective Service," "Drag You Down" and "Save the World," display the band's youthful ideals. Meanwhile, the instrumentals continue that theme by playing fast energetic beats only a person hopped up on speed or under the age of 30 could enjoy.
Take It or Leave It represents the band well. The first track "Day Off!" prominently displays its youth (the oldest member of the band is only 21). It sings about leaving town and dismissing its problems: "I think I've got the remedy to take the whole day off." The band finely demonstrates its ability to still be able to drop everything and relax - a quality that many older people forget how to do.
"Selective Service" is the first song on the album that really emphasizes and focuses on Colin Gillespie as a guitarist. The opening exhibits his talent well with a short, but intricate lead. The band once again brings up being young in the chorus singing, "Who have I become?"
It's clear that the songwriter is still young and trying to find himself. You might call him a coming-of-age character. After each chorus, Gillespie compliments the vocals that dominate the song with guitar work. Although the vocals aren't the most poetic and intricate of all lyrics, they get the point across and mold the song well.
The next track, "Drag You Down," is definitely the album's best song, from its catchy hook "Don't let me drag you down, she said/Don't let me drag you down," to Wade Zawatsky's jazz-like trumpet solos, which take the song to a whole new level. Like many of its songs, the lyrics aren't the most dynamic words ever written, but Matt Kelley can write well and proves it here. He brings his point across clear while telling an interesting story, and did I mention just how catchy it is? Definitely one for the ladies - it's a dancing song.
"Save The World" is by far the album's most complex song and displays the band as they should want to be displayed. In this song, the band's youth is fully exhibited - it puts their lives on the line here. Like many people their age, it's still reality to them that they may be able to influence the world.
Unlike fine wine, people do not always get better with time. With this song, it's evident they're not burned out yet; there's still hope.
This song showcases Matt Kelley's best lyrics on the album; it's something many people can relate to and it's even enough to inspire an uplifting attitude.
Take It or Leave It is more or less your run-of-the-mill ska album. It's nothing revolutionary, but it's by far more than entertaining. This album will easily enough put the band on the map and gives great material for live shows.
This is a party soundtrack. If you're looking for something fun - this is the album.