"I've been a fan of Blotto for many years, and see them perform every chance I get! If you can't see them live, do yourself a favor and listen to this CD. Trust me! It's funny and it rocks!"
Funny, and you can dance to it.
06/07/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I admit it. I saw just about every show Blotto did at the Chance (in Poughkeepsie, NY), up to the fire. A high energy club band with a wild sense of humor. Great guitar work from Broadway & Bowtie."
The Kings of Comedy Rock... and a pretty good Band too!
kd2eq | Waterford, MI | 05/24/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this CD... of course having seen them many times live helps a lot. Who could forget seeing Sarge bite the head off a cabbage patch doll during Metal Head?.... But these guys were about having fun and I can honestly say I had more fun at those shows than any others that I have ever attended. Anyone that listens to these songs will get a sense of what they are all about, and get a good laugh or two as well!"
Too Much Fun!!!
James Scharnott | Noo Yawk, NY | 05/13/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Who'd'a thunk that an Albany-based bar/party band with a wicked sense of humor and identical stage surnames (take THAT, Ramones) would become critical and cult legends? Ever since I heard that rolling drumbeat intro and goofy Beach Boys-influenced harmonic sentiment of "I Wanna Be a Lifeguard" leading off their first EP, Hello. My Name Is Blotto. What's Yours?, I was hooked.
Playing in pure party fashion but throwing in bitingly satirical lyrics on subjects ranging from heavy metal fandom ("Metal Head," which featured Blue Oyster Cult's Buck Dharma on screamin' guitar) to cheesy lounge acts ([We Are] The Nowtones"..."We say 'thank you' at the end of every song"), groupies ("Occupational Hazard") and dumb bosses (the liberating "I Quit") to unattainable women in advertisements (the raggae-fied "Gimme the Girl"), Blotto never failed to raise a smile if not an outright laugh.
"Lifeguard" is still the star of the show here (it's a persoanl summer anthem, and centerpiece of many a surf-themed mixtape) -- heck, it appears in three different versions! But the cleverest, most blackly humorous tune in the collection -- perhaps of the '80s -- is "My Baby's the Star of a Driver's Ed Movie." Done in pure early '60s death-pop style, it relates the tale of man attending remedial driving classes after receiving a DWI. While seeing a film about highway crashes, he recognizes a scene in which his own late girlfriend's demise was documented! He remains philosophical, though, noting that the poor young lass's mom "would be proud -- her underwear was clean."
The remaining tracks show the Blots' at their rockin' best on their original compositions -- the weakest track is probably the sole cover, a take on "Stop! In the Name of Love," taken from their debut EP and original lineup featuring a female singer.
This release compiles their entire studio output -- a mere LP, two 12" EPs and a 45 B-side (appropriately titled "The B Side") -- with a couple of previously unreleased goodies. All you'll ever need from Blotto is here -- if you're feeling adventurous afterward, don't miss their Then More Than Ever live CD, and seek out their long-out-of-print VHS "Video 45" from Sony."
Blotto on CD - Yow!
average_white_boy | 08/17/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was in college in upstate NY late 70's and early 80's, I remember seeing Blotto live at JB Scott's in Albany and at numerous gigs at school and around the Albany area. I was hooked from the first show, and still have the first EPs. Their shows were enjoyed by rockers and punkers alike.
A classic FUN band with great originals -"My Baby's The Star of a Driver's Ed Movie" was always a favorite for twisted, irreverent lyrics. Great musical talent with too much of a sense of humor to ever make it commercially. Their cover of "Secret Agent Man" is way better than the original.
If you remember Blotto or are a fan of music from the era, get the album. If you were born after 1980, you probably won't comprehend why Blotto was ever popular."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1