Search - :: Crab Rangoon

Most excellent, here's why...

07/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is perhaps MU330's finest album. Chumps on Parade presented MU330 in the full-bore glory of a very tight touring band (incredible vocal harmonies and horn lines, tempo changes, all out energy, and compositional complexity). For any other band, an accomplishment like Chumps would be nearly impossible to follow up... but Crab Rangoon manages to easily surpass it. However, this album does not stand out for the musical acrobatics. Instead, CR displays a notable maturity of songwriting. The loss of several members of the band (as well as the diagnosis of cancer in one of the key members) served to tighten the five current members musically and personally. As singer/songwriter/guitarist Dan Potthast stepped to the front of the band, MU330 evolved. The result is a less convoluted, more stripped down sound that focuses entirely on completely conscious, honest, and personal songwriting. Dan is probably one of the most under-rated songwriters around today. I don't see this as a ska album, I don't see MU330 as a ska band. The maturity of songwriting exhibited in Crab Rangoon moved them past the limited ska genre into one of the best rock bands playing the world right now. If you can appreciate that, you will love this album."

This is Mu330 at their finest.

Steve Bolen (stbolen@siue.edu) | St. Louis, MO | 01/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay. Chumps on Parade was great. I'll be the first one to admit that. It couldn't get any better, right? Wrong. Crab Rangoon is the best Mu330 album to date -- why, you ask? The maturity of the band from CoP days, to Crab Rangoon is unbelieveable. They went from punk-ska, to more of a lighter feel, and it makes all the difference. The band is at the top of the scene, and to not own this CD is blashpemy! :)"

The Best Mu330!

Steve Bolen (stbolen@siue.edu) | 09/23/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The other person that reviewed this CD is right...much to my surprise, Mu330 does get better from "Chumps on Parade" to "Crab Rangoon". Definitely add this to your collection, and put it right along side RBF's "Turn the Radio Off" and Less Than Jake's "Losing Streak" cuz this is quality ska and belongs in your playlist with such other great bands. Essential to anyone's ska collection!"