Search - Various Artists :: SpongeBob SquarePants: The Best Day Ever

Where's Gary? Listening to a sweet album, I'd surmise!

Kyle A. Carrozza | Van Nuys, CA | 09/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Andy Paley and Tom Kenny gave me a copy of "The Best Day Ever", which came out yesterday and it is AWESOME. Andy did the score for MooBeard as well as Camp Lazlo as well as a million other things that rock. You all know who Tom Kenny is. ^_'



Everyone should run out and buy it or download it or do whatever you need to do to get your hands on it ...because it's freakin' sweet. Seriously.



Let me give you a track by track rundown:



1) "WH20 Radio Open" - The album opens with the sound of bubbles and water just like an episode of SpongeBob. Then we hear the sound of someone playing with a radio dial , trying to tune in a station. Then we hear SpongeBob's voice..."Hello Radio Listeners! This is SpongeBob Squarepants! When I'm in Bikini Bottom , I listen to Al Bacore , The Tuneful Tuna on WH2O!". Then we hear four girls singing in sweet harmony "WH2O". Then we hear a new character , Al Bacore, who plays the WH2O D.J. spinning the hits in Bikini Bottom. He tells us that he's premiering the number one album in Bikini Bottom which is SpongeBob and The High-Seas ...."The Best Day Ever"! Story set: SpongeBob's got a band and they've got a number one album... which isn't surprising as it contains:



2) "The Best Day Ever" - This is the song that was in the credit roll of the SpongeBob movie and on the soundtrack. It's a super- Beach Boys pop song with a gentle , fun , shuffle feel like "Wouldn't It Be Nice" or "All Summer Long". It's very lush, with marimba, strings, tympani, harp glissandos by Corky Hale and what sounds like an oboe and an English Horn. Great harmonies too! This one's one of my frequent cell phone ringtones. I've been wanting to do a cover of this one ever since the movie came out, but I can't seem to find the right drum loops for Garageband... anyway...



3) "SpongeBob & The Hi-Seas In Concert" - This is a radio ad for a SpongeBob & The Hi- Seas concert at the Bikini Bottom Fish Bowl. Tom Kenny does the voice. (I gave Tom and Andy the name of the place to get tickets ... "Available at all Ticket Tyrant locations!".) The members of the band are identified as ..." SpongeBob , Patrick , Squidward , Sandy and Mr. Krabs...five species...one band!"



4) "Employee Of The Month" - This is a great power-pop song that was available on the movie soundtrack... but only if you bought it at Target. I could never find it at Target so I'm really glad it's on this album. It's sung by SpongeBob. It's got a great bridge which is repeated twice. Really catchy song.



5) "Patrick ! Turn your radio down!" - On this track Al Bacore takes an on-air phone call from Patrick. He's trying to interview him because he's the drummer for the Hi-Seas. Patrick has a hard time understanding that he must turn his radio down in order for the interview to work. He ends up disconnecting himself but Al Bacore sets up the next song which is sung by Patrick...



6) "Under My Rock" - Again , this was on the soundtrack but who cares? I can't get enough of Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) describing his humble home. Great garage-rock track. It kinda sounds like Mouse & The Traps meets Paul Revere & The Raiders! There's a wicked guitar solo and some wailing harmonica in the background. I heard Little Steven play this on his radio show..."Underground Garage". UG's a great show if you're into this kinda stuff. If you live in the SoCal area, they play it on 97.1 on late night on weekends.



7) "Mrs. Puff's Boating School Ad" - This one's another sketch, but she sings a really funny little song in it.



8) "Where's Gary?" - First time this song has ever been released. It's a hard driving tune with an angst-filled lyric delivered brilliantly by SpongeBob. He can't find Gary, his pet snail. This one is is very dramatic...shades of Del Shannon, Gene Pitney and Gene McDaniels . It builds up to...well , I don't wanna ruin the ending for ya! This one's probably my favorite on the album. It gets stuck in yer head reeeal easy... just like I like it.



9) "The Tuneful Tuna's Advice" - In which Al Bacore sets up the next song which is...



10) "Barnacles!" - This is the first song with SpongeBob, Sandy, Mr Krabs and Plankton all together. Of course it's all about Bikini Bottom's substitute word that's used instead of swearing. It's got kind of an island feel and at the same time it's rock & roll.... it's got a little bit of a Mexican taste too. The hook line is "Barnacles is the way we say what they say we can't say!". Really groovy track which features mariachi horns, accordion (Flaco Jimenez) and all the members of N.R.B.Q. including Big Al Anderson on guitar!



11) "Pearl Krabs AKA Caller #5" - Pearl Krabs calls the station repeatedly , trying to win two tickets to the SpongeBob & Hi-Seas show. She also gets to pick the next song...



12) "My Tighty Whiteys" - SpongeBob sings a heartfelt love song to his underpants. The first time I heard this I really laughed various vital body parts off. But at the same time it's really romantic.

It's a fantastic, very "big" production. Beautiful melody, cool chord progression and great vocal harmonies. Really though, the kicker is hearing all these fantastic rediculous wordplay jokes in this huge, well produced song. Same reason I liked the South Park movie soundtrack so much.



13) "Dover Sole With Bikini Bottom Weather" - WH2O's weather man (played by SpongeBob's creator Steve Hillenburg) gives his prediction for the week in Bikini Bottom. He... probably got it right. You'll see.



14) "Ridin' The Hook" - Ramones-esque track featuring SpongeBob and Patrick trading lines. Also featuring Ramone's drummer, Tommy Ramone. He's the last living original Ramone! Also, Jonathan Paley on guitar! Andy and Jonathan used to have a great band back in the day called, not surprisingly "The Paley Brothers". It's hard to find stuff by them, but it's worth it if you can. Anyway, this track really rocks!



15) "Squidward's Request" - Squidward tries to pull the wool over the D.J.'s eyes. He calls WH2O and requests his own song from the Hi-Seas album.



16) "Superior!" - This track is absolutely unbelievable! Squidward (Roger Bumpass) really delivers. He explains in the song why he's superior to everyone else....how only he really appreciates the finer things in life. Great track that sounds just a little Broadway but don't let that scare you... it only makes it better! You can really picture Squidward dancing alone in his room to this! Yes, he gets a clarinet solo...backed by a string quartet! Big dramatic ending with a huge orchestra and a theremin! KIDS LOVE THEREMINS!



17) "Krusty Krab Radio Spot" - This is a homemade commercial for the Krusty Krab by Eugene Krabs. Great steel guitar and ukulele version of "The Best Day Ever" in the background. Tom Kenny does the disclaimer voice at the end.



18) "Doin' The Krabby Patty" - This one is sung by SpongeBob , (with one line from Patrick). Cool back up singing by Beach Boy, Brian Wilson! The horns and the drums make it sound like an old soul record from the sixties! Really great dance-craze song. Someone remind me to record one of those.



19) " Plankton Jams The Signal" - The evil, one-celled genius tries to hook up a pirate radio station from his basement lab. His computer wife, Karen (played by Jill Talley... Tom Kenny's actual wife) catches him in the act!



20) "You Will Obey!" - Sung by Plankton (Mr. Lawrence) ...This will be a fave among garage-rock heads all over the world. Plankton declares that all must do his bidding. His hypnotized minions respond like zombies to his voice commands. Extra-super groovy... with a pulsating organ and slinky , chicken-pickin' guitar riff played by James Burton (He's the most recorded guitar player in history! He played with Ricky Nelson, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis ,The Monkees etc.. )! It's funny to hear Plankton say "Take it James!" as he goes into a burning guitar solo since that's exactly what Elvis used to say during a live show, whenever he wanted James Burton to play a rockin' solo.



21) " That was weird!"- Al Bacore regains control of WH2O.



22) " Who Wants To Race Me?" - Sandy Cheeks (Carolyn Lawrence) sings one in which she takes on all comers! Great little bluegrass ditty with banjo, harmonica, accordion and steel guitar. It gets faster and faster!



23) "The Spotlight Continues" - A sexy British spy-girl reminds us that "Bikini Bottom's Wet- Sounds are brought to you by Al Bacore , The Tuneful Tuna on WH2O" ... a really cool , 007 version of "The Best Day Ever" plays in the background! Al Bacore sets up the next SpongeBob & The Hi-Seas record.



24) "Fishin' For Money" - Mr. Krabs sings his ode to the almighty dollar. This track is like a ride at Disneyland! Really evocative! Sound effects of crashing waves, wind, gulls, change and cash registers clanging...really fun. Clancy Brown sounds really menacing as Mr. Krabs. Great lyrics!



25) " SpongeBob & The Hi-Seas Drop By WH2O" - The band comes into the studio to say hi to Al Bacore. Plankton shows up too , although he's not really in the band. Al Bacore does a little interview with SpongeBob.



26) "Bikini Bottom / Rock Bottom" - This is a real tour-de-force which starts with a laid back groove. SpongeBob gives kind of a tourist's guide to Bikini Bottom. "The coral reefs go on for miles. Just pack your sandals and a smile." The Coralettes (Mandy Barnett times 4) sing beautiful back ups. Then the music changes and gets really rockin' , (a little scary even) , with some wailin' sax! The whole cast takes turns describing the other side of the tracks...Rock Bottom..."Where the music's wild! Where the hair is styled!". Then we go back to the laid back groove and more about Bikini Bottom...then it changes again back to the Rock Bottom groove. Then there's a crazy instrumental section with a theremin solo. The music builds to a crescendo and then crashes. The music comes back softly and gets really dreamy. SpongeBob sings, "When it gets dark down in the deep. Bikini Bottom goes to sleep." With a backdrop of steel guitar harmonics , harp , vibes , marimba and who knows what else , SpongeBob says goodnight to Gary and they snore back and forth as the record comes to a very peaceful ending . It's a brilliant climax! It's beautiful and really touching. It makes you want to listen to the whole album all over again! (Which I keep doing!) Also worth noting, if you listen close when they say "Rock Bottom!", you can hear the deep, deep tone of Dave (Gruber) Allen who plays Dark Blade of Fire in MooBeard and the Naked Trucker in the upcoming Comedy Central show of the same name!



There you go, kids. One of the best albums I've ever heard, and I'm tough to please. Go get it! Now!"

For the kid in all of us -- a superb listening experience

Pamela Lynn Palmer | Valencia, CA United States | 10/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first became aware of SpongeBob a few years ago while working at a community college in Southern California. Two of my student coworkers were totally entranced by the little guy and his colorful world. I checked out the series and was immediately hooked.



Listening to "The Best Day Ever" album really revs up the imagination. The music is full of surpising sound effects that add layers of intricacy to the music. The lyrics and voices evoke such vivid images that you almost feel like you are watching the cartoons as your listening."

A Big Hit!

Anne Stenehjem | 01/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My son loves the title song. Now, he can play it anytime and sing along to it.

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