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The Waitresses RULE!

Lawrance M. Bernabo | 02/06/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Collecting songs from the Waitresses two albums _Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful_ and _Bruiseology_ plus non-album material like their Christmas single and the theme to the TV show "Square Pegs", this CD should be picked up by anyone who wants an instant trip down memory lane to 1982! Witty, intelligent, catchy, novel, humorous - the Waitresses were all of these. Written off at the time as a Blondie knock-off and a one hit wonder, the Waitresses deserved more commercial attention than they ultimately got. Such classics as "No Guilt", "Wise Up", and "The Liquor's All Out, Let's Find Another Party" are hilarious, savvy social commentary set to a catchy pop beat. The smart, sassy lyrics lend this music an air of intelligence that is lacking in so much other pop music. Recommended for anyone who came of age in the early 80's, or anyone who wishes they had."

Help me! I can't get "Christmas Wrapping" out of my head

Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 12/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am hoping that once I learn all the lyrics to "Christmas Wrapping" I will be able to purge that particular song from my short-term memory, but that does not look like it is going to happen anytime soon (I would not mind but I actually have everything wrapped already, thanks, mainly, to this song). The choice at this point is between listening to that catchy little holiday rap within the context of other contemporary Christmas songs or within the context of this album, "The Best of the Waitresses." The Waitresses made their mark with witty and ironic songs of guitarist Chris Butler, including their recognizable hit, "I Know What Boys Like," and the theme for the short-lived by memorable situation comedy, "Square Pegs." The group put out only two albums at the start of the 1980s and their debut effort, "Wasn't Tomorrow Wonderful?" was a lot better than "Bruiseology." "The Best of the Waitnresses" has the virtue of taking the best from both, and adding the "Square Pegs" song into the mix. Yes, you can dance to these songs, but you have to pay attention to the lyrics, because lead singer Patty Donahue certainly does (e.g., the telphone bit on "No Guilt." This is a memorable post-punk band that was a lot more than a one-hit wonder (with a television show theme song). Final recommendation: If you want more than the best of the Waitresses, then skip their two albums and check out their live album from a King Biscuit Flower Hour appearance, which has a live version of "Christmas Wrapping." Meanwhile, my turkey was actually too big, but I have plenty of cranberries and I just need to catch my breath. Just be sure you do Christmas right this time."

A TRIP DOWN ONE HIT WONDER MEMORY LANE!!

Lawrance M. Bernabo | 12/19/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With the perennial favorite song CHRISTMAS WRAPPING all over the airwaves this time of year, I thought it would be fun to revisit THE BEST OF THE WAITRESSES. I know what you're thinking.The only song you know from them is I KNOW WHAT BOYS LIKE & the above referenced X-MAS tune. But give them a chance! If you were into the alternative radio scene in the early 80's, you might recognize WASN'T TOMORROW WONDERFUL. If TV was your thing, you'll remember their theme song to the short lived series SQUARE PEGS( both song & tv show were shamlessly overlooked- it was THE 80's teen angst show starring the then unknown Sarah Jessica Parker!). But it's in the listening to the obscure, mostly unheard tracks that you begin to see that the WAITRESSES were a pre-cursor to a very popular girl band of the 90's; NO DOUBT! Infusing horns & sassy lyrics( although Gwen never sounds as catty as Waitress's lead singer Patty Donahue),with some ska on songs like WISE UP , BREAD & BUTTER & THEY'RE ALL OUT OF LIQUOR, LET'S FIND ANOTHER PARTY that pretty soon, I guarantee you won't remember if you put on TRAGIC KINGDOM by NO DOUBT or the WAITRESSES! A one hit wonder band; maybe. But wasn't YESTERDAY WONDERFUL ,too?!"