Be Your Own Pet – Get Awkward
XL Recordings (3/18/08)
Punk rock
I should have been in high school when this album came out; I’m a little out of my element on this one. Get Awkward could make a kid in college feel old, and a post-collegiate (ahem, me) feel positively ancient.
With that aside, and unlike a lot of American punk rock, these kids are using their microphones as megaphones, and calling out for a rebellion against scowls and intensity. Looking for a revolution with their “good time” anthems. Lead singer Jehmina Pearl Abegg and Co. must be some movie buffs, as they pay homage to various flicks throughout the album. “Bitches Leave” is an inspired by Robocop, while my favorite, “Zombie Graveyard Party!” is obviously a nod to Return of the Living Dead. However, a cute, less gory portrait is painted here in the lyrics: “Love is lame so let me eat your brain / Don’t you wanna party in the graveyard tonight”.
The theme is even found on the catchy, potential first single, “The Kelly Affair”, a tip of the hat to Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Pearl screams: “Everybody here parties all the time / Everybody here has sex on their mind / Everybody here is popping pills”. However, Pearl doesn’t seem especially worried in the valley; it’s almost as she’s looking forward to the danger.
On the autobiographical opener, “Super Soaked”, the 20-year-old energetically sings: “Next year I’ll be 21 / Look out world, I wanna have fun”. This sets the table for a recurring sophomoric theme (one that Pearl has previously said is an “exaggerated persona of myself … I do have a slight obession with teenage ideas.”) throughout the album, as she visits subjects like food fights and silly boys.
To up the schoolyard-related ante, Get Awkward also comes with get-to-know-the-band flashcard-type things, which include stats on the band like their birthdays, favorite colors, favorite awkward situation and un-favorite awkward situation. Surprisingly enough, however (and possibly showing that the whole high-school tone is in fact more of a gimmick), three songs were reportedly omitted from the album by record execs, after it was ruled that they were too violent.
Best listened to with relaxation breaks in between, the album has a way of starting to nag at one’s brain cells. Not to say that I can’t applaud them for keeping that fun energy going throughout the entire album—the headache factor just must be another check on my ancient list.
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