Ballyhoo!

Album Title: Pineapple Grenade
Record Label: Right Coast Records
Review by Sal Serio
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Ballyhoo! - Pineapple GrenadeBallyhoo! - Pineapple Grenade

I now know what I would say if I put rum, pineapple, Sublime, 311, and Green Day into a blender and set it to max mix. Well, first I’d probably exclaim “voila!”, but the next thing to come from my salivating chops would be “Ballyhoo” !! Ballyhoo? Hell yes, Ballyhoo - the happening reggae-rock ska-pop punksters from Aberdeen, just Northeast of Baltimore. I have to wonder if John Waters ever showed at one of their gigs!

The brand spanking new ‘Pineapple Grenade’ disc is super fun and energetic from the get-go! There’s a lot to take in here too, with quite a few compositions that shift tempo and jump genres during the same song. Some of the more upbeat moments make me think of skate punks skanking the daisy chain and diving off the stage, but the softer stuff is more like relaxing by seaside, contemplating the waves, and inhaling bliss from a cool breeze.

The combination of Howi Spangler’s poppy vocalizations and crunchy guitar, with Scott Vandrey’s punchy electric keyboards and harmony vocals make me think this band should really be going somewhere. I’m especially impressed by “No Good” which was produced by Rome Ramierez (Sublime) and mixed by Paul Leary (Butthole Surfers). Ballyhoo is definitely surfing the fast lane!

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