Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Alas, Are Swingers No More
By by TAYLOR AICHEL, Contributing Writer
Cherry Poppin' Daddies' sophomore album, "Soul Caddy," has soul only in the album's title. This mix of big-band-meets-bubblegum-pop music does nothing but put forward risqué, awkward lyrics, excessively loud bass and drowning horns.

The lyrics are so bad that immoderately mixed instrumentals should be considered an aid, but seeing as how everything in the album is used in plethora, it makes it very hard for the ear to comprehend the sounds properly.

Unlike their first album, "Zoot Suit Riot," "Soul Caddy" lacks the big band feeling of the roaring '20s and swinging '30s. The songs have been modernized, producing an uneasy feeling in the listening ear. It is almost as if Cherry Poppin' Daddies is trying to make the cross into the genre of alternative/ ska.

The third track, "God is a Spider," explains that Jesus no longer exists and that God does nothing but control the lives of men. The bleak lyrics are accompanied by an upbeat, fast musical arrangement, which makes it hard for the listener to be able to digest the significance of the song.

The song that follows, "Stay, Don't Just Stay," leaves the big band genre altogether, instead approximating '50s doo-wop with the drums shuffling to a danceable quarter count. While the ditty is enjoyable to listen to, it in no way echoes the message of the first album that "swing is in"-perhaps because swings is no longer quite as "in." Nevertheless, swing music is hardly seen in "Soul Caddy," as the band creates a collage of different types of music.

The vibe changes from track to track, leaving the listener confused as to what it is that she is listening to. Many might find this to be an asset when buying an album, since most albums to fit all too nicely into a single musical formula. In "Soul Caddy," the Cherry Poppin' Daddies do not succumb to formula, but the result is formless and watered-down rather than boldly eclectic. Their sophomore album is, as one of the tracks is entitled, "The Saddest Thing I Know."

Issue 06, Submitted 2000-10-17 16:51:08