Adorned with matching costumes and masks, The Aquabats 30-year career has taken them on a long ride from their ska punk roots to a more current iteration that features more of a New Wave feel. Along the way their brand of comedy rock and tongue-in-cheek humor has made them somewhat of a cult classic underground darling. They’ve established an elaborate fictional universe filled with mythology that details an extensive roster of enemies and allies, many of whom appear in this album and take part in mock fight scenes durig their live shows. They’ve always reminded me of the legendary “Artie, The Strongest Man in the World” from 90’s show “Pete and Pete” in their absurdity. Recently they’ve reignited their online show, which first episode features luminaries such as Jack Black, Strong Bad, Triumph The Insult Comic Dog, and Lieutenant Dangle (among many others), showcasing just how strong of a cult following the band has had over the years.
An important footnote to this album is that The Fury of The Aquabats! was the last album to feature Travis Barker on drums (he went by Baron von Tito when in the band) before he joined Blink-182 for 1999’s Enema of the State. The story of Barker’s departure is serendipitous in a way– The Aquabats! were on tour with Blink-182 at the time, and after abruptly firing drummer Scott Raynor in the middle of the tour due to his substance abuse issues, Barker filled in for Raynor, learning the entire 20-song setlist a mere 45 minutes before the show was scheduled to begin. By the end of the tour Mark Hoppus and Tom Delonge were so enamored with Barker’s drumming ability they asked him to join the band and the rest was history.
Standout Songs: “Red Sweater!”, “Magic Chicken!”, “Idiot Box!”
