Wheatus
Known primarily for hits 'Teenage Dirtbag' and a cover of Eurasure's 'A Little Respect', Wheatus' self-titled debut album was actually a brilliant, concise and consistent pop-rock record.
We'll be chatting to front-man Brendan B. Brown later today, so to celebrate we're taking a look back at their first album.
From 'Truffles' opening the show right through to 'Wannabe Gangstar', it's a lesson on how to create an up-beat, exciting pop album with a bit of an edge.
Whilst 'Teenage Dirtbag' was the big one, any number of these songs could've been a hit single.
Tracks like 'Sunshine' show early on that Brendan does have some obvious guitar talent, and his soaring vocals emphasise every hook and melody brilliantly.
It's a testament to the quality of this album that 'Teenage Dirtbag' fits in well without standing out as a runaway favourite.
That said, it's still a gloriously infectious song, and hearing it in the context of the album, it's not at all surprising it was such a huge hit for the band.
Wheatus do prove that they're more than a clean-up pop-rock act, particularly on songs like 'Punk Ass B****' and 'Hump'em N' Dump'em', the latter showing Brendan B. Brown's impressive vocal range.
There's an underlying energy going through the record that keeps it going, and it is a genuine shame this album isn't remembered as well as it should be.
Perhaps its finest moment is 'Love Is A Mutt From Hell', a track about abusive controlling and abusive relationships, done with enough charm to hide the slightly dark undertones of the song.
Much more than two or three track record, Wheatus created a near-masterpiece in the pop-rock genre, which has sadly been almost forgotten over the last decade.
Check out our first interview with the band here, and check back this week for a new interview and live review.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
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