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Right now my laptop is precariously perched on the butcher-block island in my kitchen, there's a pot of rice making a huge mess on the left back burner, and a pan of pork chops searing in a cast iron skillet that I'm mildly afraid to touch due to spattering grease and my innate fear of grease-fires. Amid a pile of chopped chives my laptop is blasting the new Bowling For Soup record “Sorry for Partyin’” and I am dancing around like a crazy person putting myself and my mother’s new home in grave danger.

There are several things going on right now that I don’t know about: a) I have no idea at all how to actually cook pork chops, b) I have no idea how to tell when rice is done cooking, and c) I have no idea what I would do if I do, in fact, start a grease fire.

There are two things of which I am certain however: a) If my neighbors were to glance inside of our kitchen right now, they would think that their new next-door friends were in fact totally insane, and b) This album freakin’ ROCKS!

“Sorry For Partyin’” is Bowling For Soup’s seventh studio album and was released on October 12th, 2009. If you’re a long time reader of The Sound Faction, you may have seen videos for both singles featured on the front page of our site. The first single being “My Wena” a delightful song chalk full of double entendres with a music video of a hot chick in a giant phallus costume (or puppies, you get to pick!) the second single being “No Hablo Ingles” featuring the band’s front man Jaret Reddick as an enthusiastic info-mercial salesman. (both videos can be seen at the band’s official YouTube page: youtube.com/bowlingforsouptv)

Now I have been a seriously huge long-time Bowling For Soup fan, and I have every last CD in my collection (despite my “super punk rock” friends giving me shit for it) and Sorry For Partyin’ is a seriously welcome addition to my shelves! This is the first time that I’m listening to the album as a whole (let me cut you off here-- “But Caity, the album has been out for a MONTH!” -- I know, I know. But between working on a political campaign, running my company and being totally poor, I was only able to buy the CD yesterday). I am so totally won over by this record! Those who know me know that even for my favourite bands I have to listen to the album a few times before I can proclaim my love for it, but as I slip on the Pam mist that hit the floor and nearly face-plant into a pan of pork, I have no hesitation in exclaiming it on the very first listen: I, Caity Brown, absolutely love this record!

So let’s hit on my top five favourite tracks!

Track 1: A Really Cool Dance Song
This tongue-in-cheek look at dance songs/bands that have taken over our teenagers and radio waves cracks me the hell up… and makes me dance. I can’t help it! I am generally not one to listen to the super synth-y dance bands, but this song is so catchy you can’t help but to laugh at yourself while you bust a horrifyingly embarrassing move.
Favourite Lyric Snip: “This song sounds like a dance song, cuz dance songs are cool now, so get up and shake what your momma gave ya.”.

Track 2: No Hablo Ingles
No Hablo Ingles gives all of us a guide on how to get out of every sticky situation we could imagine… simply blurt out “No hablo Ingles” (for you folks who don’t know, the saying means “I don’t speak English” in Spanish). The song gives several interesting situations in which you can use this key phrase, in a classically catchy melody that leaves you with a huge smile on your face. I’m quite looking forward to using this for the next time Manda gets on my case about a late article or submission. “Where's that Bowling For Soup review, Caity?” ... “No hablo Ingles!”
Favourite Lyric Snip: “My nephew asked me if I’d take him to the Jonas Brother’s movie, no hablo ingles!”

Track 6: BFFF
This song has the classic BFS sound to it, along the lines of 1985, Punk Rock 101 etc.. this is not to say, of course, that Bowling For Soup is a one-track band, but when you hear a BFS song, you know it! They have a certain je ne sais quoi about them that is just ultimately recognizable. (A good thing, guys… seriously!) BFFF is all about your classic bromance, and had me laughing the entire time at thoughts of friends of mine who have similar bromances.
Favourite Lyric Snip: “And sometimes we punch each other in the face, like when I hit on your mom and got to second base, I’m trying to say I love you in a Heterosexual way.”

Track 8: Hooray for Beer
Now it is no big secret that Bowling For Soup like their beer. From their “Bowling For Soup powered beverage break and photo opportunity” during live shows to dedicating this entire song to the wonders and glory of how beer makes everything better! It’s a fun song, great to dance around (and baste pork chops) to!
Favourite Lyric Snip: “Hooray for beer I’m really glad you’re here, let’s make this moment last. You feel so right, wanna be with you all night, shout it out: Hooray for beer!”

Track 12: I Can’t Stand LA
Over the course of writing this review, I have listened to this song at least five times, each time cracking me up harder than the last! This song is exactly what it sounds like, a cabaret inspired ode to a universal dislike of Los Angeles, California. They mention many other cities across the country, always returning however, to the fact that they can’t stand LA. This one is my favourite to sing along to, with fast-paced lyrics, a great melody to belt out at the top of your lungs, and a beat to keep you grooving!
Favourite Lyrip Snip: “I only leave Dallas when I have to, but when I do I like Tulsa, OK, and I ain’t got nothing against California, but I can’t stand LA!”

Now although those are my five favourite tracks on the record, the rest of the album is chalk full of awesome! I love every single one of the 14 tracks on the album, and I can’t wait to hear the other 4 tracks from the “US Deluxe Digital Download” (along with 5 B-Sides). I whole heartedly recommend that you check out this album as soon as you physically can and get your rock on!

Caity gives “Sorry For Partyin’” 5/5 stars!

Other Bowling For Soup Reviews:
-Album Review - The Great Burrito Extortion Case: By Caity
-DVD Review - Bowling For Soup, Live and Very Attractive: By Caity

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