Search - Nerf Herder :: American Cheese

A good album with a couple of great songs

Robert Moore | Chicago, IL USA | 11/24/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nerf Herder, best known for having performed the theme song for BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER (they were also the band that performed in The Bronze the last time it appeared in an episode of Buffy), is actually a pretty decent band. To continue on the Buffy theme, they do songs that pretty much like what you would imagine "The Three" from Season Six would have written. In other words, they are practitioners of Nerd Rock, not quite as accomplished as Fountains of Wayne, but not at all bad. Most of the songs on the album are at least listenable, and I don't think anyone who enjoys alternative rock would dislike this album at all. It won't be the best album in your collection, but neither would it be your worse.There is, however, one thing that tempers my recommendation, and that is the presence of two of my favorite comic songs of recent years. Although many of the cuts on the album are excellent--"Rock City News" and "New Wave Girl" both stand out--two songs are classics in the making: "Mr. Spock" and "Jenna Bush Army." The former is the ultimate nerd love lament. The singer upbraids his would-be girl because no guy is good enough for her except for Mr. Spock. Yeah, that Mr. Spock, the pointy ears Vulcan from STAR TREK. The second verse is as surreal and strange as any in rock. The singer explains that Capt. Kirk descended to a planet's surface to fight the Man Lizard (a reference to an episode where Kirk engages in gladiator-like combat with a powerfully built reptilian humanoid, and defeats him when he reinvents gunpowder) and in defeating him saves all the lives of the Enterprise, at which point in the song the singer screams accusingly: "But that's just not good enough for you. Is it?" I play this song for friends, and they just shake their head in disbelief. By the way, when I say Nerf Herder was the last band to play in The Bronze on Buffy, this was the song they performed.The other future classic is "Jenna Bush Army," which despite being about one of the president's two twin daughters is amazingly nonpolitical. Jenna, if one recalls, is the one who was arrested for underage drinking, and perhaps that misstep is why she because the subject for the song rather than her sister. Basically, the song is a nerd drooling over what he perceives to be a hot looking gal, and the closest the song gets to politics is his singing that being a hormonally challenged young male he will vote with his groin ("Sir I'm horny/And I vote"). It is a pretty hysterical song.So, I suppose whether I recommend this album to someone depends on whether one is looking for an album that is great all the way through, or merely decent at its low points, better at others, and phenomenal only a couple of times. Personally, I wouldn't want to do without an album with two songs as good as "Mr. Spock" or "Jenna Bush Army," but other might. Definitely a fun party album."

Cheese and giraffes (giraffes was entirely off-topic)

ecglees | Washington | 11/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first decided to purchase this cd because there was a slice of american cheese on the cover...yes, that's the honest truth, I am a bit of a cheese (like actually cheese, that comes from like cows who have like 4 stomachs) fanatic and well, there it was blatantly staring me in the face saying "buy me, buy me...please?" So, I bought it... and it doesn't suck. Well, it sucks if you're into complex, beautiful poetry lyrics or sad, depressing lyrics, or country, or jazz, or well, a lot of other genres besides alternative rock infused with comedy (which is like the soul of nerf herder, I'm sure).
Through all the hilarity of Mr. Spock, Welcome to my world (or as I like to call it, "the song that makes me want to watch Mr. belvedere"), and Jenna Bush Army, there are those redundant boring songs like Rock City News and Jacket and Defending the Faith (which aren't even really that bad unless you have freakishly high standards for your music) that I swear are the same song with entirely different lyrics, themes, beat, etc. So, yeah (I swear it makes sense, just think about it). Overall I think this is a great album especially if you want to laugh and feel like you are sharing one big inside joke with the band Nerf Herder."

Geekiness abound

Leah Riley | Raleigh, NC | 09/06/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album, though not quite as great as the Nerf Herder self-titled album (golf shirt cover), is still a decent rock. Most songs, like "Jenna Bush Army" and "New Jersey Girl" are good singalongs. The single "Mr. Spock" is so darn catchy that I've been singing it for three days and the video showcases the cheesiest of Star Trek camera tricks. "Welcome to my world" is also a great song, reflecting the loneliness of rejected males as distinctly and humorously possible.
Nerf Herder is going on tour soon in the NE U.S. (after their European leg). I certainly hope to get to see them."