Wheatus CD

Smart, melodic, pop/punk/metal in the grand tradition, with stylistic nods to what seems like every genre practitioner, from Blink 182 to Cheap Trick to the early Who. The songs here are full of anthemic choruses, huge washes of guitar, and appealingly winsome singing by writer/guitarist Brendan Brown. Lyrically, there's a certain snot-nosed suburban teenage sensibility reminiscent of Weezer, and for those with long memories, even the first Dictators album, although Brown's mostly interested in wordplay.

Among the album's best numbers are the cheerfully hook-laden "Teenage Dirtbag" (which brings to two the number of puzzling references to Iron Maiden that appear here); "Love is a Mutt From Hell," a very funny he said-she said song with a glorious, soaring chorus; and the equally melodic "Hump 'Em N' Dump 'Em," which appears to be about a one-night stand gone horribly wrong (she eats his cat). Basically there's nothing here that isn't rewarding on some level. A great debut.

Wheatus is a showcase for the songs of singer/guitarist Brendan B. Brown, who has a taste for catchy, guitar-driven pop/rock, a gift for gab, and a snotty attitude. "Teenage Dirtbag," Brown's anthem for high school losers (featured, appropriately, in Amy Heckerling's film Loser), which combines humiliation with humor and even a happy ending, is carried along on familiar riffs, a hooky chorus, and smart-aleck lyrics. And that's the story for most of the songs on this album, though Brown reveals broader experience in a heartfelt cover of the Erasure hit "A Little Respect" and sounds less like a high school student than an aspiring rock star impatient with his record company publicist on "Hey, Mr. Brown." Whatever their nominal subjects, from the perils of obsessive romance ("Love Is a Mutt From Hell") to a white boy's hapless attempts to acquire hip-hop culture ("Wannabe Gangstar"), Brown's songs appeal because of their peppy pop/rock energy and the clever lyrics. This is a guy who refers more than once to Iron Maiden but whose music is more suggestive of Cheap Trick (especially on "Leroy," which recalls "Surrender"), and all the better for it. Bassist Rich Liegey, who left the band before the release of this record, has one song, "Punk Ass Bitch," that shows he's no slouch as a songwriter either and makes you wonder what his next project will be. But Brown is more than capable of handling the load, and with any luck this relatively short album will be the beginning of a great career. [A Japanese version added a bonus track.] ~ William Ruhlmann

Japanese version of the Weezer-like alternative act's 2000 debut album. Includes the hit single, 'Teenage Dirtbag' and one bonus track, 'Never Write A Song'. Standard jewelcase.

Japanese version features one bonus track.

Wheatus: Brendan Brown (vocals, guitar); Rich Liegey (vocals, bass); Phillip A. Jimenez (harmonica, keyboards, percussion); Peter Brown (drums, percussion, background vocals).

Additional personnel: Pipi Longscratchings (scratches).

Rolling Stone (9/28/00, p.61) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...Straightforward fast-paced pop with rough thrash edges....proving that the snarky rock&roll nerd with more chops than the jocks was not just a mid-'90s phenomenon..."
Q (3/01, p.113) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Brendan B Brown has a way with an endearing tale and his band's debut album lasts for 33 stodge-free minutes....The single 'Teenage Dirtbag' will be a huge hit..."