The Presidents of the United States of America

Freaked Out and Small

[MusicBlitz.com: Release Date 9/12/2000]

CD Review By Sal Garro

They are officially back with a vengeance. The Presidents of the United States are reunited and releasing a new album for the year 2000 entitled Freaked out and Small. Forget the major labels and complicated hoopla, the Presidents are releasing FOAS on a music website known as Musicblitz, with incentives for preorders which included the CD with your name in the liner notes, an in studio video, and other goodies.

What began as a one song release of "Jupiter" for a friend at Musicblitz evolved into a new album by a band known for breaking out of the Seattle grunge scene in 1995. After contract problems with their past record label, they finally received their band name back and were able to release this amazing piece of musical art.

Freaked Out and Small is the follow up album to what was thought to be the last album by the Presidents of the United States, Pure Frosting. Looking at their past albums, their self-titled debut was an introduction to the band with poppy, catchy songs such as their hit singles "Peaches" and "Lump". Their follow up, II, hand more of a rock element to it and was harder than their debut. Due to various reasons, The Presidents of the USA decided to call it quits in 1998 and threw together one last album entitled Pure Frosting, which was a ‘thank-you-and-goodbye’ type album with previously recorded and unreleased tracks. This new album has a ‘we-are-back-and-ready-to-rock’ type attitude, which displays various emotions and sounds.

The songs on Freaked Out and Small vary in their meaning. They range from dislikes and anger in tracks like "Meanwhile Back in the City" and "I’m Mad" to songs about copyright problems and hassles in "Blank Baby" to sadness in "Headin’ Out". However, the majority of the songs display love and relationships. The Presidents have moved on from their known funky, weird hits to dealing with love in songs like "Tiger Bomb", "Last Girl on Earth", "Superstar", and obviously "Nuthin’ But Love". The first single from the album, "Tiny Explosions", is said to be about the joys of the electric guitar says lead vocalist and bassist, Chris Ballew.

As for the music, a wider variety of instruments are used. Chris Ballew’s old 2-sting bass guitar is back to a normal amount of strings as is Dave Dederer’s old 3-string guitar. This album also displays new instruments such as the piano, organ, and others. Another change of sound is in vocals with Dave Dederer taking lead vocals on "Superstar", "Jazz Guy", and "I’m Mad". Playing bass on "I’m Mad" is former Guns and Roses and Ten Minute Warning bassist, Duff McKagan.

Freaked Out and Small is an amazing album with many different elements of music combined together to created a rock, pop, jazz, funk explosion. The songs are all extremely catchy and you’ll find yourself singing along after only a few listens. The album is good party music and is easy to dance to. I highly recommend this magnificent piece of music.