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Chixdiggit! - Born on the First of July, for me is one of the greatest Pop-Punk albums of all times. their music is both upbeat, but also really emotional (not "emo" ). While they are a little lesser know in the punk rock world, this album got them some album sales. I should also mention, this band has some of the best vocals I have ever heard in punk rock. Please download and enjoy this album as much as I do!
For fans of: NOFX, The Queers, Teen Idols, the Lillingtons, or any other extremley catchy upbeat pop punk band.
BAND BIO:
The band was started after K.J. Jansen, Mark O'Flaherty and Mike Eggermont started selling Chixdiggit T-shirts at their high-school, although at this stage the band did not officially exist. Eventually the shirts started selling well, which provided the band with enough money to purchase a drum kit. However, none of the band members had any musical experience nor did any of the members own instruments (except Mark who owned a classical guitar). Mike took up playing bass and because "KJ couldn't sit still long enough to be drummer" he took up playing guitar as well as becoming the lead vocalist for the band.
Officially the band started in 1991 and started playing shows in 1992. However, they only played a small number of shows at this stage and decided to concentrate their efforts on practicing. In 1993 the band started playing regularly in venues around Calgary.
In 1996 Chixdiggit were signed to Sub Pop records. They released their first self-titled album on the record label, however they only lasted a short time on the label. The band left the label as they felt as though they didn't fit in with the record label's ideals. As stated by Mike from the band: "the people that actually had to sell our records and deal with us on a day to day basis were not quite so fond of us."
At this stage Chixdiggit was touring worldwide. They were quickly picked up by Honest Don's Records, a Fat Wreck Chords subsidiary from San Francisco.
After the release of 2000's From Scene to Shining Scene, the band took a hiatus, from which they returned in 2003, and in 2005 the band started writing and recording its fourth full length album, Pink Razors. The album was released April 19, 2005 on Fat Wreck Chords in North American and Bad Taste Records in Europe.
Founding member Mike Eggermont left the band in 2002 and started Blatant Media, a software company. In 2003, drummer Dave Alcock (owner of Sundae Sound recording studio) left the band, and was replaced by the band's original drummer, Jason Hirsch.
On October 31st, 2007, the band released a re-recording of their debut album, Chixdiggit!, on Bad Taste Records. The re-recorded album was titled Chixdiggit! II.
Review from Punknews.org
Quote:
Calgary’s Chixdiggit! Is a great example of how pop punk should be. Released on Honest Don’s (not even on it’s big-brother Fat Wreck Chords) the album plays like pop punk should: fast, minimalist (simple sounds insulting), and fun. The tongue-in-cheek humour and love songs that one would expect are here. However the heavy production and NOFX-rips that characterizes most pop-punk can’t be found. Also, there is no emo-like song to make the girls (re: consumers) fall in love with the band.
Chixdiggit borrows more from the Ramones then they do from the Queers or NOFX. It’s a very refreshing sound. The band plays like a group of friends having fun, which is what pop-punk bands are before the dollars begin to flow. While KJ Jansen's vocals will surprise you at first (they are SOFT), they fit the band's music surprisingly well. “Sikome Beach,” “Chupacabras,” and “My Restaurant” are light-hearted and enjoyable songs. The best song on the album is unassumingly the Sylvia Hutton cover “Nobody,” which is the unlisted secret song. Wherever he is, I’m willing to assume that Joey Ramone will pogo to this long before any of those “new school” pop-punk bands.
It's not an important album, but it's not trying to be.
- Adam White (Shindo) |
Born on the First of July is the second full-length album by Chixdiggit. It was released on April 21, 1998.
Tracklist:
1. Gettin' Air - 1:33
2. My Girl's Retro - 1:09
3. Sikome Beach - 1:49
4. Chupacapras - 2:00
5. Quit Your Job - 0:25
6. My Restaurant - 2:07
7. Julianne - 1:04
8. 20 Times - 2:28
9. Ohio - 1:44
10. Haven't Got Time For - 1:38
11. 2000 Flushes - 0:58
12. Brunette Summer - 4:33
13. Nobody (Kye Fleming, Dennis Morgan) - 2:11
* Track 13 is unlisted.
Enjoy & Seed!
~avc~ |
