Lunch Drunk Love is the latest album from Texas party rock group Bowling For Soup.
The album was funded by fans when Bowling For Soup reached out to fans asking for help. They got way more than expected which allowed the band to give fans a totally interactive experience when it came to creating the album.
Album opener Critically Disdained is a nice acoustic and catchy start. Jared Riddick’s distinctive vocals makes it great. The ong kicks up a gear with full band joining half way through to make this a great start to the album. The second track Since We Broke Up is pure vintage Bowling For Soup. A catchy track about a break up with witty, clever lyrics. When first listening to the track I imagined a crowd full of angry single guys (including myself) singing it dedicating it to their ex.
The most amazing thing about Bowling For Soup is that they manage to create songs that are incredible open and emotional but still carry the party vibe that they create and make the song fun as well as very personal. This is seen and heard throughout Bowling For Soup entire back catalogue and “Real” is the best, but not the only, example from Lunch Drunk Love. I’ve never known a band be able to combine open, emotional lyrics and fun, party vibes at the same time. It really is amazing. It can’t be put down to almost 20 years of experience either, the same brilliant combination has been evident since their self titled debut way back in ’94.
One of my favourite lines from the album is from the track “From The Rooftops” it is a very simple, almost sickeningly cliché line but because it is from Bowling For Soup they just make everything sound better and it just spoke to me “Follow your heart F*ck everybody else”. Much like the album opener “Circle” starts off acoustically and has very open, honest and heartfelt lyrics, again the full band joins in like in “Critically Disdained” but they keep it slow and mellow to match the lyrics perfectly.
My favourite track on the album is “Normal Chicks”. It is classic Bowling For Soup. Fun filled and catchy track about just liking a girl the way she is, none of this surgery, hair extensions, face full of make up or dressing up nonsense just liking someone the way they are. “And I Think You Like Me Too” is a really upbeat track, nice whistle and “la la la la la” in the chorus. Great lyrics that just put a smile of your face.
The album is in two parts for me. An absolutely outstanding first half but then a second half with songs that just seem to be filler. They are not poor songs they are just mediocre, nothing bad about them but nothing that makes them stand out like the songs in the first half.
Bowling For Soup are showing no signs of slowing down. Celebrating their 20th anniversary next year and there are talks of an acoustic and covers album in the near future we can expect much, much more from the veteran Texas party rock band.
There is bad news however for UK fans. Their upcoming tour in October will be their last in the UK so I’d implore everyone to seize their last chance to see these guys live.