Flight 180

Item: Girls & Boys
Author: Olin Jenkins

Girls & Boys

(2001)

Reviewed by Olin Jenkins

Discogs Apple Music TIDAL Spotify

Label BEC RecordingsThe Phantom Tollbooth2001

pop punk ska punk

Flight 180, the swing-ska band formerly known as One Eighty, is back, right? Only half correct. The band, which had to change its name after its first project, Crackerjack just before the all-swing Lineup (if you prefer swing, get a copy of Lineup), makes it very clear that their style of music is straight-ahead rock and roll. There are hints of ska and punk that point towards the sound of BEC label-mates Value Pac or the OC Supertones as well as Big Dog Small Fence. Flight 180 has sliced its eight-member lineup to four but still enlists the help of former members for Boys & Girls. Madelyn Mendoza still lends vocal support on a few songs to keep the two-girl lead vocals intact, but Kimmy Tennberg fronts the band as "chick rock," much like the Go-Go's. The misnomer with the group's sound style is due to the success of "Tick Tock" and "405" (leading to the "Lineup" project), for which listeners considered Flight 180 a swing band. Not unlike Crackerjack, Boys & Girls sounds a bit retro, and that's good news. Flight 180 isn't back, but the band is back on track.

Flight 180's Boys & Girls is 100% power-punched pop/rock/ska/punk/swing (oops! there's a hint of swing there; that ingredient is a fine element for Flight 180). Every track from this project is one that deserves to be played LOUD! The music is exciting, and I want to see Flight 180 perform these songs in concert.

Boys & Girls is a pointed step forward from Crackerjack, as its lyrics are bolder and incredibly sharp. Each song is Christ-centered, and standout tracks are "I Want a Guy," which deals with God's perfect timing for our personal relationships; "Superhero" (guess Who's our true Superhero?); "More," focusing on the theme of putting Jesus Christ first in our lives; and "Good Thing" (the only bit of swing here), our simple acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior as a "definite good thing." There are fun tracks here, too. Check out "Wal Mart" and "Boys Will Be Boys." The former's about a touring band finding comfort of something familiar on the road, and the latter is from a girl's perspective, the beauty of being a human being.

Flight 180 is really back on track with Boys & Girls, and if you like the music style described (including, very importantly: LOUD), grab a copy of Boys & Girls as quickly as possible. There is still room for improvement for this very tightly-knit band. The intro to "Time" could have ripped into its upbeat tempo immediately, and Tennberg's vocals can stand to be mixed up just slightly to give her a true "front" to an excellent band. I expect big things from Flight 180 for many years to come, and Boys & Girls tracked an excellent flight log.

4.5 tocks