Schatzi

Item: Fifty Reasons to Explode
Author: Tom Bastian

Fifty Reasons to Explode

(2002)

Reviewed by Tom Bastian

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Label Mammoth RecordsDecapolisMarch 2002

pop rock power pop

Schatzi is four piece pop rock band from Austin, TX via Oklahoma. "Fifty Reasons to Explode" is the band's 2nd full-length release and first on Mammoth Records. Well actually they had an 8 song EP that came out on Mammoth but many of those songs appear on this release; re-recorded. The album was produced by Ed Rose (The Get Up Kids, The Anniversary) in Lawrence, Kansas.

Schatzi is a pop rock band. They play catchy pop tunes with an edge. This album brings to mind various other pop rock bands such as Fountains of Wayne, Chixdiggit, Nerf Herder, Ultimate Fakebook and yes of course Weezer. If you're a fan of any of the bands I just mentioned then there is a pretty good chance you are going to at least have some interest in checking out "Fifty Reasons to Explode". For the sound is similar to those other bands, but still has enough going on to set it apart. The one downside to Schatzi, at least on this release, is they don't seem to quite have the humor that the other bands playing this style have. Which in my opinion is something you definitely need to have if you're going to be playing this power pop/geek rock made popular by Weezer and Nerf Herder.

Ed Rose did a great job on producing this album. Sonically it's right on. The guitar melodies instantly draw in your attention and with only a few listens you will be quickly singing along. As I mentioned earlier you may not get as many chuckles out of this release as you would singing along to a Nerf Herder album. But none the less if you consider yourself a fan of the genre it would be in your best interest to check this release out. With the backing of a great label such as Mammoth, the producing credit of Ed Rose and the touring resume that includes bands such as The Promise Ring, The Get Up Kids, The Anniversary and the Juliana Theory this band has definitely taken a step in the right direction.

B-