"Deep in the South Pacific lies an undiscovered island. This island housed a people raised on the foundation of song and the luxury of time. An island named after it's amphibious and bat-like people...AQUABANIA! Life could not be too good on the island, from churro-baking contests to Calypso Camp, until an evil force descended upon the island and life would never be the same. Pushed to the brink of disaster, eight (or sometimes nine) men escaped impending doom. In a hollowed out log, these eight (or nine) men made their way to the highest waterfall and dropped into the raging sea. Drifting aimlessly for days, they washed up on a sandy beach owned by a fantastically insane scientist known only as "The Professor." Pulling them from their wooded tomb, he laid them on the sand and having pity on them, he took them under his care. Later, they explained their story and looked up into his bespectacled eyes for pity.
Learning of their peril, he decided to help them fight their cause by giving them the only gift he was capable of - The Power of Insanity. Through the use of The Professor's scientiffically altered convenience store foods, these eight (or nine) men gained powers well beyond that of ordinary Aquabanians. They became the "AquaBuds"...then the "AquaBoys"...then finally, just "Mel and Friends." But later the truth was revealed to them - THEY WERE THE AQUABATS!
With their new-found abilities, they set out on a rigorous course of training. Everyday The Professor would would give them their morning corndog and they set out to the water for surf and energy enhancing sun activities. Later in the day, a nourishing churro would give them the power they needed to withstand even a brick to the forehead.
In the evening , they played music (which The Professor would help them with his own Hypno-mind-controlling wave patterns). This would help them gain the unwilling loyalty of those who would dare to listen! By gaining such a following, The Professor knew they (and he) could gain power over the evil forces that led them so far from home. Armed with radioactive rash guards and anti-negativity helmets, these eight (or nine) Aquabats had set out to conquer the world!!!"
Okay, okay - so maybe it didn't happen that way. But these guys are definitely worth checking out due to their successful combination of powerpop, surf rock, pop-punk, and third-wave ska, complete with catchy tunes and hilarious lyrics. Easily one of the most underrated "ska/punk" groups nowadays. I mean, c'mon! They're wearing skintight uniforms!
LINKAGE:
The Aquabats on purevolumeThe Aquabats on purevolume (unofficial)The Aquabats on MySpace
Coldplay first attained world-wide success on the strength of their memorable romantic-dream pop--the classic "Yellow," from their Parachute debut being just one gleaming example. By the time of their third album, X&Y, the band had grown to such ridiculous commercial heights that they could easily have stuck to earlier formulas without risking or adding anything new. Yet Colplay explores alot of new territory in X&Y, referencing everyone from Kraftwerk to Radiohead. Coldplay's ascension as the rock heroes of the new millenium rivals that of Nirvana's just ten years earlier. Both were unwitting heroes of a rock scene desperate for a leader and both donned their crowns with great reluctance. But unlike Nirvana, Coldplay chose the dream-pop route to success.
