Kamikaze Records, June 5, 2020
The Hawaiians are here to save (ahem, invade) summer.
German pop-punks The Hawaiians pay homage to surf music, bubblegum, and Ramones, fitting into a fun lineage that includes bands like Beatnik Termites, The Veterans, and Travoltas. On Invading The Summer, The Hawaiians newest full-length, they give off some of the best summer vibes, loaded with singalongs and bubblegum simplicity that goes for the legs and hips instead of the head.
Songs like “Hawaiian Fun”, “Invading The Sun”, and “Mommy Was Right” mix in Ramones-style buzzsaw guitars with “ooh-wee-ooh-ooh” and “ba ba-ba ba ba”-types of backing vocals. “Hawaiian Fun” pulls fun tricks like key changes while singing remarkably silly lines like “licking ice cream in the sun, chewing on my bubblegum”. And really, that line pretty much sums up the attitude of the record. “Mommy Was Right” does much the same, throwing in some organ and more Veterans-style surf vibes for good measure. And “Invading The Sun” does all that and throws in some great Travoltas-style harmonies (fitting since the producer of the record is from Travoltas). And I shouldn’t forget, “I Can’t Tell Her”, which got me thinking of the Beach Boys-fixation of Don’t Back Down with its surfy guitars and backing vocals. It’s just great singalong after great singalong.
The Hawaiians also throw in some rockabilly guitar that actually works for me on “Full Moon Fever”. Coupled with a sort of aggressive (for them at least) verse section and a chorus melody to die for, and you’ve got another killer song. And then you have the spelling songs, the “S-a-t-u-r-d-a-y night”-sort of songs. “Dreamsville” has some popping organ, huge hooks, and great “sha-na-na” backing vocals and it’s all set off by a “s-t-u-p-i-d d-u-m-b” spell along. Likewise, “Do The Heino” spells out “H-e-i-n-o”, only this time it’s set against a more throwback 50’s-heavy backdrop that namedrops Jeffrey Hyman (aka Joey Ramone). “Dreamsville” wins the spelling bee by a hair, but both are cool.
Those looking for aggressive punk rock and serious messages and meaning and politics and substance should look elsewhere. However, the Hawaiians have a lot of good (and silly) stuff going on here. This is definitely escapist pop punk, heavy on both the escapist and the pop. But the throwbacks and singalongs are ear candy that are hard to resist. And really, what’s the point in that? Just relax and enjoy!
You might like this if:
- You like buzzing punk and fetching hooks; you know, like Ramones
You might not if:
- You like your punk rock angry or serious, aggressive and inspiring action, not silly and fun and escapist
ryan is a reviewer and news editor for TGEFM. He’s very secretive, he might be an alien.
