Charge!!

Charge!!
Studio album by The Aquabats
Released	June 7, 2005 (2005-06-07)
Recorded	2005
Genre	New Wave, Electronic, Synthpop, Third Wave Ska
Length	38:32
Label	Nitro
Producer	Cameron Webb
Professional reviews
AbsolutePunk (85%) link Allmusic link
The Aquabats chronology
Yo, Check Out This Ride (2004) Charge!! (2005)
Alternate cover
Special One-Year Anniversary Edition cover

Charge!! is the fifth album by The Aquabats. The album marked the band's debut on Nitro Records, and was followed by their first national tour in several years. The album was very similar in sound to the previous year's EP, Yo, Check Out This Ride!. Thematically, it continued the band's satire of the music "scene," from the beginning with the song "Fashion Zombies!", which lampoons fashion trends associated with certain subcultures. Another major theme that was explored on the album, as on many of their other albums, was the pressure and awkwardness of adolescence. "Nerd Alert!" is an affirmation and rallying cry for nerds and outcasts, while "Hot Summer Nights (Won't Last Forever)!" is a ballad sung from the perspective of someone who doesn't realize that the girl he's dating never wants to speak to him again. Though the crew has thinned out since the band's last full length album, the superhero and fantasy elements are still present. "Mechanical Ape!", "Stuck in a Movie!", and "Tiger Rider vs. the Time Sprinkler" are examples of the silly subjects for which the band has become known. The album finishes with "Awesome Forces!", a superhero anthem reminiscent of "Super Rad" or "Theme Song" from The Fury of the Aquabats!

Sonically, the band had lost nearly all of the horn sounds from earlier albums. Virtually all of the songs are backed by an electronic melody, and the album is overall the most guitar-heavy one in their catalog. The album is still stylistically diverse, with "Waterslides!," featuring the Aquabats' ska influence.

The album was released to a very positive reaction from fans. The first song, "Fashion Zombies!" had been released two months earlier for download on the band's website. Copies also appeared on peer-to-peer file sharing networks about a month prior to the official release, much to the band's dismay. Some copies of the album were released without the promised trading cards. It is unclear whether this was a packaging error or whether the cards were only for certain markets.

Charge!! (Special One-Year Anniversary Edition)

In June 2006, a one-year anniversary edition of Charge!! was released. This CD/DVD re-release includes three previously unreleased tracks recorded during the Charge!! recording sessions. The bonus DVD features the "Fashion Zombies!" music video and "What About Charge?!?," a 45-minute documentary about the album, as well as other content. The album's new cover art was painted by artist Brandon Bird.

	"Fashion Zombies!" (2005) Sample of "Fashion Zombies!"
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Track listing

All tracks by The Aquabats

1. "Now, Stand Back for Your Own Safety!" – 0:06
2. "Fashion Zombies!" – 3:16
3. "Stuck in a Movie!" – 2:48
4. "Tiger Rider vs. the Time Sprinkler!" – 2:25
5. "Nerd Alert!" (3:36, ID3 tags say – 3:14)
6. "Plastic Lips!" – 2:42
7. "Look at Me (I'm a Winner)!" – 3:35
8. "Hot Summer Nights (Won't Last Forever)!" – 3:49
9. "Meltdown!" – 3:38
10. "Mechanical Ape!" – 3:06
11. "Demolition Rickshaw!" – 3:14
12. "Waterslides!" – 3:48
13. "Awesome Forces!" – 2:51
14. "Cheeseburger Politics!"* – 2:45
15. "Video Nite!"* – 2:56
16. "Hi-Five City!"*– 2:48

• Tracks marked with an asterisk are included on the One-Year Anniversary release only.
• The song "Look at Me (I'm a Winner)!" was featured in the Xbox 360 game Saints Row, although The Aquabats claim that they did not give permission to allow the song in the game.^{[citation needed]}

After the show Jonathan Sidway, Aaron Malmedal, and Adam Fiscus met with the Bat Commander and introduced him to the topic of Hi-Five City. Hi-Five City is the practice of one person initiating a Hi-Five City by yelling "Hi-Five City!" and proceeding to Hi-Five everyone in the room. The Bat Commander saw the 3 guys do this and was so astonished he had to write a song about it.

Personnel

• The MC Bat Commander – Vocals
• Chainsaw, The Prince of Karate – Guitar, Vocals
• Crash McLarson – Bass, Vocals
• Jimmy The Robot – Keyboards, Vocals
• Ricky Fitness – Drums