Take a Break

Interrupt one's activity briefly, as in We've been working for two hours; let's take a break. Also see take five.

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• Artist: Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
• Rating:
• Release Date: July 01, 2003
• Genre: Rock

Review

Two years after punkifying some of the '60s' more popular songs for Blow in the Wind, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes return with Take a Break, their stab at some of R&B's classier, yet almost forgettable, tunes. The So-Cal five-piece is as rowdy as ever and their own punk rock polish is undeniably infectious. What made Blow in the Wind so great is exactly what makes Take a Break even cooler. It's straightforward rock & roll without the swagger -- tomfoolery without being lame -- and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are clever in giving new life to some of these tracks. Whereas Lionel Richie's "Hello" and Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" banked success with their heavy-hearted tones, the Gimme Gimmes spike that mood for a punchy, feel-good time. A more electric, rough-edged alternative of Seal's "Crazy" is equally fashionable and slick to the original version. Add a bit of quick wit and pinch-hitting percussion, and the energy of Take a Break is more than enough to impress the new millennium punk kids. If not, the band's pouncing banjo dance of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" will do it. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes do rock & roll the right way because they don't try too hard. Take a Break once again showcases why they rock in the first place. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Where Do Broken Hearts Go	Frank Wildhorn, Chuck Jackson	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(2:30)
Hello	Lionel Richie	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(2:18)
End of the Road (Lyrics)	Antonio M. Reid, Daryl Simmons, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(3:00)
Ain't No Sunshine (Lyrics)	Bill Withers	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(1:44)
Nothing Compares 2 U (Lyrics)	Prince	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(2:41)
Crazy (Lyrics)	Seal	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(3:08)
Isn't She Lovely	Stevie Wonder	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(2:25)
I Believe I Can Fly (Lyrics)	R. Kelly	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(3:01)
Oh Girl (Lyrics)	Eugene Record	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(1:58)
I'll Be There (Lyrics)	Berry Gordy, Jr., Willie Hutch, Hal Davis, Berry Gordy, Bob West	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(2:07)
Mona Lisa (Lyrics)	Jay Livingston, R. Evans	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(2:50)
Save the Best for Last (Lyrics)	Jon Lind, Wendy Waldman	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(2:05)
Natural Woman (Lyrics)	Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Gerald Wexler	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes	(2:37)

Credits

Christopher "Snoop Dodgy" "C Dawg" Dodge (Liner Notes), Joey Cape (Guitar), Eddy Schreyer (Mastering), Jackson (Guitar), Spike Slawson (Vocals), Jay Blakesberg (Photography), Ryan Greene (Engineer), Mona Whetzel (Assistant), Adam Krammer (Assistant), Adam Krammer (Engineer), Lisa Brownlee (Stylist), Jackson (Ukulele)

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