Music Review: Cherry Poppin’ Daddies - Skaboy JFK vs. Susquehanna

It’s hard to believe that the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies have been together for 20 years. Most of us only ever heard of them during the late ‘90s, when a swing dance craze appeared on the big city scene (a craze that dissipated all too soon). And, while swing music (and dancing) is probably far from dead, one must admit that the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies have been a bit dormant these last couple of years.

In late September 2009, Rock Ridge Music sought to “remind” everyone that the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies are still around by releasing two albums simultaneously.

One album, Susquehanna, was originally released in 2008 via the band’s website. The second release, the oft-dreaded compilation album, is entitled Skaboy JFK: The Skankin’ Hits Of The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies — a name that causes some confusion with non-CPD fans, many of whom have to question the title. The argument consists of little more than a quip about the band’s best-known mainstream effort, “Zoot Suit Riot,” and is usually followed by a scoff and/or a headshake courtesy the more devout CPD fan.

Indeed, a good decade before “Zoot Suit Riot” was played to death on the radio, the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies were making a name for themselves in the Northwest music scene.

Their performance pieces — featuring half-nude female dancers and phallic props — were branded as “pornographic” by many, and resulted in a number of death threats from the community.

Their music, however, was undeniable — and the band went on to perform nationwide. Skaboy JFK: The Skankin’ Hits Of The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies contains twelve hits dating back to 1994. In a nutshell, the songs contained on Skaboy JFK sound like every other modern ska track I’ve ever heard: repetitive and forgettable. Perhaps I would appreciate the music more if I wore baggy khakis, newsboy caps, and polo shirts on a regular basis. But I don’t. So there.

Article Author: Luigi Bastardo

Luigi Bastardo is the disgruntled alter-ego of Adam Becvar, a thirtysomething lad from Northern California who has watched so many weird movies since the tender age of 3 that a conventional life is out of the question. …

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