To this day, it is this writer's belief that Ghoti Hook's 1996 debut release on Tooth and Nail Records, Sumo Surprise, is one of the best records that Tooth and Nail has released in its four years of existence. The five-man band from Virginia produced a very fun and heavily punk-style record with Sumo Surprise, one that would delight fans of MxPx, Green Day, Rancid, and Value Pac. The music was contagiously catchy, and the lyrics were often humorous, though occasionally tinged with elements of seriousness in dealing with relationship issues, among other things. Songs like "Me and Samson" and "Seasons Change" still are fan favourites to this day. Needless to say, there were high expectations for Ghoti Hook's follow-up, Banana Man. The question is, does it deliver?
Not quite. This seems to be a more serious album musically, with less audible joking between and during songs. Of course, one would not glean this from the lovely album cover or the goofy photos of the band members in the insert. The music seems to have gotten a tad heavier, with faster riffs, more distortion, and more shouted vocals - check out "Middle Ground"...sounds a bit like something The Offspring would pump out. There appears to be considerably less "ballady" moments, though songs like "Just Fools" are great tunes that bring back the old melodic sound found on Sumo Surprise.
There is still an element of humour in the lyrics of Banana Man, though. Take the title track, for instance:
His identity he tries to keep secret
But not because he's great
Cause the girls will just keep on laughing and he'll never get a date
Then there's the odd track, "Monster," a rather strange piece of music with monster-like vocals.
The best track on Banana Man is the final one, "Gimme a Chance." While it starts off with a retro 50s delivery with hints of a hymn-like structure, it quickly fuses in the speed-punk that Ghoti Hook does so well. It ends memorably with the following stanza:
Just take me back
I know I'm dumb
Looking out for me
Myself numero one
But if you say
You'll still love me
I'll be the friend
That you want me to be
Overall, this album is not as impressive as Sumo Surprise, as far as the heavy emphasis on melodic and musical diversity. The slight alteration in musical delivery may be a welcome change to listeners who wanted a less pop-punk style of music, in favor of something with a little bit more meat to it. An argument can also be made that if the band had retained the exact same sound as in their previous album, critics would grill it as musically stagnant. In any case, Banana Man is an album which still showcases the musical talent of Ghoti Hook, and their sense of humour and wit.
3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Lighthouse Unsorted 1998Reviewed by Shawn SmithBananas, strange costumes, and Ghoti Hook: all three, very fun topics. Combine them and something good is bound to happen. Not to keep you in suspense any longer, the result is the title track to Ghoti Hook's new album, Banana Man, a rather odd little piece about a man whose job is dressing up like a banana. For those of you who have heard and enjoy Ghoti Hook - rejoice, the album is true to…The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Linda T. StonehockerThe boys of Ghoti Hook are back with more pop-punk silliness crammed onto a CD bearing the image of a man. Not just any man, but a man in glasses and a banana suit. The beat rarely slows, and the production is an accurate rendition of amplified instruments at full volume, very much like their first release, Sumo Surprise. Please don't look for deep meaning in that banana suit--it isn't there--but…The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Mark J. AylorIt's been 15-20 years since I heard good punk music. Guess what? I found something that has at least peaked my interest. Ghoti Hook (pronounced "go-tee," thank you very much) takes me back to those hard core punk days before new wave ruined it and sets my head rattling. It has enough energy to power the entire eastern seaboard and still have plenty left over. Banana Man is Ghoti Hook's second…Similar sounding releases
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