One Eighty
Crackerjack
Reviewed by Chris Well
Make no mistake: One Eighty is a party band with a mission. With a playful pop that grabs onto bits of ska, punk and swing--whatever's needed at the time--the band dances and rocks through a set that says it's OK to have a good time, but without Jesus you'll still be hollow inside. Fronted by chick rockers Kim Tennberg (vocals & trumpet) and Madelyn Mendoza (vocals & percussion), One Eighty triumphs on Crackerjack at being pop accessible without being pop schmaltz. The eight members of the group, aided by producer Gene Eugene (who also plays some keys on the record), form a real musical team: Throughout the album, the various instruments come and go, play only when needed and then get out of the way. The net effect is that they at various times echo the beach-rock energy of Dakoda Motor Co., the bouncy pop of No Doubt and the eclectic vibe of Mayfair Laundry--but One Eighty never once loses its balance. Peeling back the layers on Crackerjack, you see a surprisingly sophisticated approach. "Cool World" is a runaway locomotive, a surf-punk-pop gem that rattles off the simple joys of weekends, junk food and TV, before pointing out (much like the writer of Ecclesiastes) that it's all meaningless without God. Many of the songs deal with romantic relationships (or the lack thereof), from the hyper "Wait" (for the single person) to the rockin' "Sleepless Nights" (about a couple that has parted ways). For "When We First Dated," One Eighty trades back and forth between the sweet innocence of dating and the disillusionment of a marriage where one feels taken for granted (I've learned to pray everyday that God will see us through). Musically, the "dating" segments are matched to a soundtrack that conjures a sockhop, while the hectic "married" segments speed up to punk velocity. The band also tackles how Christians should interact with the world around them, through songs like the frantic "Sally" and "405," a cute little swingin' number about how we should be a Christian witness even when driving on the freeway. The album includes two kinetic evangelistic tracts, the swing shuffle of "Tick Tock" and the double-time punk of "Just Like You." The collection is rounded out by the worship song "By My Side" and a fun remake of the Go-Go's "Vacation" (both driven by a ska horn section). While One Eighty wraps their songs with a variety of styles, their sound is often played inventively and superbly. The double-lead female vocals tie it all together, with Tennberg and Mendoza harmonizing even during the verses, making the package accessible without blunting the edges. With One Eighty's unashamed party sound--they bounce, they swing, they harmonize--it's odd to realize that all of the songs on Crackerjack (even the cover song) hinge on a kind of friction--between man and God, man and woman or the Church and its responsibility. It's a small complaint, but maybe in the future the band could relax a little. After all, sometimes it's OK to party.