More love songs for the (not so) retarded.

The Queers - Munki Brain

[4/5] Diehard fans know the Queers have evolved, something their perpetually juvenile image and live shows may sometimes belie. But the boys-under the tutelage of frontman Joe Queer, the lone mainstay since the band's more-hardcore, brash beginnings in '82 when they were fronted by Wimpy and his faux-English accent-have grown, and Joe has legitimately become one of punk's most formidable pop songwriters-just see '96's career-defining opus Don't Back Down for starters. And Munki Brain is right up there, as sweet bubblegum pop-punk love songs such as "Overdue," the Ben Weasel-penned "Tangerine" and the totally '60s ballad "I Can't Stay Mad At You" with it's swoon-inducing multi-layered harmonies and "shooby-dooby-doo-wops" are mixed with harder, higher-octane fare like "What Ever Happened To Philthy Phil," the Ramones/Dickies-esque Bush critique "Monkey In A Suit" replete with monkey noises and the surfed-out rocker "Duke Kahanamoku." Also included are truly different-sounding songs: The piano-drenched ballad "I Think She's Starting To Like Me," which exemplifies how Joe writes genuinely cute (and not cliché) love songs with lines like, "I just love her witty repartee, it's so nice/If she invites me out for burgers I won't think twice," and the fitting "Brian Wilson," a light, airy ode to a man who, along with the Ramones, has been hugely inspirational to the pop-punk torch-carriers. (ASIAN MAN) Janelle Jones

ROCKS LIKE: Riverdales' Riverdales
Ramones' End Of The Century
Screeching Weasel's Wiggle

IN-STORE SESSION with frontman JOE QUEER On this album, you have the song "Monkey In A Suit." You aren't known for your political commentary per se...
Yeah. [Laughs.] The song started out called "Marky Don't Surf," and then the guys in the control room started singing, "monkey in a suit" and doing monkey noises, and I go, "Jeez, that's a good idea." And then we're like, "Let's make it about George Bush," and we kinda turned the whole thing around. Yeah, we're not too political, but I think when you have a president as bad as this one, it calls for comment, even from the Queers!

What's behind the title Munki Brain?
That was an homage to one of my favorite bands, the Jesus And Mary Chain; their last record in '98 is called Munki. Not many people pick up on the connection.

That's been happening for a while-your album names being inspired by other bands' records. Pleasant Screams, Acid Beaters...
Yeah, those two are from the Ramones. I kinda forgot about those. [Laughs.] Acid Beaters [was a split] with the Manges, but that was all covers on our part, so we were like, "All right, this is our little Acid Eaters, so we'll call it Acid Beaters." That was kind of a little side project, though I thought Pleasant Screams was a good name for an album. Like that and Munki Brain, it's kind of an homage, paying respect to the people I looked up to.

And you end the record with "Brian Wilson." In some circles, people think you've actually surpassed Brian Wilson's songwriting abilities. What do you say to that?
That's nice of people to say, but no. I really like that Beach Boys-type stuff. I can't write songs like Brian Wilson. But that song "I Think She's Starting To Like Me" is kind of my stab at a Pet Sounds Beach Boys thing. I really thought that one came out pretty well. Sometimes I get bored with the three-chord stuff. Joey Ramone always told me [to] always move, move, move. Keep trying stuff. So we did. That's where the real buzz comes from. Just doing a three-chord song is great too, but it's more of a challenge to try different stuff. -Janelle Jones


Official Website: http://www.asianmanrecords.com