Ballyhoo!

Cheers

Self Released

(Ballyhoo! MySpace)

When Do it for the Money was released two years ago it was a revelation for the indie reggae rock scene. Ballyhoo! had taken stadium rock with its fist pumping choruses and balanced it perfectly with grooved based reggae rhythms. It was a bold approach that would at times demand your attention and as soon as it got it was then happy to just relax and kick it with you. It was original and there was nothing like it. When vocalist/guitarist Howi told me a few months ago that Cheers was going to blow away Do it for the Money, I was suspicious but optimistic. As we all know bands always think its latest offering is the best. Well he was right.

Cheers is an 18 track masterpiece that is everything Do it For the Money was and more, as it pulls the music into even more directions. You like power ballads? Publically neither do I, but in the context of a Ballyhoo! record that just aims to entertain the pants off you, a song like Waiting works. The reason it works is probably due to two things, firstly the great production of Scotch Ralston (311) and second reason is the talent of the musicians that make up this band. These guys are not just adequate at their instrument of choice, they are masters and you can tell that immediately when listening. This is what Ballyhoo! does really well - balance excellent instrumentation while making the song as appealing as possible. A lot like early 311 albums, the songs are instantly likeable but also extremely re-listenable due to the intricate playing of all those involved.

So it’s not all just power ballads and unicorns, Cheers runs the gammit from feel good reggae (Something Tropical and Saw Her Standing) to head banging rockers (Phantoms, Freestyle and Friends Zone) to funk rock mayhem (Body Parts) and a lot more. With each listen something new will stand out, like for me right now I can guarantee you will not hear better rock chorus than that of Paper Dolls this year.

The inspiration behind Cheers was a thank you to its fans and friends that has supported Ballyhoo! throughout the years. This appreciation is reflected in the album theme, artwork, and number of high quality songs the band has invested its all in for this album. This humble approach and mutual appreciation will undoubtedly ensure more fans, more friends and a lot more good times. Cheers!

Reviewed by Pilipo

Cheers can be preordered online by clicking the image below: