Presidents of the USA: All Albums Ranked
You probably know ‘Peaches’ and ‘Lump’, both of which are iconic 90s rock songs - but there is far more to The Presidents of the USA than just these two tracks. Often dismissed by the music press as a novelty, PUSA’s 7 studio albums are all packed with brilliant songs, played with minimal instrumentation but packed with layers of sonic experimentation, kick-ass tunes and quirky lyrics. What you do you think of our album ranking? Check out this Spotify playlist and have your say in the comments!
9 blurry photos of a poodle on the cover? That sounds about right. ‘Freaked Out And Small’ is a curious record in the PUSA discography, partly because it was released to very little fanfare, partly because it was the last record to feature founding member Dave Dederer, and partly because the songs were played on conventional 6-string guitars and a 4-string bass, rather than the distinctive, minimalist ‘guitbass’ and ‘bassitar’ from the other Presidents records.
As such, ‘Freaked Out And Small’ lacks the trademark minimalist sound that made PUSA famous. And, despite the in-studio banter (such as in the very opening to ‘Tiny Explosions’), there is something sterile and flat about the performances. It is a shame, because there are some great songs hidden within ‘Tiger Bomb’, ‘I’m Mad’ and ‘Lastly Girl on Earth’, but there is something about them that just doesn’t quite gel. Perhaps it is a lack of quirkiness in the vocals, the more middle-of-the-road production, or the lack of songs about insects.
That said, ‘Meanwhile Back in the City’ (a song that dated back to the late 80s) is superb, and ‘Jupiter’ is an urgent, riff-heavy rocker. ‘Freaked Out and Small’ is worth a listen, but definitely shouldn’t be your started point for PUSA.
Standout tracks: ‘Tiny Explosions’, ‘Meanwhile Back in the City’, ‘Jupiter’
Perhaps the best way to enjoy ‘Kudos To You!’ is to think of it as an unexpected bonus. By all accounts, The Presidents of the USA had planned to end the band after ‘These Are The Good Times People’ (which would have been one hell of a swansong). Instead, their arms were twisted following a Pledge Music campaign, and they returned to the studio for a few days to produce one more record for long-time fans.
The album writing sessions were short and time-limited, so some songs were written hastilty in the studio, while others were some old Chris Ballew solo tracks (including ‘Slow Fly’, ‘Finger Monster’ and ‘Poor Little Me’) that were reworked with PUSA’s signature sound. As such, there is a curious blend of spontaneous lunacy (‘Stay With Me’, ‘Ohio’, ‘Flea vs Mite’) and more reflective, mid-paced material (‘Truckstop on the Moon’, ‘Innocent Bird’, ‘She’s a Nurse’). Also included was ‘Rooftops in Spain’, a punky banger which had previously been a b-side from the ‘These Are The Good Times People’ sessions. It’s a fantastic song, but its production is noticeably different from the rest of the tracks and it doesn’t really fit well into the tracklisting.
‘Kudos To You!’ is a decent record. Overall, it is a little more subdued than other PUSA albums, and you can tell it wasn’t made with quite the same energy and passion as the earlier albums, but there are some gems to discover, such as the high-tempo and Country-esque ‘Poor Little Me’.
Standout Tracks: ‘Poor Little Me’, ‘Ohio’, ‘Truckstop on the Moon’
Returning from a 4-year hiatus, and with a new line-up (Andrew McKeag replaced Dave Dederer on guitar, or ‘guitbass’), PUSA released ‘Love Everybody’ to minimal fanfare in 2004. They may have passed the height of their fame some time in the late 90s, but ‘Love Everybody’ is full of great moments and it was a great comeback following 2000’s lacklustre ‘Freaked Out and Small’. Sound-wise, it was a return to the core, minimalist production of the earlier albums, where ‘Freaked Out and Small’ had experimented with more conventional 6-string guitars.
Best of the bunch is the relaxed ‘Munky River’, which has echoes of ‘Dune Buggy’ from the self-titled debut record. I have no idea how well a boat mended with chewing gum would work, and where in the world ‘Munky River’ might be, but I’d definitely like to float on it.
Other highlights include the rocking title track (which is reminiscent of ‘Lump’), the chirpy single ‘Some Postman’ and the delightful acoustic closer ‘Jennifer’s Jacket. ‘Zero Friction’ and ‘Highway Forever’ could have fitted easily onto the ‘II’ record, and ‘5,500 Miles’ may not be the best song but it has a kick-ass riff.
There are a some duff moments - namely, ‘Shortwave’, ‘Drool at You’ and ‘Vestina’ - which let the side down and are less inspired; but otherwise ‘Love Everybody’ is a fun, upbeat and uptempo album that marked the start of a new phase in PUSA’s musical odyssey.
Standout Tracks: ‘Zero Friction’, ‘Munky River’, ‘Jennifer’s Jacket’
Officially, ‘Pure Frosting’ is a compilation album of b-sides, live tracks, covers and assorted odds’n’sods. However, it flows so well as an album that it can certainly be viewed as a complete record in its own right, and it plays an important role in the whole Presidents of the USA story.
The album’s lead single was a cover of the 80s hit ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’ by fellow oddballs The Buggles - and it suited PUSA perfectly. In fact, this cover surpasses the original. Other highlights include playful acoustic opener ‘Love Delicatessan’, the gritty ‘Man (Opposable Thumb')’, a triumphant cover of the Drew Carey theme song ‘Cleveland Rocks’, a rollicking live version of ‘Lump”, the irreverant ‘Mobile Home’ and an alternative version of ‘Tiki God’ (entitled ‘Tiki Lounge God’) from the ‘II’ record which shouldn’t work but really does.
It may not be as vital as the first two records, but ‘Pure Frosting’ is more than a b-sides compilation and is well worth your time.
Standout Tracks: ‘Love Delicatessan’, ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’, ‘Japan’
It is rare for any band’s 6th album to be one of their best, but PUSA achieved that with ease with their 2008 record ‘These Are The Good Times People’. It stands shoulder to shoulder with the first 2 records, and features a number of tracks that are up there with PUSA’s very best.
If you’re looking for witty, intelligent and surprisingly touching songs, with pristine production, pop-punk sensibilities and a country twang, this record is for you. In fact, if it had had more label backing, and perhaps had a different band name (PUSA, by 2008, had long been consigned to the history books as the band that made ‘Peaches’), it could have been huge. ‘Ghosts Are Everywhere’ has a chorus to die for. Opener ‘Mixed up SOB’ is a perfect pop-punk song. Album closer ‘Deleter’ matches The Cat Empire for funkiness and straight-up fun; and ‘Ladybug’, ‘Bad Times’ and ‘Sharpen Up Those Fangs’ could all have fitted comfortably on the first record.
It is approaching its 20-year anniversary, but ‘These Are The Good Times People’ has freshness and vitality that sounds like it could have been made yesterday.
Standout tracks: ‘Sharpen Up Those Fangs’, ‘Bad Times’, ‘Ghosts Are Everywhere’
The only reason that ‘II’ is second is because ‘I’ has already taken first place. Under any other circumstances, ‘II’ would be top of the list, being as it is an immaculate collection of quirky, memorable and undeniably rocking songs.
Released barely a year after The Presidents of the United States of America’s self-titled debut album, ‘II’ may not contain hit singles with the mainstream appeal of ‘Lump’, ‘Kitty’ and ‘Peaches’, but as an album it is every bit as strong.
Bookended with ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’ Parts 1 & 2, the album flows brilliantly, taking us on a weird and wonderful trip through Chris Ballew’s mind. There is a curious tale of getting new drums, gold clubs and guitar amps (‘Toob Amplifier’), a story of a drug-addled frog who is addicted to fame (‘Froggie’), a cross-breeding experiment combining Genghis Khan and The Terminator (‘Supermodel’) and a conversation with an insect on his way to a party (‘Bug City’). And these aren’t even the best songs.
‘Volcano’ and ‘Mach 5’ are genuinely brilliant rock songs, taking the template of ‘Lump’ to the next level. ‘Bath of Fire’ may have the best use of cowbell from the whole of the 90s, and ‘Tiki God’ kicks serious ass. ‘II’ is an album that rocks without irony, but brings quirkiness and homour in abundance. A masterpiece.
Standout Tracks: ‘Volcano’, ‘Mach 5’, ‘Bath of Fire’
Critics generally dismissed PUSA as a novelty act, but their debut album became phenomenally popular, appealing not only to rock & grunge fans in the post-Nirvana wildnerness, but also to the mainstream, thanks to the incredible success of ‘Peaches’. The other singles, ‘Lump’, ‘Kitty’ and ‘Dune Buggy’ all broke the Top 40 on both sides of the Atlantic, and a cover of The MC5’s ‘Kick Out The Jams’ boosted PUSA’s credibility with fans of old-school garage rock.
Not only was the minimalistic sound (a total of 5 strings across 2 guitars, and a drum kit that comprised only 3 drums and 2 cymbals) refreshingly unique, but PUSA’s lyrics took a completely different direction to the misanthropy of their peers (Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains etc). Instead of songs about hate, love and self-loathing, we were treated to ditties about getting old and sitting on a rocking chair (‘Back Porch’), annoying cats (‘Kitty’, complete with cat noises), the dangers of sugar (‘Candy’), toy cars (‘Dune Buggy’) and dried-up lizards (‘Body’).
There is no record quite like ‘The Presidents of the United States of America’ (ok, apart from the sequel, ‘II’). Other bands, such as Cake and Primus, have a similar quirkiness to them; but Chris Ballew, Dave Dederer and Jason Finn produced an absolutely legendary debut record here that should be in every single person’s collection.
Standout tracks: ‘Lump’, ‘Dune Buggy’, ‘Back Porch’ (to be honest, every song is a standout)
