Ghoti Hook's Banana Man review by The Phantom Tollbooth

Banana Man
Artist: Ghoti Hook
Label: Tooth & Nail Records

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.

By Jeremy Choi

The 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 don't write the band off yet. The goofiness is merely a segue to deeper, more meaningful silliness. If you've proven your loyalty to the concept of culturally relevant evangelism by listening all the way to the end and you still can't stand it (still can only catch every fifth word), pass this thing along to someone much younger, and never, ever try to foist another Geoff Moore or Steven Curtis Chapman project on them again. Ghoti Hook is speaking their language.

By Linda T. Stonehocker

If you're over 40

Under 22

It'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 release, an excellent blending of the Christian message with the genre, and my first taste of them.

Believe it or not, it really does take some effort to play traditional punk. It's not just slam the instruments as hard as you can and try to stay in key. Done right (as these guys do) it is an exciting journey into speed guitar riffs and drumming skills that the average Joe Musician just doesn't have the skill to pull off. The vocals are usually the weakest part of any punk effort, and this is no exception. Most of the time they are just hard to understand (even shouted), but occasionally they slip into the totally unintelligible.

These guys even preserved the true punk flavor with lyrics that are at times obscure, juvenile, and... well... catchy! Ghoti Hook's message is simple, too puerile at times, but nonetheless fun. The humor they use gives just enough of a "We don't take ourselves seriously" tone to make you smile as you sing along.

If you like punk even a little, check this out; it's worth a listen. If you can't stand punk, you'll probably want to avoid Ghoti Hook altogether. I know I'll be curious to see where these guys go as they mature.

By Mark Aylor