Icewagon Flu
The Great American Something

By Jeremy Grand -- Perpetual Toxins

Peppy, fun and not too full of themselves, Icewagon Flu is one band that sounds like they are actually having a good time making music. The Great American Something is the quintet's latest album, 11 tracks of toe-tapping, head-bopping, let's have a party music - totally one of those soundtracks that should be playing at anyone's summer barbecue.

A little Jack Johnson meets a little Say Anything, Icewagon Flu has combined some great rhythms with some cute lyrics to create something more fun than a barrel of monkeys. "Purple pants let's dance!" is exclaimed in the chipper "Blue 9," as well as "You laugh when you drink wine." Who says any of these things? Oh yeah, Icewagon does, but that's why they are likeable. They're completely random, but with a logical purpose, most of the time. It is a little hard to figure out "Fishsticks," a digeradoo interlude smack dab in the middle of the album, but who cares, it's a good time anyway!

Every song is a surprise, from the self-promoting "I'm the Best," to "Wild Irish," which starts off sounding like a roadside chain-gang clean-up crew, but ends up sounding like an anthem for, well, the wild Irish.

There is never a dull moment, never a point where lids start to droop, or feet begin to drag and lose that foot stomping momentum. And if they do, you must be the biggest stick in the mud. Anyone would want to drink wine with these guys, and then laugh all the way to the dance floor.

Perpetual Toxins