The album opens with "Fish Heads." When I was a kid I took drum lessons at Kurlan Music in Worcester, Massachusetts, and one day I brought the Dr. Demento cassette in so that my drum teacher could hear this song. That's how much I loved it. He loved it too, because of the line "They don't play drums." Anyway, it's a ridiculous song, and it still makes me laugh. "I took a fish head out to see a movie/Didn't have to pay to get it in." Then "Blithering" has more of a 1980s pop sound. Seriously, as it begins, it sounds like a 1980s hit song. And if people had more of a sense of humor, it would have been a hit. Oh, those damn Reagan years. By the way, early in this song the lyrics contain a reference to Rod Serling. For those who might not know, before he starred in Lost In Space, Bill Mumy was in a few episodes of The Twilight Zone. "Walt Disney do the Humpty Dumpty/Rod Serling paradise/Somewhere in a government building/The future pays the price."
"Soak It Up" has a fun new wave sound. "My baby's love never come unwound/My baby's love come a tricklin' down." Could that line be a play on Reagans' "trickle-down" economics? This song was originally included on an EP released in 1983, and by that time people were criticizing Reagan's horrible economic policies. And, hey, it could also be a golden shower joke. I assume it's both. "I'm gonna soak it up/I'm a sponge for her love." Yeah, we need more love songs like this one. It's followed by another love song, "Ah A." This one is so simple, so delightful, so silly that it has me laughing aloud every time I listen to it. Then we get "Boogie Woogie Amputee," a song from the duo's Voobaha album (which also contains "Fish Heads"). This one has a good rock and roll vibe, with some cool stuff on keys. "We're gonna hop, swing and jump/I shake my hips, she shakes her stump." And that line "Oh Suzie, you sure ain't got two left feet" is hilarious.
"Life Is Safer When You're Sleeping" is an odd song. Well, I suppose that should come as no surprise, and probably could be said of every track on this disc. Anyway, this one has a more serious, somber sound, with a dreamy atmosphere. But of course we can't let that make us take it more seriously. Or can we? It's followed by "Unfinished Business," which is a delight, with an electronic 1980s sound and some playful touches. "Our lips met/You never know how long you've got/But I never kissed her/You'll hope it's working when it's not." This track also contains some nice stuff on guitar. Then "Pussy Whipped" is a fun, cool song with more of a rock sound, with a kind of country rock flavor. It was written with David Jolliffe and Miguel Ferrer (yes, from Crossing Jordan). "I love my wife/She tells me so." Those are great opening lines. "I used to go out drinking/Running with the boys/I used to stay up late at night/And make a lot of noise/Now I don't do nothing that she don't want me to." This is so damn good, one of my personal favorite tracks. "But if the woman leaves me I'll have to whip it alone."
Barnes & Barnes give us a cover of "What's New Pussycat," the song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. As you might guess, their version is a bit different from the Tom Jones version, and I love it. It's a bit mad, like a twisted carnival ride, like a love song taking place on a twisted carnival ride. This is a total delight. Do I like it more than the original? You bet I do! "Pussycat, pussycat, you're delicious/And if my wishes can all come true/I'll soon be kissing your sweet little pussycat lips." Oh my, is that a threat? This is probably the best rendition of this song ever recorded. It's followed by "Party In My Pants." Is there something juvenile about a song titled "Party In My Pants"? Of course there is. But so what? It's fun. "There's a party in my pants/And I want you all to come," they sing at the beginning. And there is some spoken word in the middle, a goofy bit of dialogue between a man and a woman. "I'm on my way to a party, you want to come?" the man asks. "Sure, where is it?" the woman responds. "It's in my pants." As if you didn't know.
There is a strangely sweet vibe to "Don't You Wanna Go To The Moon." "Martians in the mud are playing/I don't know a word they're saying." Well, no worries, as it's a love song. "Don't you wanna go to the moon with me soon/Everything will be all right." That's followed by "Pizza Face," another of my personal favorites. As soon as they start singing, I'm laughing. This is totally goofy and totally wonderful. Part of it is that it seems to take place in a mad scientist's laboratory or something. You know, someone is taking things seriously, while of course it's just fun. "Made a mess on my vest/What a waste." This song should be played at dance clubs. What a great surprise that would be. Then "Love Tap" is about an interesting relationship. "She said it was a love tap/But I felt the pain." Oh yes! "She scratched at my face/Put my nose out of place." I love how this song about a violent relationship has such a mellow vibe. At the end, they ask, "What will become of this love?"
"I Don't Remember Tomorrow" has a great title, and also a catchy rhythm to the vocal line, particularly on the song's title line. I also dig that instrumental section in the second half. That's followed by "Cemetery Girls," a song I'm thrilled to hear. I first heard this song done by The Peak Show. With Holland Greco on lead vocals, they did it as "Cemetery Boys." And I either didn't know, or somehow forgot, that this song was a cover. Crazy. I've loved this song for more than two decades, and it's probably my favorite Halloween-themed or horror-themed song. So of course I was ready to love this original version. And it's fantastic. Like the Peak Show's rendition, this one contains sound bites, and one of them is from an episode of The Twilight Zone, with Bill Mumy himself saying, "You're a bad man, you're a very bad man!" And then, a little later, "I had a real good time." If you haven't heard this song, I highly recommend checking it out. And if you haven't seen that episode of The Twilight Zone, you should check that out too. And keeping with the theme of death, that song is followed by "When You Die," which has lines like "When you die/You stop drinking beer." This song is unexpectedly beautiful and touching, while also being funny. And it's another favorite of mine. "When you die/You stop eating cheese/When you die/You're not hard to please."
CD Track List
- Fish Heads
- Blithering
- Soak It Up
- Ah A
- Boogie Woogie Amputee
- Life Is Safer When You're Sleeping
- Unfinished Business
- Pussy Whipped
- What's New Pussycat?
- Party In My Pants
- Don't You Wanna Go To The Moon
- Pizza Face
- Love Tap
- I Don't Remember Tomorrow
- Cemetery Girls
- When You Die
Zabagabee: The Best Of Barnes & Barnes is scheduled to be released on June 19, 2026 through Liberation Hall.
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