Song: "Ball Of Confusion" (Temptations cover)
Artist: Bouncing Souls
Album: "Ugly Bill" EP
Year: 1991
Place Of Origin: New Brunswick, New Jersey
Years Active: 1989 - present
WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:
"Ball Of Confusion" was originally performed by The Temptations. This was one of the many psychedelic soul records that Norman Whitfield wrote and produced for the Temptations between the late '60 and early '70s. The song tries to make sense of the chaos and disorder pervading the times. Lyrically, the song attacked the Vietnam War, Nixon's government, and drug addiction, making it one of the few protest records that came from Motown. The version of the song I chose for my song of the week is a cover version by The Bouncing Souls. The original Temptations version can be found on their 1970 album, "Greatest Hits II".
BOUNCING SOULS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):
1994 - The Good, The Bad, And The Argyle (Chunksaah Records)
1995 - Maniacal Laughter (Chunksaah Records)
1997 - The Bouncing Souls (Epitaph Records)
1999 - Hopeless Romantic (Epitaph Records)
2000 - The Bad, The Worse, And The Out Of Print (Chunksaah Records)
2001 - How I Spent My Summer Vacation (Epitaph Records)
2003 - Anchors Aweigh (Epitaph Records)
2005 - Live (Chunksaah Records)
2006 - The Gold Record (Epitaph Records)
2009 - Ghosts On The Boardwalk (Chunksaah Records)
2011 - Live At Generation Records, NYC: April 18, 2009 - Generation Records
2012 - Comet (Rise Records)
2016 - Simplicity (Rise Records)
CURRENT STATUS OF THE BOUNCING SOULS:
The Bouncing Souls formed as a band back in 1989. They forged their start in the college town of New Brunswick, New Jersey. The bands first full length release was 1994's "The Good, The Bad, And The Argyle" which was basically a compilation of the band's EP's that they had released in their early years as a band. 1995's "Maniacal Laughter" was the band's first album of all orignally recorded material. This album caught the ear of the guys at Epitaph Records who went on to sign The Bouncing Souls to their label. Their first release with Epitaph, "The Bouncing Souls", wasn't a particularly great album. Lead singer Greg Attonito has said that it's basically an album of unfinished songs. In 1999, however, The Souls began to find themselves as a band. "Hopeless Romantic" showed that this was a band that had a lot of promise on the punk scene. After releasing a b-side and rarities compilation in 2000, The Bouncing Souls continued their rise in the punk rock world with 2001's "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" leading to what I think was the band's pinnacle, 2003's "Anchors Aweigh". By now, The Bouncing Souls had produced many punk rock anthems, or "Manthem"'s if you will, but "Anchors Aweigh" featured two punk anthems that to this day are two of my favorite songs, "Kids And Heroes" and "Sing Along Forever". In 2005, the band released their very first live album then followed that up with 2006's "The Gold Record". This album features a sweet cover of Avoid One Thing's "Lean On Sheena". As 2009 approached, The Bouncing Souls celebrated their 20th anniversary by releasing a series of digital singles. Twelve of these singles were packaged into an album called "Ghosts On The Boardwalk". In 2012, The Bouncing Souls signed a deal with Rise Records to release "Comet". 2016 saw the band release their most recent full length album, "Simplicity". The Bouncing Souls continually show that they are still going strong as they released a brand new EP in 2019 called "Crucial Moments". The Bouncing Souls are a hugely respected and influential band in punk rock. They're known to have brought back the "pogo" style pits at their shows, thanks to their energetic and anthemic songs. As their star rose, they always were quick to lend a hand to up and coming bands, especially in their native New Jersey. In my mind, "Kids And Heroes" is just one of the best punk songs ever! I love the shit out of that song!! Some of The Bouncing Souls punk rock contemporaries are bands like Face To Face, The Lawrence Arms, Lagwagon, Off With Their Heads and No Use For A Name. If you're a fan of melodic punk or skate punk like any of those bands, then you would most likely enjoy the music of The Bouncing Souls. Iconic band with an iconic following.
TEN BOUNCING SOULS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:
1. Kids And Heroes
2. True Believers
3. Lean On Sheena (Avoid One Thing cover)
4. Sing Along Forever
5. Manthem
6. Gone
7. Ghosts On The Boardwalk
8. Coin Toss Girl
9. The Pizza Song
10. Crucial Moments
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