Internet Dating Superstuds

A couple of tunes are maybe worth a chuckle, but mostly the Vandals spew out super-sized duds on Internet Dating Superstuds. It's a shame too, because they were on a roll from The Quickening to Look What I Almost Stepped In, and Christmas With the Vandals is a yuletide classic of sorts. But there's no "I've Got an Ape Drape" or "San Berdu" on Internet Dating Superstuds. The Vandals sound more like one of the countless punk-pop bands that try to imitate them. Dave Quackenbush sings the chorus of "Soccer Mom" as if just the concept of a song about a soccer mom was funny by itself. Even the song "Lord of the Dance" does not elicit a laugh. Nor does the not very high-concept "Disproportioned Head." The slightly more introspective "My Brother Is Gay" is an OK tune. But throughout the record, it's the shrill vocals and clownish guitar that annoy. Still, it's not yet time to give up on the Vandals and their ho-hum jokes. Everyone from Weird Al Yankovic to Leonard Cohen have put out some crummy albums here and there.