I’ve always had a soft spot for Mad Caddies. They seem to have gone quiet in the last few years after a pretty prolific spell in the late 90s/early 2000s, so this ‘greatest hits’ won’t exactly fill the void for new material, even if it is a timely reminder this band are, quite frankly, bloody great fun.
Before I start I’ll put the usual disclaimer – I really, really dislike ‘greatest hits’ records. I find them to, usually, be a corporate cash in, either a way for a band to complete a record contract or a way of labels coining in extra cash from fans. I’d like to think this isn’t either of those things and that it’s simply a celebration of such a great band, but I have my doubts. For once, I might just look past this fact and just review this album on its merits.
And it has plenty of merits. Featuring a selection of tracks from down the years, the album nicely takes a trip down memory lane and covers most of the band’s highlights from down the years. ‘Monkeys’ and ‘Road Rash’ are just fantastic, fantastic songs that take me back a few years, while the pirate-themed ‘All American Badass’ is a wacky student’s dream. The reggae-tinged ‘Drinking for 11’ showcases the variety which makes this band stick out from their peers. How many bands can write songs as good as that and pair them next to the frenetic ‘Tired Bones’? Songs like ‘No Hope’ and ‘Days Away‘ are among the best Fat Wreck ever released.
If, for whatever reason, you missed Mad Caddies out, this is the perfect opportunity to get stuck in. A brilliant reminder of how great this band were/are.