Music Review: The Muffs, Whoop Dee Doo

By Noreen Sobczyk

The Muffs have released Whoop Dee Doo, their first album in a decade, and for one musical moment all is right with the world. Long time friends and bandmates Kim Shattuck (guitars, vocals, organ), Roy McDonald (drums, percussion), and Ronnie Barnett (bass, vocals) bring excellent musicianship and songwriting as well as a spirit of fun every time, so it’s no surprise that Whoop Dee Doo follows suit. Six albums into their career, what band hasn’t released a clunker or put a bit of filler on a couple of albums? The Muffs, that’s who. The Muffs move in, kick your ass, and move out in under four minutes.

Shattuck’s primal growl and writing prowess have garnered loyal fans, but they have yet to achieve massive commercial success (unless you count song placement on Rock Band 2). For the uninitiated, imagine an uninhibited female singer with a swagger like retro Jagger and a snotty attitude like vintage Johnny Rotten. Shattuck sweetly sings over bright melodies about strangling someone and punching them in the face. She cuts foes to the bone with her lyrics on several of the songs, such as “he’s like a caveman but he’s not as clever” (“Weird Boy Next Door”), but the next moment sings with genuine vulnerability in “Like You Don’t See Me” (“without you I’m no good, today I understood”) and the love song “Forever.”

The backing harmonies of “whoo ooh ooh” and “ooh la la la” blend, making a power pop cocktail tinged with Psych Garage Rock and a modern Punk Rock attitude. The hand claps, tambourine, and organ perfectly accent “Take a Take a Me” (a song about claiming a man as her territory and warning others to stay away) as Shattuck plays a guitar riff straight out of the mid ‘60s and the drums punctuate every phrase, more influenced by The Kinks than The Ramones. The tight rhythms of Barnett and McDonald on “Up and Down Around” and McDonald’s fills on “Where Did I Go Wrong” prove this isn’t a one-woman show. Barnett even shares vocal duties on “I Get It,” making for a refreshing change in sound for fans. Speaking of “getting it”—if you don’t immediately get Whoop Dee Doo you’re missing out on what is undoubtedly one of the best releases of 2014.

Whoop Dee Doo was released by Cherry Red Records in the UK on July 28 and through Burger Records in North America on July 29.

Tour Dates:
Friday, September 5th – Palm Springs, CA @ Burger Oasis at the Ace Hotel
Thursday, October 9th – New Haven, CT @ Cafe Nine
Friday, October 10th – Brooklyn, NY @ Bell House (CBGB Fest)
Saturday, October 11th – Asbury Park NJ @ Asbury Lanes
Sunday, October 12th – Philadelphia, PA @ Boot & Saddle