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Bowling For Soup & Scott Simons
A Nice Night For An Evening (Vol. 1 & Vol. 2) 
Review by; Hungryasabadger

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As a life-long Bowling For Soup fan I was intrigued to hear the latest offering from the band and I have to admit I’m amazed with what I have heard as BFS have gone all lounge music on us!

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Yes you read that right the new release from The Soup is a greatest hits package reimagined for piano and performed by Scott Simons who, if my research is correct, is the music consultant and pianist for America’s Got Talent. When I read the press release for ‘A Nice Night For An Evening’ I assumed that it would be Simons tickling the ebony and ivory whilst BFS front man Jaret Reddick provided some easy listening style vocals over the top. This however is not the case, as the songs are piano only and this is the only reason this collection of songs doesn’t get a five star rating from me.

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The arrangements of the songs are very well thought out and brilliantly executed. The band haven’t just chosen the songs of theirs that would be easily switched to piano, like their ballads or acoustic numbers and have taken some of their best known electric rockers such as ‘Girl All The Bad Guys Want’, ‘1985’ and ‘The Bitch Song’ and have also given them the piano treatment alongside the slower numbers. For long time fans there are also a number of deep cuts across both albums from the bands’ extensive back catalogue like ‘Shut Up And Smile’ ’99 Biker Friends’ and ‘Surf Colorado’.

Jaret says he has had the idea for this ‘covers’ album in his head for quite some time and is correct when he sums the new easy listening arrangements up as being suitable for listening to ‘at work, in the nursery or even at your wedding!’.  He’s not wrong and I for one might just take him up on that offer…

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All in all it’s an inspired collection of songs and somehow it just works. It won’t be everyones cup of tea but I implore those BFS fans that are sceptical about this project to give it a chance and see what you think.  As for easy listening/piano lounge music fans you should check this out and if you like it crack on with discovering the bands back catalogue!

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Pop Punk repackaged as easy listening, who’d have thought it? 2020 is already shaping up to be an odd year!

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4/5

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