Each week we are committed to bringing you reviews of essential albums that you need to add to your record collection. This time around we’re taking a look at Mom Jeans’ debut studio album “Best Buds.”
Mean Jeans, Pissed Jeans, Mom Jeans. Of all the jeans-based bands out there, Mom Jeans is simply one of the best. Not to mention this “Best Buds” record is excellent from start to finish. It’s got certifiable bops like “Death Cup” and “Edward 40hands.” And like most people, I discovered the band from “Now That’s What I Call Music!” Volume 58.
The year was 2016. I had been a huge fan of the “various artists” genre of music for quite some time, so naturally, I purchased this compilation CD from a nearly empty Sam Goody store. It just so happened to be marked down 80% off for some reason. Basically a steal. Anyway, immediately the track “Scott Pilgrim vs. My GPA” by Mom Jeans took me by surprise. Mostly because it was sandwiched between Kelly Clarkson and Selena Gomez songs.
Never in my life had I been so caught off guard by an album put together by Sony executives, except maybe that time the 2002 NTWICM! compact disc inexplicably included Slayer’s “Raining Blood” as track 16. Say what you want about this anthology, but they really like throwing curveballs.
And as someone who had the previous 57 volumes in his collection organized by a power ranking system that’s updated annually, I can tell you that Mom Jeans really stood out from the pack. Mainly because it was like a “one of these things is not like the other” type of situation.
Anyway, hard to believe but many people will actually argue that the Now! series hit its peak around volume 37, despite a promising showing from editions 24 through 29. But after discovering Mom Jeans on volume 58, you could easily argue that this one is the all-time best. Definitely top 15 at minimum.
But I think we can all agree that volume 49 was pure shit. I mean, the first few tracks were terrific, but it took an odd turn when the next 12 consecutive tracks were Louis CK standup bits before closing with a Bruno Mars song. Mom Jeans would never do that.
Score: 82 out of 82 volumes of “Now That’s What I Call Music!” compilations minus the 49th edition.