Sloppy Poppy Punk Band EP - reviews
buy record now
Maximum Rock & Roll, #203 April 2000
Made Ray Lujan's Top 10!
"Now let's get things straight: I like this band, they are the cheesiest band I have ever heard, and I am the cheesiest guy you'll ever meet. Poppy dork punk a la Mutant Pop (respectfully). This release has a bit more balls than previous releases, but then they bust out the Archies cover and they are once again a bunch of wusses. Cute and lovable loser lyrics with more musical change-ups than your average pop "punk band. Geek rock. (BM)"
Now Wave Issue #12, March 2000
"The results are in: Ruth's Hat was no flash-in-the-pan! While we await the CD, we can enjoy yet another RH single - this one courtesy of Craig Depies' They Still Make Records. For the newcomers to the Ruth's Hat experience who ask me to define the band's unique brand of pop music, I offer the following three words: ROCKIN' BUBBLEGUM POP! Ruth's Hat records are about good times, sunny melodies, and unadulterated fun. If upbeat, lightweight, sugar pop is not your thing, I'm afraid that you'll be immune to the band's charms! But if blithe ear candy is your thing, Sloppy Poppy Punk Band is sure to satisfy! "I'll Clean Up My Act For You" and "I Wanna Be Your Consolation Prize" deliver the usual goods: layered harmonies, syrupy melodies, crunchy guitars, and a speedy beat. Tasty! Mike and P.J. Sloan continue to channel the spirits of the Everly Brothers, The Four Freshmen, and other masters of vintage harmonic pop as they belt out the vocals that drive the Ruth's Hat ship. The band's style remains an appealing hybrid, as it marries the innocent merriment of oldies radios staples with the frenzied volume of modern-day punky pop."
Uprising!April/May 2000, #8
Here's one of my favorite bands. Doing one of my favorite songs by them. Maybe it's just that I know these guys pretty well, but all these songs are recognizable. These guys opened up a whole new world for me - "pop punk". Ruth's Hat has a really poppy sound - lots of ohh's and ahh's, lots of hooks and whoa-oh's in the right place - kind of an oldies 50s-ish sound. "Sloppy Poppy Punk Band" is my fave!! They also do a cover of "Sugar Sugar". If you haven't heard these guys, I suggest you check them out. A really, really swell band. Once you get hooked, you're hooked for life!
Exclaim Magazine
You can tell they're a pop punk band (think Queers school with plenty of punk rock harmonies). You can also tell that they don't take themselves too seriously, although they're serious enough for this to be their third full seven-inch release (they've also been on a couple of splits). The first song on side A, "I'll Clean Up My Act For You (Pat's Room)," deserves its location as it is a strong effort. The other three originals are decent enough, but I'm not very keen on the relatively flat cover of the Archies' "Sugar Sugar." That said, I've heard enough good stuff from their seven-inches and I've seen enough from their live set that I am looking forward to their forthcoming album.
Scott Ingram - July 13th 2000
Shredding Paper #6
One of the faves of the underground pop punk scene, this band plays basic three chord songs, but includes tons of sweet vocal harmonies that work Beach Boys/Everly Brothers territory, and also have a Dead Milkmen feel to them. The songs are fast, bouncy toe tapping hook filled extravaganzas and there is a fun cover of the Archies' "Sugar Sugar". Top notch!
All Music Guide /Etch Magazine (printed in both)
Pop-punk that you could introduce to your mother. Detroit's Ruth's Hat lives up to the name of "Sloppy Poppy Punk Band" as their slap-happy innocence of high school maturity is conveniently packaged on a 7" record. Nothing but songs about girls, three-chord riffs that were taken from any given Queers record, and an Archies cover of "Sugar Sugar." Not the most original or inspiring piece of wax to have been pressed, but the happy-go-lucky charm and party attitude is irresistible. Mike DaRonco
Vinyl A Go Go
Ruth's Hat's third proper 7" is their best yet, I think. I still hold a very special place in my vinyl collection for their debut record "Too Much Box". After all it did introduce me to the band, and their unique style of pop-punk; a little country, a little harmony, a bunch of hooks, and ton of fun. However, I think the band shows it's full potential on "Sloppy Poppy Punk Band" and it's obvious they've come a long way since their first few releases (their wonderful new CD "Bye Bye Love" further proves this). The A-side on "Sloppy Poppy Punk Band" pretty much slaughters the B-side, with not one but two smash hits, that had me hopping around the room in a gleeful frenzy (and i'm not afraid to admit that I hop around my room in a gleeful frenzy either, so there...). Ruth's Hat may have rocked before, but not this hard, and I don't mean rocked in the butt-rock sense...this is rock with the roll firmly intact, and a whole lot of pop thrown in for good measure. Regardless of the greatness of the A-side, I give the B-side credit. It's not easy to take a beating such as that delivered by the first two songs, and stay standing. But it manages. The B-side is charming, to say the least, and frankly, I kind of like the B-side (god i shouldn't write reviews ("dan, you reading this?")). The final three songs give the listener a good idea of just what Ruth's Hat is all about; unrequited love (with a little (or a lot) of masturbation thrown in for good measure), a self-deprecating sense of humor, and above all, always having a good time. The band even threw in The Archies "Sugar, Sugar" for good measure. Rock and roll! - Lew
Spank Fanzine #29
This Michigan band is pretty much what the title says but these guys also add a lot of zip to an overdone genre. Basic pop arrangements are delivered with a sloppy looseness that keeps things fun throughout all five songs. Ruth's Hat even manage a good cover of "Sugar Sugar" -- hey, making that song sound good is no easy feat. ~Doug
