Zebrahead: Justin (vocals, guitar); Ali (vocals); Greg (guitar); Ben (bass); Ed (drums).
Additional personnel: Tavis Werts (horns, background vocals); Howard Benson (keyboards, programming); Gabe McNair (keyboards); Bobby Brooks (loops); A. Jay Popoff, Needham Park (background vocals).
Recorded at The Gallery, Sherman Oaks, California and Sparky Dark, Calabasas, California.
This is a Super Audio CD playable only on Super Audio CD players.
Zebrahead: Justin (vocals, guitar); Ali (vocals); Greg (guitar); Ben (bass); Ed (drums).
Additional personnel: Tavis Werts (horns, background vocals); Howard Benson (keyboards, programming); Gabe McNair (keyboards); Bobby Brooks (loops); A. Jay Popoff, Needham Park (background vocals).
Recorded at The Gallery, Sherman Oaks, California and Sparky Dark, Calabasas, California.
Personnel: Justin Mauriello (vocals, guitar); Ali Tabatabaee (vocals); Greg Bergdorf (guitar); Tavis Werts (didjeridu, horns, background vocals); Howard Benson (keyboards, programming); Gabrial McNair (keyboards); Ed Udhus (drums); Bobby Brooks (loops); A. Jay Popoff (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Chris Lord-Alge; Chris Lord.
Recording information: Gallery, Sherman Oaks, CA; Sparky Dark, Calabasas, CA; The Gallery, Sherman Oaks, CA.
Photographer: F. Scott Schafer.
Zebrahead's PLAYMATE OF THE YEAR is quintessential turn-of-the-century pop-rock, blending an impressive variety of styles to arrive at a set of perfect pop radio fodder. Barenaked Ladies-style white-boy rap, Nirvana-flavored power riffs, Beck-influenced, loopy electronic touches, retro-'80s moves, and catchy, alt rock choruses are all combined here, to the great credit of producer Howard Benson, who manages to make the whole thing cohere.
The album's upbeat title tune is a perfect case in point, as cheesy organ, breakbeats, rap, Big Rock guitar, and Cheap Trick-influenced vocal harmonies rub up against each other, but somehow never seem to clash. There are no grand artistic aspirations here; PLAYMATE OF THE YEAR is intended as fast-paced, breezy fun, which exactly what it turns out to be.
