The Presidents Of The United States Of America
The Presidents of the United States of America were one of the most unlikely success stories of the post-grunge alternative rock scene in Seattle. Where the rest of their Seattle brethren traded in heavy guitars and heavy angst, the Presidents rejected torment for humor, writing short, simple, and absurd punk songs that relied more on goofy attitude than sludgy riffs and tormented screams. It was a formula that worked, as the group's self-titled debut album became a double-platinum record much to the surprise of many critics, music industry insiders, and the band itself.
Childhood friends Chris Ballew (lead vocals, two-string basitar) and Dave Dederer (three-string guitbass, backing vocals) played in a number of groups and projects before forming the Presidents of the United States of America around 1990. The duo recorded a demo tape, which began circulating around the Seattle musical community and, in the process, earned them a cult following. Drummer Jason Finn, a member of Love Battery, saw the duo in 1991 and, after a few years of persuading, joined the band in 1993. Within a year after Finn joined, the Presidents became one of the most popular bands in Seattle. In the spring of 1994, they released their eponymous debut album on Pop Llama Records. The record became an independent hit and the band attracted the attention of major record labels; the group eventually signed with Columbia Records, who re-released the Presidents' debut in the spring of 1995. By this time, Finn had left Love Battery to become a full-time President.
The Presidents of the United States of America became a hit in the summer of 1995, when MTV and modern rock radio began airing "Lump" frequently. "Lump," followed by the radio hit "Kitty" in the fall and the radio/video hit "Peaches" in the spring of 1996, propelled the album to a surprise Top Ten double-platinum status. The band quickly capitalized on their sudden success by releasing their second album, The Presidents of the United States of America: II, in November of 1996.
In December of 1997, the Presidents called it quits after Chris Ballew left the band to spend more time with his family. A farewell concert followed in February 1998 and a rarities album, Pure Frosting, was released in March. Rumors of a possible reunion and collaboration with fellow Seattle resident Sir Mix-a-Lot (under the collective name Subset) floated around in 1999, but the project never materialized. However, the band did reconvene in 2000 (without a rapper) under the officially shortened moniker the Presidents and released their third album, Freaked Out and Small. Another long hiatus preceded the release of Love Everybody in 2004. That same year the band reissued their debut album on their own label in "Super Bonus Thrillpack" edition featuring a DVD. Late in 2007 the Presidents announced a new album, These Are the Good Times People, would be delivered in the spring of 2008. Sporadic activity, including occasional one-off gigs, followed into the 2010s, although Ballew spent more time on his children's music project, Caspar Babypants, before a sixth album, Kudos to You!, arrived in 2014.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Discography
16 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Presidents of The United States of America: Ten Year Super Bonus Special Anniversary Edition
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Rock - Released by PUSA Music on 1 Jan 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
II (Album Version)
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Pop/Rock - Released by Columbia on 31 Oct 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ça Plane Pour Moi (Album Version)
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Pop/Rock - Released by Columbia - Legacy on 20 Feb 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kudos to You!
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Alternative & Indie - Released by PUSACORP on 18 Feb 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
FROGGYSTYLE
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Rock - Released by PUSA on 24 Feb 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pure Frosting
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Pop/Rock - Released by Columbia on 12 Feb 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Love Everybody
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Rock - Released by PUSA Music on 17 Aug 2004
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Freaked Out And Small
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Rock - Released by PUSA Music on 12 Sep 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pure Frosting
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Pop/Rock - Released by Columbia on 12 Feb 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
These Are the Good Times People
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Alternative & Indie - Released by PUSACORP on 11 Mar 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Peck Out The Code (Live '95)
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Rock - Released by Hatbox on 4 Dec 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
These Are the Good Times People
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Rock - Released by Cooking Vinyl on 10 Mar 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bad Times
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Rock - Released by Cooking Vinyl on 20 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
These Are the Good Times People
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Rock - Released by Cooking Vinyl on 11 Mar 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rot in the Sun
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Rock - Released by Cooking Vinyl on 30 Mar 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ladybug
The Presidents Of The United States Of America
Rock - Released by Cooking Vinyl on 26 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo