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By Kika Jonsson

Are you someone with a distinct taste in music, say, new-school punk, with a hidden passion for really cheesy songs from the '60s and '70s? If so, I highly recommend the music of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes.

This band has gone through many lineup changes, and has featured some of the biggest names in punk rock - names so big I can't mention them here, because I don't remember.

This band specializes in covering old songs, but with a punk-rock twist. Their CDs to date are Have a Ball (1997) and Are a Drag (1999). There are many seven inches available, (get them for their cool covers and camp value), such as "Diamond" (all Neil Diamond covers), "Barry" (all Barry Manilow covers), "Elton" (okay, I don't need to spell that one out for you). These little records are nice if you have a penchant for Paul Simon, Billy Joel, etc. and if you want a several-song treatment of their tunes.

Are a Drag is a cover of popular movie and show tunes, featuring everything from "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" (Evita) to "Science Fiction Double Feature" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Definitely not as much fun as their first album, Me First still manages to warp songs to the point of lunacy, while keeping them recognizable.

Have a Ball has Me First doing several great covers of pop-rock anthems, like Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl" and John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane". When you play this, you may find yourself asking, "Wait, is this Neil Diamond?" Initially, it's hard to reconcile punk with what you normally find in your parent's record collection, but this band does it beautifully. Other great covers include Elton John's classic "Rocket Man."

Hang on, I was able to remember the names of some of Me First's ever-changing lineup. Okay, at some point in time, the band has had members from Swingin' Utters, NOFX, Youth Brigade and No Use for the Name. Just remember, these CDs aren't for people who "take the music seriously."Next week Kika will begin using the column as her personal soapbox in support of left-wing politics.