So why is Save Ferris’ It Means Everything on this best 1,000 albums ever thing?
I enjoyed It Means Everything when I first threw it on after it came out in 1997, and my respect for it has only grown over the years. It’s rock solid end-to-end with a great variety of songs, and the balance of rock, punk, ska, and lounge-y vibes is impeccable.
But most of all, it’s Monique Powell’s at turns sweet, sultry, and powerful voice that takes Save Ferris to the next level.
My favorite song on It Means Everything is “Superspy,” which has incredible lounge-y-meets-swing music vibes, with a great ska rhythm and the kind of horn section most ska outfits would be jealous of.
It’s also worth noting that as far as “ska punk” bands go, Save Ferris is on the most approachable side of the spectrum for civilian/mainstream ears, while still maintaining an exciting and infectious sound. “The World Is New” is a good litmus test to see if you’ll be into Save Ferris’ sound.
“Under 21” is a super fun and catchy number about trying to get into the club or bar when you’re not yet of a certain age. Side note that sometimes it’s pretty great to kick back and/or work out with music with lyrics that deal with blessedly low stakes such as these.
See more about this below, but Save Ferris is not immune to the mid-’90s-ska-band-is-compelled-to-do-an-‘80s-cover thing. In this case, it’s a horn driven, skanked up celebration of “Come On Eileen,” by Dexys Midnight Runners.
I’ll happily be repetitive here and state that Monique Powell’s voice absolutely rules on this one.
Pop culture stuff that has something to do with Save Ferris’ It Means Everything
There’s something to the notion that ‘90s ska punk had a “thing” for 1980s pop culture. Many, including Save Ferris, inserted 1980s pop covers in their studio albums, while others – such as The Bouncing Souls – would reverently reference 1980s movies in their songs and merch.
If you’re of a certain age, you definitely know this and many of a younger age will likely know this, but I’ll lay it out just in case: the band name Save Ferris is lifted from the iconic 1986 comedy, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
“Save Ferris” became a ridiculous call-to-arms for the high school students in the movie who believed that Ferris, played by Matthew Broderick, was too sick to be at school (to learn about things like voodoo economics) while, really, he was simply taking the day off with pal Cameron Fry (Alan Ruck) and girlfriend Sloane Peterson (Mia Sara).
Even more pop culture stuff that has something to do with Save Ferris’ It Means Everything
Save Ferris hails from Orange County, California, a hotbed of ska punk activity dating back to the 1980s (and, bonus: it’s also mostly where my wife grew up, so hooray for that!). Other punk and ska punk bands from Orange County include Reel Big Fish, Zebrahead, No Doubt, The O.C. Supertones, The Aquabats, The Hippos, The Offspring, and Agent Orange.
Some stats & info about Save Ferris – It Means Everything
- What kind of musical stylings does this album represent? Ska, Third Wave Ska Revival, Ska Punk, Alternative Rock, Rock Music, SoCal Bands
- Rolling Stone’s greatest 500 albums ranking – not ranked!
- All Music’s rating – 3 out of 5 stars
- When was It Means Everything released? 1997
- My ranking, the one you’re reading right now – #236 out of 1,000
Save Ferris’ It Means Everything on Spotify
A lyrical snippet from Save Ferris’ It Means Everything that’s evocative of the album in some way, maybe
When I am down and I am blue all I have to do is close my eyes and think of you – and the world is new.
What does the “best 1,000 albums ever” mean and why are you doing this?
Yeah, I know it’s audacious, a little crazy (okay, maybe a lot cray cray), bordering on criminal nerdery.
But here’s what it’s NOT: a definitive list of the Greatest Albums of All-Time. This is 100% my own personal super biased, incredibly subjective review of what my top 1,000 albums are, ranked in painstaking order over the course of doing research for nearly a year, Rob from High Fidelity style. Find out more about why I embarked on a best 1,000 albums ever project.