Aquabats Vs. the Floating Eye of Death!

Even before you hear the Aquabats' third album, its title -- The Aquabats Vs. the Floating Eye of Death! -- makes it clear that the group is up to its old tricks. The record kicks off in true Aquabats form with "Giant Robot Birdhead!," running through twelve crazed ska anthems in all (with every title ending in an exclamation point). Sure, the humor is frothy and avoids substance like the plague, but anybody expecting anything else from a typical third-wave ska album is waging a pointless battle. Better to just hang on and enjoy the ride, because the Aquabats conduct that ride with a panache few other third-wavers can match, and their songwriting skills continue to improve with each record.