Music Bloodline

The Presidents of the United States of America

Goofy Seattle band whose witty, deceptively simple alternative rock brought them all-too-fleeting fame in the 1990s.

Biography

When a witty band scores a humorous hit song, it's not always the most healthy thing for the longterm success of the outfit. That fact is sadly the story of Seattle trio Presidents of the United States of America, whose 1995 self-titled debut was an exquisitely crafted album of ultra-catchy songs about dune buggies and kitties and spiders and peaches and whatever on earth "lump" was. Critics ate their playful act up and "Lump" soared up both the pop and modern rock charts, to be followed a few months later by the goofy "Peaches." The follow-up, II, contained the same solid songwriting and rapier wit, but the sales lagged. By the end of the decade the POTUSA disbanded; however, by the 2000s, they had reformed, determined as ever.