While there are a multitude of poker references scattered throughout the musical world – and even entire songs written on the subject – has there ever been an entire album thematically centered around the game?
It's possible, but we doubt anyone's ever done it quite like this before.
We're talking, of course, about the recent release of Check Raise Revolution. From Runner Runner Productions – the brainchild of Adam Peiken – the album features six songs composed by Peiken, Greg Goes All In, Jeremy Ausmus, and Slow Poker.
You say you want a revolution...
The short, future-classic Check Raise Revolution kicks off with a playful riff on one of Phil Hellmuth's classic blowups – turning his words of frustration and anger into a catchy, bite-sized tune, aptly titled A Mockery of Poker.
Parental advisory note: there's some... language used. Possibly not the best choice for a ringtone – unless you want to get under a particular player's skin at the table.
From there, the album flows into Pot Odds, a song that is equal parts entertainment and education. Through the majesty of song, Greg Goes All In explains the concept of pot odds in a way that even the most un-studied poker player can understand.
If Dan Harrington had this song available back when he was writing his seminal text on hold'em, he could have saved a decent chunk of money when it came time to print.
On The Chips Song, Greg parodies the viral sensation from the film Pitch Perfect, colloquially known as 'Cups' and performed by Anna Kendrick. In an admirable attempt to mirror Weird Al Yankovic, Greg turns the 'Cups' song into a catchy tune about the perils of the tournament grind.
Ausmus takes over at this point in the album, lending his angelic vocals to two compositions – Hey Mighty Poker Gods and Pocket Jacks – the former set to the tune of the mid-2000s hit song Hey There Delilah by The Plain White Tees.
To see Ausmus perform Hey Mighty Poker Gods in the flesh, click here.
On Pocket Jacks, Ausmus puts one of poker's most hotly-contested debates (are pocket jacks any good?) to song. In words that will surely resonate with every player, he laments...
"Jacks of mine,
today you will die,
like every f*cking time,
I've ever held you..."
Check Raise Revolution concludes with Slow Poker's Floppin the Nuts – a new take on the hit song Seasons of Love from the musical Rent.
So, in the absence of an official review on the likes of AllMusic.com, PokerOrg will give Check Raise Revolution two thumbs up. Is it a little short, at just six songs? Yes. Are three of those songs under a minute and a half in length? Sure. Is it kinda hilarious? Yep.
And Peiken is already floating rumors about 'the difficult second album'...
Go check it out now at Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music.
