Perhaps way ahead of their time, Camper Van Beethoven was merging whatever styles they felt like and was one of the darlings of the underground scene of the 1980’s. The styles they merged ranged anywhere from various World Music influences, Punk, Ska, Folk and virtually anything else they wished to. The California band was absurdly creative and was a very fun band to watch. Had they been a little more serious lyrically it is possible that they may have been perceived less campy and their musicianship would have been featured more prominently, but without that irreverence it just wouldn’t have been the same band.