"Yo! Check Out This Ride!" was recorded during a transitional period in The Aquabats' career. Following the departure of trumpeter and co-founder Catboy in 2002, the band had dropped their once characteristic horn section and predominant ska elements to focus more exclusively on the guitar- and synthesizer-driven rock and new wave influences which had dominated their previous studio album. Musically, the album showcases a hip hop-tinged rock song in the title track and straight synthpop in "Todd-1 in Space Mountain Land!", while featuring cover songs from power pop bands The Plimsouls and The Kinks, and vocal group The Kids of Widney High.