Word: ska
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Once the band takes the stage, the expectant crowd knows what will follow: a consistent deluge of supercharged pop ditties, flavored with a hint of ska to keep the fans on their feet. From the outset, DHC never sinks into the mediocrity of Honey, I'm Homely. For almost an hour, the California quinlet instead offers a little sunshine to ward off the inevitable autumn harbinger of the approaching cold. The audience has no problem immediately warming up and DHC crank out song after song without any disappointment. Whether jumping in unison to the band's appeal or shouting along...
With songs like "Ocean" and "Stone Feeling," the Pietasters also display their instrumental talents. Throughout Willis, Toby Hansen (trumpet), Jeremy Roberts (trombone) and Alan Makranczy (saxo-phone) provide listeners with terrific melodies to elaborate on the ska beat. Within a half a minute of the start of most songs, however, the vocals come on and destroy any satisfaction the tracks could offer...
Besides their instrumentals, the Slackers shine most brightly on their title track, "Redlight," a soulful song about a lost love that recalls the music of Bob Marley, and "I Still Love You," a synthesis of the two-tone ska beat with vocals reminiscent of the ageless classic songs that fortunately still flourish today on oldies radio stations. Throughout Redlight, the Slackers prove their mettle. Ska music, much like punk music, is easy to play but very difficult to make original. With this release, the Slackers unveil a new dimension in ska music that will hopefully spark greater recognition and more...
What the Pietasters set out to do--create a commercially popular ska album--the Slackers have accomplished without even trying. The Slackers do not fit into any commercial mold, but it would be difficut to find anyone who would dislike Redlight, as Victor Ruggiero (who luckily boasts of 200 new songs in his back pocket) and his six mates flaunt their musical talent and imagination to grand effect...
Although bands like No Doubt have drawn widespread success, they do not truly represent ska music since they, for the most part, lack the true ska beat and are glaringly deficient in their use of horns. But what they seem to have done is what the nation's appetite for what ska sound demands. If you find that type of music at all appealing, go out and buy Redlight, because it represents everything that is good about ska music. As for the Pietasters' new album, leave it on the shelf. Although they bring with them a much bigger reputation...