Mustard Plug – In Black And White (c) 2007 Hopeless Records I was pretty excited when I heard that there was going to be a brand new Mustard Plug CD. As soon as I got a chance to give it a listen, I was all over it. There is an amazing resurgance of the early 90's ska going on right now and to be perfectly honest, I'm a bit surprised that the Plug are one of the ones who made it through. I'm happy as hell that they did and I admire their tenaciousness in taking the band from silly to serious. These seasoned veterans of the third wave have made a glorious return. It brings me back to a time about 15 years ago when ska was fun and not so many creepy kids wanted to be all emo. The years and miles have help to shape Mustard Plug's sound, however. Recorded at the legendary Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Co, In Black and White bursts with an immense amount of energy and talent, but harbors a more cynical overtone than past efforts. Bill Stevenson helps lend a more aggressive edge to the tracks. Songs like Time To Wake Up even seem downright dark, but don't let the seriousness of the CD bring you down. It still will put every last one of your brains on ska.–Jerry Actually
Ska CD Reviews
Sierra Leone's Refuge All Stars – Livin Like A Refugee (c) 2007 Anti Records Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars make Reggae flavored World/Affrobeat music. They are decent at what they do. However, If you heard them in the background, you might not even pay that much attention. They don't break any sonic barriers. They aren't going to astound you with their radical new approach to music. Why, you ask, should I even bother then? I'll tell ya there fella. The story is what makes them amazing. 11 musicians from in or around Freetown Sierra Leone, Africa, all living in a refugee camp in Guinea forge together and triumph over adversity. Imagine being torn from your home and sent to a foreign land to live in makeshift camps, not knowing your fate from one day to the next and still having the time and wherewithal to come together as a group. That is freaking awesome. The rising above the pain and struggle through music. It is the core and essence of humanity. Plus, despite what I said at the top, this is a good disc. It is musically apt and enjoyable to listen to, even if it isn't incredibly innovative. So do the world a favor and say hello to your neighbors from Sierra Leone.–Jerry Actually
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Chris Murray- Slackness
May 4
(c) 2007 Unstrictly Roots
Rating: 
I have to start by telling you that I've been anticipating this release for quite some time and because I'm a fan, this may come across as a bit biased. For the unaware among us, Slackness is a collaborative project between Chris Murray and The Slackers. I'll have to admit I was taken a bit by surprise with Slackness. I wasn't sure what to expect, so let me tell you what I got. 12 great tracks of the heart and soul of ska. The recording offers up a smorgasboard of ska reggae and roots, some old and some new. Slackness starts with a great cover of "Janie Jones" and into a more traditional Chris sounding track that appears to be co-written with Dan Potthast of Mu330 fame. (admittedly I'm assuming here based on the writing credits.) The CD continues into a few remakes of older Chris songs with the added twist of being backed by The Slackers, one of the hardest working bands in ska today. I particularly enjoy "Rastaman Rock", a tuffed up version of the original. The tracks close with a ironically upbeat war protest song entitled, "Why We Go To War". I guess this is like the magical moment when someone got their peanut butter on someone else's chocolate. If you've ever wondered what Chris would sound like backed up by a full band of the caliber of the Slackers, give Slackness a whirl. Out now on Unstrictly Roots In closing, you can tell that Chris Murray is totally OG … Check that freakin' bling homie!
–Jerry Actually
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Beijing to Boston
Feb 16
Brain Failure/Big D & The Kids Table – Beijing to Boston (c) 2007 Bad News Records Hell fucking yeah! Beijing to Boston is a split CD featuring Brain Failure—the first honest to goodness punk band outta China—and Boston's Big D and The Kid's Table. I have to say that I'm awfully impressed with Brain Failure. Their opening six tracks on the split evoke memories of Rancid, Dropkick, Social D and The Clash. Dickie Barrett (of Bosstones fame) lends a hand on the intro track “Come on Down to Beijing”. Despite the Clash reference, don't expect anything too political though, given how things seem to work in China regarding dissent, Brain Failure keeps the subject matter pretty light: songs about inviting you down to Beijing and living in a city and being brainless etc… No matter what though, it is freaking awesome to hear brothers in arms from another country breaking it out like the rest of us. Go world unity! Let us not forget our brothers from a different East. Boston's Big D & The Kid's Table shore up the final six tracks on the split. The tracks from Big D are all new and as always are nothing short of stellar. They start us out with the trippy and spacial "Faded" and then bring us back in to the more familiar and infectious ska punk that we've come to love these last 10 years. Here's the big breakdown, this disc is the mad note on a whole lot of levels. Two great bands, 12 great songs and a monumental cultural bridge. In a word, brilliant!–Team !upstarter
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Warsaw Poland Bros
Feb 13
Warsaw Poland Bros – Best of Ska & Rocksteady 1995-2005 (c)2006 Invisible Mass Records Best of Ska and Rocksteady is a great introduction into what really is some of the best ska and rocksteady ala the Warsaw Poland Bros. Don't expect to be dazzled by something brand fangled and new, but do expect a grip of quality examples of up beats horn bursts and full on dancing good times. Skankable and fun and a decade worth of material, how can you go wrong with that, huh? Bare in mind that it is often hard to review 'best of' CD's – not quite as bad as comps – but still a challenge. After all, what does one say when confronted by a selection of the best. I guess, here it is. This is the best example of what Warsaw does and well, its good. It is, in fact, skankalicious!–Team !upstarter
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The Pinstripes – Higher Ground (c)2006 The PinstripesWelcome to Cincinnati Ska, Pinstripes style. Higher Ground, the new full length disc from Ohio ska outfit The Pinstripes shows some hard earned depth and maturity. It has been a while since I reviewed the EP prior to this release and I have to say that I'm impressed with the growth both in musicianship and songwriting. Vocals (mostly female fronted) and the horns are smoother. The musical structure is more refined and the group is tighter as a whole. The Pinstripes are bringing some much need energy back to the lagging ska scene. The songs range from quirky covers: "Walk like a Jamaican" and both political and socio-ethical concerns: "Immigration Song" and the re-released perennial favorite "Fast Food Economy. Beyond that the band has toned down the youthful goofiness and schtick of the previous release. They are learning the ropes of what works for the band and what does not. Above all The Pinstripes, through dedication and continued effort, are a refreshing breath of air in the current stagnant rock star nightmare of todays music.{mos_sb_discuss:3} –Jerry Actually
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Skannibal Party 6
Nov 18
Skannibal Party 6 – V/A (c) 2006 Mad Butcher RecordsWorld wide Ska! Yeah baby, bring it! This edition of the Skannibal Party collection is definitely worth listening to all the way through. Despite any language barriers, good ska is good ska no matter how you sing it. Get this CD. Pop it in. Fun will be had by all. Sooner or later everyone will be skankin' around you living room or porch or dorm room or eurovan. As an added bonus it goes well with beer and BBQ. Seriously this comp is cool; it literally has ska from around the world. Get yours today.Love Team !upstarter
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No Respect
Nov 3
No Respect – Excuse My Smile (c) 2006 Mad Butcher RecordsWhat we have here is a gem of a re-release from the pioneering German Ska/Punk band No Respect. Originally released almost a decade ago and re-pressed earlier this year, Excuse My Smile offers you 14 tracks of wicked good anti-nazi anti-fascist Ska/Punk. This was pretty ground breaking stuff back in '97 and the message and the music have stood the test of time. Though sometimes the sentiment seems a little less popular and a little worse for wear, the world still needs music with a positive message and the ability to rock and the same time. Because of that need, No Respect is still going strong with new material and their own flavor of rock. Keep up the grand work fellas.
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Arpioni [Malacabeza]
Oct 18
Arpioni – Malacabeza (c) 2006 Mad Butcher RecordsFor nearly a decade and a half, Arpioni has been rockin' the Italian ska scene. Malacabeza is their new release out now on Mad Butcher Records. Though mostly bordering between traditional and 3rd wave ska, the disc offers 16 tracks in a wide variety of musical styles. From the Northern Soul of the opening track Basta! right into a kind of swinging jazzy (a bit like Squirel Nut Zippers) number "Una Storia Disonesta". There is even a polka-esqe track. This is the first I've heard from Arpioni and I like what I hear. Good fun ska and soul from Bergamo Italy. Here's a link to their official site, check 'em out. Arpioni The site happens to be in Italian, but there is an English version for those of us what speaks that language. World ska for the masses … making this world a better place. –Jerry Actually
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Catch 22 – Permanent Revolution (c)2006 Victory RecordsAs I sit and listen to this Catch 22 release, I must say this is one of the best from the ska-punk band from New Jersey. Having all their other releases, I must say I was excited to hear the newest one. Now I must say that the first couple of times through this CD I thought it was kinda slow and different, but the more you listen to it the more I love it. The CD explores the life of Leon Trotsky and it is very interesting how the story is told. Catch 22 has brought us yet another great Disc and their live performance to back it up cements that. I hope that Catch 22 will continue to bring us great music 'cause I know I will be listening. I will give this CD 4.5 checkerboards out of 5, so pick it up and dance your ass off!!!
