Category: Ska

Ska Reviews

Chris Murray Combo – Why So Rude

(c) 2008 Unstrictly Roots
Rating: ★★★★★

If you’ve been reading the reviews on !upstarter for any length of time, you would realize by now that I’m a big fan of Chris Murray. Ever since I saw him open for Skavoovie and the Epitones and Less Than Jake in Lawrence, KS ages ago (1996 maybe?), I’ve been hooked. Time has seen several new releases since the 4-Track Adventures of Venice Shoreline Chris, each of which has been rock solid in its own way. Why So Rude is no exception.

If anything Chris Murray, now as a three piece combo, is more solid than ever. The new release is a culmination of time spent playing as CMC over the last few years and newly recorded versions from the Chris Murray and King Apparatus back catalog. The band consists of Ben Farrar on percussion/backing vocals, Eddie “Chiquis” Lozoya on bass/backing vocals and Chris Murray on vocals/guitar. Frankly all three of these guys bust out the stops at their respective musical posts. The bass is smooth and rolling. The symbol hits are second to none, and the vocals compliment the songs like a glove to a hand. Though this is a slightly different lineup than when I last saw the CMC. Bass duties were once upon a time performed by Jeff Roffredo, but that was a few years back.

None the less Why So Rude lays down 13 tracks: some new, some old, all good. Personal Favorites include the opener: I need Water and the title track: Why So Rude. The cover of Maga Dog and the re-recording of Michael and Anne are top notch as well. If you like your Ska, Roots and Reggae full of genuine soul, compelling song writing, sincere vocals and subtle harmonies, do check out the Chris Murray Combo. You shan’t be disappointed.

–Jerry Actually

Millencolin [Machine 15]

Millencolin – Machine 15 (c) 2008 Epitaph RecordsI have to be perfectly honest. I’ve never really been a big Millencolin supporter. While I respect their ability to kick out the jams and their consistent performance over the years, something about the Swedish punk favs has always left me wishing it were a little more something … can I really define what it is that I am not finding? not quite. Now, however, I’m listening to Machine 15, and perhaps I have softened to Millencolin over time. Maybe I’ve lightened up my stance on pop oriented music. I find myself not walking away from this new release. For the fans Machine 15 brings you, oddly, 15 new tracks of what is very obviously well poslished Millencolin material and its growing on me like a slime mold. –Jerry Actually

Buck-O-Nine – Sustain

(c) 2007 Asian Man Records
Rating: ★★★★☆

I got the increasingly rare opportunity to attend a Buck-O-Nine CD release show last Saturday at their, and my newly re-adopted, hometown stomping grounds. The show was at The Casbah, a downtown San Diego ska friendly staple. It is a great little venue, perfect for intimate shows with your favorite bands and the 24oz. cans of PBR aren’t stupid expensive. As a bonus for attending the show, every ticket holder received a copy of Sustain, their first new release in seven years. For fans of Buck-O-Nine, you wont be disappointed. As far as I’m concerned the disc is an instant ska classic. The songs are tight. The horns hit. They can hold muster to a couple adult beverages and remain dance-able. The shout along choruses are intact. If you are new to ska, (wow that cave must have been crazy dark and quiet all these years) dig into their back catalog. There is more good stuff to be had. What more can I say about the disc other than it is a great piece of work from one of my favorites and now on one of my favorite labels too. For those that didn’t get to attend the show. Buck-O-Nine was opened by another local ska act, The Lifters. They too put on a great show. Check ’em out if you have a chance.

–Jerry Actually

Buck-O-Nine [Sustain]

Buck-O-Nine – Sustain (c) 2007 Asian Man Records I got the increasingly rare opportunity to attend a Buck-O-Nine CD release show last Saturday at their, and my newly re-adopted, hometown stomping grounds.  The show was at The Casbah, a downtown San Diego ska friendly staple.  It is a great little venue, perfect for intimate shows with your favorite bands and the 24oz. cans of PBR aren't stupid expensive.  As a bonus for attending the show, every ticket holder received a copy of Sustain, their first new release in seven years.  For fans of Buck-O-Nine, you wont be disappointed.  As far as I'm concerned the disc is an instant ska classic.  The songs are tight.  The horns hit.  They can hold muster to a couple adult beverages and remain dance-able.  The shout along choruses are intact.  If you are new to ska, (wow that cave must have been crazy dark and quiet all these years) dig into their back catalog.  There is more good stuff to be had.  What more can I say about the disc other than it is a great piece of work from one of my favorites and now on one of my favorite labels too.  For those that didn't get to attend the show.  Buck-O-Nine was opened by another local ska act, The Lifters.  They too put on a great show.  Check 'em out if you have a chance.–Jerry Actually

Mustard Plug [In Black and White]

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 

Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars

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 

Chris Murray- Slackness

(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

Beijing to Boston

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 

Warsaw Poland Bros

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 

The Pinstripes [Higer Ground]

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