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 Ska has been selling at a pretty good clip for years (just ask my son Steve, he's a huge ska fan), reaching its peak in the Nineties ska-punk "wave" with Catch 22, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Reel Big Fish. To their credit, Mustard Plug, along with younger bands like Big D & the Kids Table, don't really try to emulate their peers, despite having their feet planted firmly in this rancorous stepchild of reggae. Mustard Plug make their path through strong songs that shows the band's musical prowess is not limited to recordings but also their live show. (Our Jersey Beat crew of my son Steve, his friend Tim, Tim's dad Frank, & I saw the band a couple of years ago, and they really brought their records to life with what seemed like unending energy.) Mustard Plug will leave you gap-mouthed. This latest CD has the vintage energy of Catch 22's Keasbey Nights, but Mustard Plug seems more interested in hitting a wider array of topics and musical styles within the framework of what works best for the band. The result is that the best songs here hit quickly and are lean on excess. By jumping between a few different vocal styles, they add more depth, and are more multi-dimentional musically. This is one of the strongest ska records in a while. I hope this will be the norm for a long time to come. From what we've seen with bands like Catch and RBF, they seem to be getting their second wind, in what could be a long and interesting career. - Phil Rainone
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