The
Slackers - Self Medication (indicationrecords.com)
The Slackers are stuck in the 70's, and they're
proud of it. They play reggae-influenced ska,
like their predecessors, originators like the
Skatalites and the Upsetters, all wearing their
influences on their collective sleeves like
they were badges of honor, and rightly so. What's
also interesting about the band is the way they
develop their stories. Over sizzling, infectious,
old-school ska beats, they tell tales of unemployment,
and unity like "Every Day is Sunday"
and "Don't Forget The Streets," respectively
using minute twists along the way. Lending a
skaliciously eerie organ vibe to "Estranged,"
it's given an even more weirdly cool vibe to
the already mystifying number. The only song
that seems flat is the semi- ballad "Stars."
A predictable story line and mellowed instruments
make for a dull reading. But from there, and
all throughout the album, the music and musicianship
are excellent! Describing their music as "Jamaican
rock n roll" is a very apt moniker, as
The Slackers fuse as much Bob Marley, Toots
and the Maytals, as they do Muddy Waters and
The Stones into their infectious mix of rocksteady
reggae, soul, R&B, dub, and rock.
The Slackers carry on with these homegrown sounds
that are directly responsible for a rhythm and
a style that has moved millions and influenced
every form of popular music for the past three
decades. "Eviction," about the heavy
price that is paid sometimes for freedom, sounds
like a dog-eared page from the Bob Marley song
book. Faith, hope, and understanding are the
essential ingredients. "Self Medication"
is one of those joyous albums with a groove,
vibe and message that you can listen to from
start to finish to help "light up the darkness,"
as Bob Marley put it so well. - Phil Rainone
The
Rockvilles - Danger (myspace.com/therockvilles)
Now, here's a very cool rock band that, first
of all, gets a gazillion points for their
name, and while we're at it, another gazillion
for their music! With the raw, let's-get-in-the-van-and-tour
attitude, The Rockvilles have
crafted one of the year's best albums! All
low-fi, mean, lean barnburners like "Danger,"
"Long Way Home," and "Never
Again" rise above the run-of-the-mill
records that are out there now. Mosh-worthy
pop punk, the lyrics are potent teen angst
dynamos, propelled by meaty, melodic riffing,
charging the band's electric locomotive with
lethal, occasional, accurate soloing. "Danger"
is a mix of crunch and radio-wise punk (think:
Ramones). It has everything the seasoned or
novice punk rocker looks for in a complete,
competent band. "You've Really Got Me
This Time," with its raunchy Betty Page
vibe and rock around the clock, never ending
cadence, is another reason why The Rockvilles
are oiled and armed with excellent songs for
a good year on tour! - Phil Rainone
The
Wagon - Match Made In Hell (wagonmusic.com)
Ok, first off, the band gets a gazillion
points for having one of the coolest publicists,
Yarrr! PR. They have a skull & crossbones
for a logo, and we all know that Punks and
Pirates go hand and hand, right lads?! As
a matter of fact, I tried to get Tim, Steve,
& Frank from our crew to put on pirate
eye patches one year for the Warped Tour -
we could have been the Punk Rock Pirate Reporters,
BUT NOooo! Only Frank liked my idea, but I'll
still try. How about kazoos... But I digress,
besides the cool logo, the music on "Match
Made In Hell" is really good. Tight harmonies
dominate, as they are woven into the music
almost as instruments. The lead vocals, and
melodic songs are wrapped in lyrics about
letting go ("Waiting," Too Long"),
revenge ("I Don't Forget"), and
hope ("See You Again"), to name
a few of the almost dozen topics that The
Wagon cover. "Blueberry Sue" falls short
as a lame love song. Gruff, flat vocals over
a weeping, country pedal-steel guitar. But
"Chopped and Screwed" and "Kolonopin"
make up for the lame love song a thousandfold.
Clocking in at 1 minute & ten seconds
the wierdly cool "Chopped and Screwed"
is all attitude and distortion, like a quick,
colorful burst of Pink Floyd's psychedelic
"Meddle." "Kolonopin"
brings the band back to their distinctive
riff-rock sound, and on "Jack The Peddler'
they dip into reggae, with good results. This
album is solid, and not long-winded. More
than enough to wet your interest to see them
live. How about we wear a stuffed parrot on
our shoulders, and a fake peg leg, and...
- Phil Rainone
CD Reviews 
