Skarmageddon

(Moon)
by Scott Hefflon

Moon Records has given me a reviewer’s nightmare! The bands range from all across America. The styles and influences cover such broad influence that sweeping generalizations just don’t cut it. While they may or may not subscribe to the black & white fashion stereotype, the music is not so easily B/W. Sure, it’s all based loosely on the “ump-ah, ump-ah” guitar technique, have horns and often reeds, and bass lines are usually bouncy and intricate, but the deviations from the theme are numerous. My own personal faves are the super peppy dance mania numbers that owe inspiration to out-growing old school punk. Along the same mindset, but with wholly different influences are the blatant “borrowings” of TV themes and various commercial jingles from classical to “Born To Be Wild;” Ska can and will cover the spectrum. Nothing is sacred in the name of fun.

There are six New England bands on Skarmageddon. (I love Ska monikers. So playful and irreverent as opposed to the manly posturing of neo-metal/hardcore and the ambiguous symbolism of alternative.) From Connecticut, Spring Heeled Jack and JC Superska; from the Boston area there’s Skavoovie from Newton, The Allstonians from Allston and Thumper from Somerville; and from Maine there’s Active Culture. Two of my faves (with or without geographic biases) are Spring Heeled Jack and Thumper. Spring Heeled Jack is always fun and maniacal and Thumper has some punk influences sunk in there and could play “The Love Boat” theme and my feet would still be flying.

To the CD’s credit, it gives addresses and numbers for each band. To its discredit, some of the material sounds like mud. Sure, poor production is the band’s fault and kinda adds character and identity and all that, but sloppy recording depreciates the overall effort.

Skarmageddon is a great crash course in ska and has good contacts for the ever increasing number of Skaheads.