We Don’t Skare

(Com-Four)
by Ska-Troy D

Seeing as how ska music is generally about as free-form as Haiku, I figured reviewing a ska comp would be like eating a trash bag full of jelly-beans; they might be all different flavors, but eating two pounds will still make you corn. I was surprised. Ska music actually seems to be progressing, not something it’s ever been famous for. In fact, it’s been around since the ’50s and the only major changes took place in the ’70s when bands like the English Beat and The Specials added their own styles to the genre.

Carrying on the tradition, today’s ska bands are keeping the original feel while expanding the form slightly enough to maintain its freshness. This CD has some great examples of newer bands that are stretching the definition. As with most non-record-company-affiliated comps, the level of performance varies from track to track, as does the recording quality, but the overall package is successful in presenting a well-rounded overview of today’s scene. Notable bands include Bim Skala Bim, whose track, “Paraguayan Sun,” has the most innovative sound on the CD. Another track worth mentioning is “C. Johnson’s Clothes” by Hoodlum Empire, which adds new dimension to the Jerky Boy’s gig. It features a taped phone conversation with an Oriental cleaners which is amusing and adds to an already solid song.

Unfortunately, there are also a few slackers on the disc, like “Hello Everybody” from Ngobo Ngobo, whose sound is best described as ska-nt. But that’s okay, this comp was intended only as a sampler and sometimes even Whitman’s gives you a crunchy frog. If you like ska and want to know what’s up, ‘pick it up, pick it up, pick it up.’ If seeing checkerboards in your sleep sounds like a nightmare, stay away.