Ska Blah Blah

Ska Online: Bedouin Soundclash

Posted on September 30th, 2007 by JJ Loy.
Categories: Ska Online, album review.

I’m not sure everyone’s opinion on Bedouin Soundclash; I’m a little conflicted, myself. The first time I heard them, I was very turned off by their clean, radio-friendly sound. I gave their brand new record, Street Gospels, a shot and ended up liking a couple of tracks, which lead me back to Sounding a Mosaic, their penultimate album. While the vocals still remind me of the whiney boy hipsters that are popular in the current indie scene, the songs and rhythms come from a very rootsy place. I gotta say, they’re winning me over more and more.

Here’s an online live concert by AOL Music Canada Link (not a direct link, choose Bedouin Soundclash from the list of bands. A GoogleVid search Link Some of my favorites:

Bedouin Soundclash Official Links: Website MySpace Wiki page Amazon List

2 comments.

My Shoo Shoo

Posted on September 29th, 2007 by JJ Loy.
Categories: MP3.

Since my recent post, where I showed off a Radio Ska track, my listenership in Brasil is up. So for this reason, plus the obvious tie in to The Slackers new cover of Minha Menina, that I am now posting two classic Os Mutantes tracks.

For you review:
Original Minha Menina MP3 link
Later English Version MP3 link

So thanks again, citizens of Sao Paulo for your continued interest in my project.

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Ska Blah Blah: The Song

Posted on September 27th, 2007 by JJ Loy.
Categories: MP3.

Well, to tell the truth, the song was recorded years ago by Brazil’s own, Radio Ska. The track has been in a limbo of sorts until just recently, when Victor Rice stepped in to put the finishing touches on it.

Although the track I’m sharing with you now is not the final edit, the guys from Radio Ska thought it would be fun for me to show it off.

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Slackers New Record: Boss Indeed

Posted on September 26th, 2007 by JJ Loy.
Categories: album review.

I just listened to the new official-bootleg-mixtape-thingy, The Boss Harmony Sessions by The Slackers, and thought I’d share a few thoughts on it.

First off, I immediately noticed the distinct production style the group pioneered in their last studio record, Peculiar. If you recall, on Peculiar, some of the band was recorded live while the rest was filled in at Version City. I’m not sure if it was the same exact device being implemented this time, but the effect was the same- rolling, energetic ska that you’d expect from a Slackers live show. However, unlike the last record, this disc had the presentation of a flea-market style mixtape.

Boss Harmony, an LA DJ that specializes in Jamaican sounds, hosts the tracks within, by creating soundscape segues and bong-chocked soliloquies.

A lot of these songs were intended to be released as singles, Vic and Dave both expressed to me their belief that the album was dead, at least for now. Perhaps that’s the reason behind this underground presentation. I, for one, am glad these tracks made it to official release status. This album is the first Slackers major release, since The Question, that didn’t seem inspired by tragedy in the least.

Here’s how the tracks break down:

Robots - I think that this song was greatly inspired by The Slackers time with the Phenomenauts. The dystopia is all Vic, but the style is somehow Mothersbaugh.Feed My Girl Ska - A classic Slackers tune from The Question, played in the style in which they preform it nowadays.

Funk Week - Title says it all- a whole weeks worth of funk packed into one 3 min instrumental track.

Mamma Told Me Not to Come - Everyone knows the Three Dog Night version of this, but did you know Randy Newman wrote it? These sarcastic lyrics find a great fit with Vic’s voice in this noticeably non-ska cover.

Mind You’re Own Business - I dare you go see any St. Louis blues band on any given night and NOT hear them play Mind You’re Own Business. I can’t speak for other cities, but it is a major standard in my neck of the woods. Here, the Slackers put a little skank to the natural swing of the song, with slightly unique lyrics.

El Gato - An Upsetters-esq track that comes close to being the second instrumental song on the record. Has anyone every collected all The Slackers tunes that feature animal sounds? It would be a mighty playlist.

Ska Boheme - This track reminds me so much of the instrumentals on Redlight. It’s classic, straight forward, Slacker style ska.

Wanted Man - The perfect follow up to Wanted Dead or Alive: both are covers about the trials and tribulations of a wandering man. Throw in the outlaw attitude Ruggiero exudes and the Wanted connection becomes even stronger.

Yer Still Blue - The Slackers are grabbing the Boogie-Woogie and running with it on this shuffle beat nod to yesteryear.

Minha Menina - When I first heard Os Mutantes, I had a secret wish that modern bands would revive the Tropicallia movement more often. Aside from one song from Beck and a couple from Belle and Sebastian (youtube music link), no one’s been up to the task. I would never have guessed that my favorite band would be among the first to branch out, and experiment with Brazilian psychedelia …and with the sitar… damn.

Little Joe - I featured this song, along with my interview with Dave, last year. It’s a sweet little lullaby song, with a killer dream-like organ solo.

Body Double - I’m at a bit of a loss for words, when it comes to this song. It’s funky rocksteady for sure, but the lyrics baffle me. I’d like to hear any interpretations anyone has out there.

All in all, I’d recommend this album to any Slackers fan or to anyone that needs to turn up the energy at a house party or dance contest.

Go buy a copy at a Slackers show, or go to :
Interpunk.com where they should go on sale this week.

1 comment.

Field Trip - Ska Weekend ‘07 - Special Episode

Posted on September 19th, 2007 by JJ Loy.
Categories: interviews, podcasts, special episode.

I drove from St. Louis to Knoxville, TN to attend the big Ska Weekend, in the hopes of snagging a few interviews and catching a bunch of live sets from today’s top Ska artists. And wouldn’t you know it? I did just that.

While this piece tracks my day, the people I talked to and the music I was most interested in, it is by no means a report on the event as a whole. You’ll hear live songs by Deals Gone Bad, Westbound Train, Dr. Ring Ding feat. The Drastics and The Slackers. Plus, interviews with King Django, Anthony from the Drastics, Dr. Ring Ding and Agent Jay Neugent.

Links of Interest:

Ska Weekend Website
Musical Occupation’s coverage of the event

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Cut the Chit Chat - 03 - Hard Edged Dub

Posted on September 11th, 2007 by JJ Loy.
Categories: cut the chit chat, dub, podcasts, video.

Maybe I’ve had the wrong impression for a long time, but I had always seen Dub Reggae as chill-out music- something to be passively and herbally enjoyed. Dub is a Weapon was the first band, that I encountered, to change the vibe from relaxing to energetic, with squealing guitars and double-time rhythms. And now, groups like Dub Trio are fulfilling this aggressive dub destiny by mixing creepy Dub FX into Bad Brains style Hard Core.

This episode brings you this sound, plus other non-traditional Dub approaches from bands like the Beastie Boys, Gotan Project, and the Drastics.

Babylon Motorhome - Big Band Vid Link
The Drastics - Al Q’runka Live Vid Link
Beastie Boys - Suco De Tangerina Vid Link
Dub Trio - Illegal Dub Vid Link
Slackerland All-Stars - Dub #1 Live
Dub is a Weapon - Unlabeled Live Track Live Vid Link
Crazy Baldhead - Controls
Gorillaz feat. Terry Hall - M1A1 Terry Hall Vid Link
Gotan Project - El Capitalismo Foraneo Vid Link
Pepper Pots - We Must Believe (Remix) Live Vid Link

Other Link of Interest:
-Archive.org has a ton of live Dub sets form many of these groups. Plus it’s free! Link (search for Dub)

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