In their own fresh way, Pama International have always been at once looking backwards and moving forwards. Their new record, Pama Outernational is a prime example of how the group maintains transparent influences without succumbing to the limitations of any one genre.
Despite being an all-dub band, Pama International aren’t a retro band, they aren’t recalling one specific time in music history. Many of the tunes on Outernational are in the style of early reggae and rocksteady, but the end result is not the scratchy scorchers of old- this is clean and polished. Spic and span.
Besides this impressively fresh and recognizable style Pama has developed, their lyrics are not merely an afterthought. On Outernational, you’ll find the lyrics are still very much in touch with the political consciousness that Pama fans have grown accustomed to. Songs like Are We Saved Yet and Question The Answer fit well with the call-for-change attitude of previous Pama cuts like Highrise and Throwaway Society. But positivity shines through everything they do, and ultimately Pama Outernational is an uplifting record.
I Still Love You More is easily the most obvious candidate for the standout single on Outernational. Like many other uplifting ska tunes that have come before, it’s groovy, dance-y and fun while delivering a Keep On Keepin’ On message of perseverance.
As of yet, you can only preorder Pama Outernational from overseas websites, but a little bird told me that MusicalOcupation.com will be picking up the US distro for future Rockers Revolt releases. So keep your eyes peeled!
So here’s my obligatory, “sorry-I-haven’t-posted-in-a-while” post that are so popular with the kids these days.
The truth is, I’m not all that sorry. I’m still doing the Ska’s The Limit radio show, and I’ve even been podcasting for the boys over at Pressure Drop/Music Is Our Occupation. Trust, I’m keeping busy.
Also contributing to my lag- There are just so many great Ska blogs out there, scooping me at every turn. Perhaps I’ll start showcasing a few of these wonderful websites, in the near future.
Of course, any reader of mine has got to be hip to the one they call, Gabe Pressure and his catalog of ska podcasts, Music Is Our Occupation. A few months ago, Gabe and I thought it would be fun to recreate the tracklist of The Slackers’ seminal record, Redlight, using tracks from my extensive live bootleg collection. Redlight is the second album by The Slackers- but in many ways, it’s their first.
One last thing- When I collected these live bootlegs, I didn’t realize that I’d ever play them for the public. While I’m all too happy to do so, I feel bad that I don’t have a single credit for any of the tapers. I apologize. If you are one of the tapers, or you know who the credit goes to, please let me know.
Is it a video podcast? An online TV show? A collection of Reggae and Ska interviews? I don’t know exactly, but it’s something like that. In addition to interviews with such Reggae headliners, Owen Grey, Ras Michael and Steel Pulse- ReggaeTV also has a share of Ska coverage.
Two videos should be of particular interest to Ska Blah Blah readers, Vic Ruggiero and Chris Murray:
I love Vic’s explanation of what he sees in Ska. Plus, he makes a few comments about his father that add an interesting follow-up to the 2001 video I posted last week.
I’m also looking forward to checking out the episodes featuring Reggae historian, Roger Steffens and Heartbeat Records’ Chris Wilson. Keep your eyes peeled for future episodes featuring Lee Perry and Tippa Irie.
It’s been my opinion that the birth of The Green Room Rockers signaled the start of a new phase for the Ska scene. In GRR, you’ll find the trad-ska sounds you’ve always loved, plus a heaping helping of that soulful, dirty reggae that’s been a big hit since The Aggrolites broke out- all this from one of the most unlikely places, Indiana. But what stands out the most, to me, is their age. I love that the youth is embracing the Jamaican sounds and not simply standing on the shoulders of the third wave or two tone.
It wasn’t long after Green Room’s first record, Hoosier Homegrown, that I started seeing this trend build steam. In a showing of solidarity, GRR have teamed up with their Ohio counterparts and occasional collaborators, The Pinstripes, to release a killer 10″.
It’s called Midwest Soundclash, and features three songs from each band. The Pinstripes have grown more than you’d expect since their 2008 debut latest record, The Decay- and the track Cool Whip/Hot Sauce is a stand out on this split. However, it doesn’t get any better than GRR’s cover of Symarip’s Stay With Him. I’ve been playing one version or another of this tune all year- this is one of those songs that stays in your brain for days and extra days.
“But,” in the words of Commander La Forge, “Don’t take my word for it…” Stream the whole record here, for free:
Midwest Soundclash is also available as a digital download from Amazon and iTunes .
This video has been up since April, but it’s news to me- so now it’s news for you. This short interview based documentary was directed by Marie Le Claire, whose name I recognized instantly. I remember a few years ago, The Slackers announced a concert documentary and even released this trailer. I contacted Le Claire and she says that the project was never finished, and it sounds like we’ll have to settle for the short we have.
It really is a great video, too. Here’s Vic in the studio talking mostly about his dad, and weighing the pros and cons of working as a musician. There’s some great concert and rehearsal footage between the interview segments, and some faces from Slackers past. I love getting a glimpse of their cramped rehearsal space- oh and Vic does a Mick Jagger impression.
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Feb 17 2010
