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.

Comments (0) Sep 29 2007

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.

Comments (1) Sep 26 2007

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

Comments (1) Sep 19 2007

Vic and I discussed the internet, in general, and MySpace, specifically, and how they’re changing the way The Slackers are doing business, on his episode of Ska Blah Blah. Months later, it seems he’s embraced MySpace even more. In addition to his Vic Ruggiero Page and the official Slackers Page, two new sites show off a couple of side projects that are pretty exciting.

The Tampa Road project features Vic and Ara (of The Slackers) laying down some spooky, Iraq War-themed blues tracks. I can find very little about the lyricist, Phil Nerges, but I get the impression his is either an American soldier or journalist assigned to the Iraq War. The words, to the songs speak of the constant fear the soldier’s face and the senselessness behind their actions. It’s a drastic change in style for Ruggiero, but one that is consistent with his recently evolving protest themes.

Tremoflex9000 finds Ruggiero teaming up with Phil the Tremolo King and Flex Unger for some chicken-shack, lo-fi dub. There are plenty of great originals and instrumentals, available for download, from the MySpace Player and a link to the first EP, but it’s the tracks featuring Ruggiero on vocals that have me hooked. Tremoflex9000 covers two of the tracks from Living in Sin/Understanding New Jersey, and brilliantly so. The creepy, haunting tone of Vic’s first solo album is transplanted, and amplified on the Tremoflex versions. Link to This by Tremoflex9000.mp3

The real proof of Vic’s love for MySpace isn’t in these sites, however. On his main page, inconspicuously placed in his personal blog, there is an on-going serial saga, chronically the underground scheme’s of Vic’s cats. Either these are some highly evolved felines or Ruggiero has a paranoid fantasy life. Excerpt:

“ok”, said rudy,”what do you want? samba or leonard cohen?…that’s all that’s out…”
suddenly there was noise from the outside…”ahhh…they’re coming home, we’ll have to listen to what they want now…well, maybe they’ll put on some reggae…”
“yes…i hope”, said pierre, “ahhh, i guess i should stop smoking too huh?”
“ha ha ha ha”, all the gatos laughed as the door began to unlock

It is easy to pass these ramblings off as a silly use of blog space, but that would be an unwise move. These snippets of prose follow many of the same conventions as Ruggiero’s music, and invoke the same feelings of spontaneity and inspiration. I for one would like to see him explore something like short subject fiction, more aggressively.

But for now, I’ll just gawk at everything else he puts out, and share it with you guys.

Comments (0) Aug 28 2007

My next series of interviews is still a ways off, so I thought I’d try to keep everyone interested by running an all-music series. Look forward to episodes featuring Skinhead Reggae, Dub Revivalism, and more.

In this episode, I play some of the best Neo-Trad Ska to come out of the past couple of years. You’ll hear bands from the States, Europe, and Asia; all of them calling back to Jamaica, but adding something modern.

I’ve added links where I can, and I encourage you to buy something from any of the bands that you like.

The Caroloregians – Super Bikini Link Ska Cubano – Istanbul Link, Link

Pepper Pots – King of the Street Link

Westbound Train – Fatty Fatty, Boom Boom Link

The Debonaires – Interrupted Link

The Determinations feat. Ego Wrapping – A Love Song Video Link

Heavy Step – You Got It (Newish – I couldn’t find any Deal’s Gone Bad)

ASPO – Nuthouse Shuffle Link, Video Link

The Moon Invaders – Consciousness Link

The Pepper Pots – Runaway Video Link

The Upsessions – Cool Ska Time Link

The Slackers – Robots

If you are in a band or know of one, that plays Jamaican Revivalism in any form, and would like it to be featured on an episode of Cut the Chit Chat, please contact me: jjloy@skablahblah.com

Comments (2) Aug 10 2007