10 Dollar Mic | |
---|---|
1 | Kitty |
2 | Skadzilla |
3 | Drinkin Again |
The Readymen | |
4 | Allwrong |
5 | We Can |
6 | Headline News |
Shorthanded | |
7 | Not A Flinch |
8 | Dealing With Rejection |
9 | It's Inevitable |
Lando Calrissian | |
10 | Regal Beagle |
11 | Cloud City |
12 | '83 Edson |
The Valiants | |
13 | Let's Boogie |
14 | Paradise Cove |
15 | Peg Leg |
Five Cent Refund | |
16 | Our Walls |
17 | No Cure |
18 | New Beginning |
Lucky Seven Swing Ensemble | |
19 | Show Me The Money |
20 | Talk To Me |
21 | Big Bad Mamma Jamma |
Peter Pans Rage | |
22 | Big Time |
23 | Just Like You |
24 | Toxic Thing |
As the heading states, this is my review of the bands on this compilation.
Before this compilation came out, I had only heard about half of these
bands. Overall, I really like it. Unlike some compilations where it seems
like the songs were thrown down wherever, this CD flows really well. It's
hard to think that a swing band following a hardcore band would work, but
hey, it does here! Besides the format, the recordings are high quality.
It has a nice, clean sound. Anyways, here's what I thought of the bands:
10 Dollar Mic[Ska]
10 Dollar Mic has come a long way from the first time I saw them a few years
ago. They've developed into a fine-tuned ska machine. "Kitty" and "Skadzilla"
are two great songs with a nice, smooth sound. "Kitty" contains a sax solo
that is somewhat Madness-esque. "Skadzilla" starts off with a organ playing
and then busts in with an old school ska style. "Drinkin' Again" is a fun
little song about drinking and fighting! 10 Dollar Mic also has a new EP out
called Rising Sun.
The Readymen[punk-ska]
I have always thought that The Readymen sounded a bit like Operation Ivy. Not
that this is bad or anything! The Readymen have a similar punk ska feel as
Operation Ivy, but they still maintain a certain uniquiness to them. The
singer's voice is grainy, the guitars are pounding, but that's how punk is
supposed to be! The Readymen are one of my favorite punk-ska bands in this
3rd wave generation. They were around before it was popular and they know
how to play! One of the things I've always liked about The Readymen are
the lyrics. They have always had intelligent lyrics.
Shorthanded[skate punk]
This is the first time I have heard of Shorthanded. They sound really good.
They honestly sound more hardcore than punk, but who am I to lable? They
have fast guitars and loud drums with lots of cymbals. The lyrics are a bit
drowned out by the other instruments, so it can be a little hard to understand
them at times.
Lando Calrissian[ska-punk]
Lando Calrissian is from Eugene. I hope they don't take this in a bad way,
but they remind me of "Weird Al" Yankovic if he did a ska band! You may get
a really bad picture when I say that, but they make it sound good! You'd have
to hear them to know what I mean... This is another band that I didn't have
the chance of hearing until now.
The Valiants[instrumental surf]
I don't listen to all that much surf, but The Valiants are one of my favorite
bands. I've seen them a couple times live and have had a lot of fun at their
shows. "Paradise Cove" is a slower surf song. It has a nice bass line with
a floating guitar sound over it. The Valiant's organ is more pronounced in
"Peg Leg." I don't know what it is about organs, but I really love their
sound!
Five Cent Refund[old school hardcore]
I've never really been into hardcore. It has pounding basses and loud
singing, nothing against it, it's just not my thing. All that aside, I do
like Five Cent Refund. I just wouldn't want to listen to it all the time.
Honestly, they remind me a bit of the Henry Rollins Band.
Lucky Seven Swing Ensemble[swing]
Now honestly, what can I say about these guys? I've been listening to them
since they were a ska band known as Inspector #37 way back when and then as
The Scandals before they transformed into Lucky Seven. I have always thought
that these guys were a marvelous group of musicians. They were a lot of fun
to see live and to dance to. The only problem with this band is that they
broke up last June (1998)! The three songs on this compilation were ones that
would always be on their setlist.
Peter Pans Rage[punk-ska]
This is my first time hearing Peter Pans Rage also. They're OK.
The guitar is a bit grainy, but that just may be the effects they have on
it. I really don't like how they did the backup vocals on "Just Like You"
and "Toxic Thing." In general, the vocals are just weird. Part of the time
in "Big Time" it's hard to understand what he's saying.
How To Order?
Gottcha hooked by now?
Want to order one for youself?
It's easy! Just mail a Check or Money Order (NO
cash!) for $8 and a note saying you want the "Listen Up Sonny" sampler to
the following address:
Tuf Guy Productions
P.O. Box 20634
Keizer, OR
Back to the Oregon Ska Pages