The Slackers – The Great Rocksteady Swindle – Album Review

Photo: moanin

Written by Murdoch Watson
7/10

When people claim they don’t like ska music chances are they aren’t talking about The Slackers. Their reaction to the 60 year old genre is most likely a response to the brief boom third wave ska experienced in the late 90s. Back then songs from generic ska bands like Reel Big Fish and Save Ferris seemed to be used in every commercial, video game or high school themed movie. Meanwhile, bands like: The Toasters, Hepcat, The Pietasters and The Slackers plugged away playing their passion without heavy MTV rotation and mainstream recognition. Since the late 90s ska bump then crash the groups who stuck with the genre seem to be in it for the love of the music.

With ska steadily chugging along on the music periphery people who aren’t paying attention are missing out on The Slackers, a 19 year old band whose music is richly steeped in the American music tradition. Traces of NYC jazz, rhythm & blues and 60s rock can be found mixed with traditional ska sounds on their 12^th studio album The Great Rocksteady Swindle available from Hellcat Records.

TGRS contains 15 tracks that through the course of the album highlight the different aspects of their genre.  In a way TGRS is a great introduction to ska music for those who may be new or a reintroduction to those who haven’t worn a patched out flight jacket since the 90s. The Slackers do a solid job pacing the album with the perfect mix of slower, dub/rocksteady/reggae and more lively/light hearted rock, which makes for a pretty varied yet even listen. In the middle of all that is the true gem in the album. On track 10 the Slackers perform an inspired reimagining of the Bill Withers soul classic “Ain’t No Sunshine”. The Slackers version is a purely instrumental piece that sounds like it should be in a 1960s spy movie. It is not as wonderfully dreary as the original; instead it takes the song in a different direction every time a new instrument is introduced. I can’t imagine this track not being one of my favorites of the year. And speaking of soul music; track13 “Thank You” sounds like it could be a Four Tops cover, which is the a compliment of the highest order. Other highlights include “Daddy”, “Sabina” and the closer “The Same Everyday”.

While there is nothing earth shattering happening in The Great Rocksteady Swindle, The Slackers clearly seem to be having a lot of fun and that fun translates to the listener. I found myself hitting repeat on tracks more than usual and as summer approaches I plan on listening to it more often.

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