Viva Cas Vegas,
Milk2SugarsApologies for not getting off my fat arse and reviewing this earlier (like, nearer the time when I was sent it) but like, y'know, couldn't really be arsed in this heat. It's done now though. Anyway, I'll get on with it. Even though M2S have always been closely connected with Punktastic I'd never actually come into contact with any of their music until now, instead relying on their self-labelling as 'skapunkjoy' to tide me through. But their new album is not quite what i expected, since it's hardly a template ska punk album.
I'll get the bad news out of the way first. I think the opening track 'Meedsashed' somewhat loses its way, and it really doesn't put the listener in a good place in terms of expectations for the rest of the tracks. It's very Leek And The Bouncing Uptones in sound, and almost goes into some real trad-ska type breakdowns, but the truth is that it just meanders along for a bit too long without changing pace or riff. Two solos after each other CAN in theory work, but not when they move at the speed of a paraplegic snail on skag. It has a very chilled out vibe, but I think the M2S boys slip slightly into laziness here.
So, I thought, a lot of hype and sod all delivery. I was about to put on FFAF (ok, maybe not THAT far) and destroy every ska record I own after this disappointment...but wait! What's this? The rest of the album is ace, you say? And starting with 'Hanging Around', the quality really does take a sharp turn for the better. Curiously enough for a band with such a sizeable brass section M2S show a fair bit of restraint with the horn lines, without clogging the sound at all but instead using the brass motif to highlight the more melodic moments. This has the result of accentuating the guitar work as a contrast, and on 'Hanging Around' the overall sound is much larger, and is reminiscent of the Caddies' newest offering with the triumphant return to the mian riff after a big build up. If you're talking mechanics then this song might feel a touch repetitive but the truth is that M2S know what sounds good, and they employ this knowledge to good effect.
'El Speakaro' and 'Desperate H' are both very laid back ska tracks, which float along in a manner that is just perfect for a summer's day, languid without being boring. However, one this particularly pisses me off, and that's the apparent tendency to slip into an American vocal style. It just annoys me because it's obvious M2S have forged their own sound, so why should they have to rely on an American gimmick? It's just a pet hate of mine, and it's exacerbated by the fact that M2S are seemingly trying to steer themselves away from the 'ska generica' that is so rife.
The lighthearted nature of the band is highlighted on '3rd Rate Ska Band', yet another brass-led track. The best thing is that there is rarely a predictable brass line - this is probably due to that fact that there are so many horn players in the actual band - but it's good to hear some imaginative interplay between the instruments, and this has the result of making the M2S sound organic, rather than guitar line + brass line + bass line.
'Wiped Out' kicks the pace up a few notches, with a chunky guitar line taking the spotlight during the verses, which heightens the Mad Caddies comparison a bit more, even moreso when you consider that there's not much on this colleciton of songs that really follows a template. Rockabilly styles clash with all-out punk rock before dissolving into pure skankable dancehall. Great stuff. 'Knocking Shop' is just good time ska that deserves to be put on every mix tape in the country for some good road trip type shenanigans.
So there you have it. A ska album that doesn't actually sound like many other bands on the UK scene. It doesn't have the franticness of No Comply, or the hard edges of Howards Alias, but instead has a smoother take, even slipping into some Skatalites-ish vibes too. Perfect for the summer.
Ben
