20 Deck Records - Deck-less Vol 1, Various Artists
UK label Deckless Records say you can't go wrong with their latest compilation, which combines some new UK punk and ska bands with the cream of the world's talent. And whilst I can't say this will blow your head off, I can say that there is some pretty good stuff here for your listening pleasure.
The strangely named Leek and the Bouncing Uptones throw up some ska/punk fused action which is pleasant enough on the old ears. The more well-known 4ft Fingers follow up, with this lot certainly one of the more up-and-coming UK bands. Opinions on this mob are varied, personally I've not heard enough by them to pass opinion, but 'Broken Bones' is actually fairly good. The Bombjacks come up next with some mediocre pop-punk, which is ok, but good harmonies and singalong choruses do not always a good song make.
My Dad Joe provide 'Small Mexican Guy' which is actually rather good, sounding a little like early MxPx. Uncle Brian pop up with some wicked ska on 'Bed Hair', although the vocals are certainly an acquired taste. I've never heard of Skin Of Tears, but I'll certainly be checking out some more of this German bunch of hardcore upstarts. 'Up The Cups' isn't the greatest track you'll ever hear, but it certainly has all the right things needed to rawk.
Lightyear are another of the new breed of cool UK ska bands, and 'Old Acquaintance' is very good indeed. Dirty guitars mix with some corking brass to provide one of the better tracks on this cd. The Foamers scuzz things up further, blasting through 'Sofa Sleeping', yet another great little track. Continuing this run of good form are Captain Everything with the skatastic 'All My Clothes Are Brown' which is great. The dual harmonies also work very nicely.
There's yet more ska with Shootin Goon and although this lot are a little bit more laid back and brass influenced than some of their peers, that doesn't mean they're not as good. And just when you think that things can't get much better, Skirtbox throw up the magnificent 'Minky-X-Press' a blast of ballsy power-punk that is worth the £3.99 alone. Mummy Says I'm Special are the first real let down and Dogshit Sandwich are also not my idea of a great band. Still, samplers are all about diversity, and these two bands offer the 'old-skool' variant.
'Serial Head Fuck' by W.O.R.M. is ok, as is the track provided by Mr Zippy. Scarper are another ska band, but aren't quite as good as some of the other bands of their genre. It's ok, just nothing that floats my boat. Japan's Caeser Soze are manic, and an improvement on the last couple of tracks. Still, it's not quite to the quality of the likes of Skirtbox or Captain Everything. The return of Leek and the Bouncing Uptones is marked with the brass-filled 'Wet Dreams', another decent ditty by this South African lot.
With a title like 'She's A Marilyn Manson Fan', you just want Father Jax to be great, but their slow brand of ska doesn't really do it for me. Clingfilm are much better; melodic, fast and furious and pretty damn good. Captain Everything return again sounding curiously like [spunge], before Father Jax sing 'I Love Your Mum'. Ok, they really are the ska version of Blink 182. Lyrically it's mildly amusing, sonically it's very, very average.
Into the home straight now, and Jesse James provide 'Colonial'. JJ are a band that are yet to win me over; live they are energetic but I just feel that they don't quite have the songs to propel them into the big leagues. And this track doesn't change my opinion. It's left to those mad Germans in Skin Of Tears to wrap things up with the calypso inspired 'Time's Up'. It takes a while to get going, but when it does it's a fine way to end proceedings.
I'd be lying if I said this was the greatest sampler I'd ever come across, but this is great value at just £3.99 and there are some great small bands showing off their many talents. Definitely worth a closer look.
Paul Savage
