More ska. This is a good thing. I like UK ska punk. Trouble is, this band can’t seem to decide what they are, as sometimes the horns and the guitars overlap to create a slightly messy sound. ‘123 Jay’ is an example of this, with an inventive natural harmonic riff working over a bassline to good effect, before the vocals and verse kicks in. The horn section plays throughout the verses, but seems to clog up the sound – this could very well be just the problems of a small recording budget, but I just don’t think the horns are always necessary. Obvously they’re integral to the sound of Grown At Home, but sometimes they’re a touch overdone. This is just my opinion, but perhaps instead of them playing all the times, employing them for half the time would increase their effect when they do make an appearance, as well as creating the illusion of diversity.
‘Sense Of Humour’ should be the template for the laid-back ska/reggae song. It’s got everything in all the right place, from the languid upstrokes of the guitar to the lazy vocals and the bouyant horns. I think this is a better track than the first because it’s more simple, and perhaps less ambitious. The production is a bit tinny when the distorted guitars kick in, and they don’t have the impact that they could have. It’s very reminiscent of Solabeat on their more chilled out moments, of maybe even the Pietasters.
Ben