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CD Review
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Stand Up Jack, CD Review >>
Slackers, The: Close My Eyes
I had a very thorough, well-written review of this album written, but as I was posting it, the server decided to act up and erase it. Hopefully, this review will do my other review justice.
The Slackers formed right before the big ska explosion of the late nineties, but instead of focusing on Third Wave and finding ways of lacing punk rock attitude into their music, The Slackers went a completely different route. This may sound odd or weird to you, but instead of becoming a Reel Big Fish or Sublime clone, The Slackers did something revolutionary, they stuck to their influences from ska's beginings. What resulted was a modern interpretation of what made the sixties era of ska so great. They blended soulful and introspective lyrics with music that was heavily influenced by ska, rocksteady, and reggae. Now before you sell The Slackers short and stop reading this review, keep in mind that their music is more heartfelt and emotional than most of the generic mass produced emo shit on the market today.
Since their debut, Better Late Than Never the band has stuck to the same ideals and beliefs, but have also experimented with other forms of music such as jazz and soul. Now, with their latest Hellcat release Close My Eyes, The Slackers have offered up their most well-rounded album to date.
When it all boils down to it, ska music is dance music. No matter what any band is trying to say or get across, the main point is to dance and to unite people. I think The Slackers realize this because with Close My Eyes the band strips their sound down to the basics and creates an entire album that should be in any ska fan's collection. Whether lead singer Vic Ruggiero is singing about heartbreak or about the angst and experience of post 9/11 New York, he's singing it over very groovy and upbeat music. These two extremes work very well together because in one instant you're enjoying the music, but when you stop to listen to the lyrics, there's a whole new layer added to your listening experience.
Besides the above mentioned tracks, The Slackers also allow their horn section to shine through even more than usual with instrumentals (the beautifully crafted "Shankbon"), solos (especially David Hillyard's sax solo on the title track), and dub tracks. Also, vocalist Marc Lyn offers up his take on the war in Iraq on "Real War", which first appeared as an alternate version on Slackers and Friends.
If you're not familiar with The Slackers' music, than Close My Eyes is a great place to start your collection because it's the closest they've been at capturing the raw sensibility and feeling of sixties' era ska and reggae. I see this album as the next step in the eventual evolution to the closest a modern American group will ever get to being a sixties' ska group. If you're looking for an album that has both style and substance, than open your eyes, grab your keys, head out to the store, and pick up Close My Eyes. This album is every ska fan's dream, at least the ska fans like me who would rather pop in The Slackers, Hepcat, or Desmond Dekker over some of the Third Wave acts.
To all the Third Wave kids who think Catch 22 is the epitome of ska music, get a clue and get this disc. It may just change your life because, in my humble opinion, this is The Slackers best release to date.
Reviewer: Dane Jacksone
Score: *****
11/04/03 >> go there
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