R E V I E W S !
MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES-
Pay Attention (Island Records)


Mighty Mighty are back! This legendary Boston outfit continuously refuse to throw in the towel and are still going as strong as ever. These inventors of the term "ska-core" have never been a ska band in the pure sense. Instead they've always been pouring up a lethal cocktail of metal, punk, ska and grunge, always served in a very stylish glass.

On this album the offbeat is less prominent than on their last offering which was riding on the recent upsurge of ska in the States. The ska sensibility is always present (especially in the brass), but only 2 or 3 of the 16 tracks are actually ska. Which is somewhat of a shame since "Let me Be" with its sped up rocksteady, and the straight-out ska of "All Things Considered" are some of the albums most obvious sharpshooters. But with other strong tracks such as the catchy punk wickedness of "Over the Eggshells" and the energetic Irish influence on "Riot on Broad Street", this album is a definite must for the ones not totally dependent on the offbeat in order to have a good time.



TOASTERS -
Dog Eat Dog (Grover Records)

As an appetizer for the forthcoming album, titled "Enemy of the System", we are here treated to a 4-song EP of what is to come.

The frequent line-up changes have always been a part of The Toasters history and yet again Bucket introduces us to a whole new set of musicians, featuring Adam Birch from The Specials and John Chapman of the late Skoidats.

The music is in the traditional Toasters vein with no real surprises, but should at least please the dedicated fans. The title track is a bitter stab at ska-bands and others who've quit the scene now when ska has lost some of its popularity in America. But all this annoying whining about "staying true to the scene" is outweighed by the closing track, called "Barney". This one's about that bearded hoodlum you always see selling T-shirts at the shows when The Toasters are touring in Europe. If you've seen him, you will laugh your head off when you hear this song!


 

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