Reviews

How do you judge a ska release? I mean, it’s really hard to be innovative in a genre that’s as steeped in tradition as ska. The last great change was the melding of ska and punk in the early 90’s, and since then, the style has supported the newer, high energy acts like Reel Big Fish and Less than Jake as well as old pros like the Toasters. Having survived the ska boom of the late 90’s which leveled much of the ska scene, the Toasters have returned with a new record and it’s a pleasant surprise.
 
For me, the quintessential Toasters record is Hard Band for Dead. It was one of the first albums I ever bought with my own money and it can still be found knocking around my CD collection. So, when I received One More Bullet in the mail, I didn’t count on being impressed. Boy was I wrong. The first half of this year has seen some great roots-ska influenced records released, what with Big D and the Kids Table getting their groove on and The Aggrolites doing what they do best. But while both those records are notable, the Toasters latest seems almost more authentic. Maybe it’s because they’ve been around for twenty-five years or maybe it’s all in lead singer Robert “Bucket” Hingley’s smooth, crooning delivery. I don’t know. What I do know is that the new Toasters record is as solid as any of their other releases in the music department and contains a few surprises when it comes to the lyrics.
 
Musically, the Toasters don’t really pull too many punches. The songs range from slower, reggae infused, numbers to up-tempo jams featuring the wailing horn section. Bucket’s signature telecaster tone is still intact and really has become one of the defining features of the band. Personal favorites would have to be album opener “What a Gwan” and their take on the Everly Brothers’ “When Will I be Loved,” the latter featuring some nice harmonica work and a jazzy, clean tone guitar soloing throughout. Another thing to note is the fine bass work courtesy of Jason Nwagbaraocha. I always pay attention to the bass lines in ska music because it usually requires a bit more creativity and tends to lean more on jazz and blues than standard rock phrasings. Needless to say, Nwagbaraocha’s bass playing carries not only a great, warm tone, but quite a bit of melody and rhythm throughout the record. The record is also perfectly recorded, with a nice, airy vibe achieved throughout. Everything feels both tight and laid back. Just listen to “Step Up” and you’ll get it.
 
Now, the lyrics are what really struck me about this record. There seems to be a bit of claustrophobia and anger in Bucket’s words this time around. From the issues he takes with closed circuit TV being everywhere throughout Europe (“What a Gwan”), to the aptly titled “Where’s the Freedom,” to the lovesick complacency of the character in “Life in a Bubble,” Bucket seems interested in a few darker themes on One More Bullet. I like this approach and it’s always been one of my favorite aspects of a lot of traditional ska; bubbly, fun music that masks the negativity sometimes contained in the words. The great thing about this approach is that it makes the listener pay a bit more attention and that’s always a good thing.
 
The Toasters latest offering is a great traditional ska record and one that should not be missed, especially with bar-b-que season upon us. Next time your chillin’ on the back porch grillin’ some burgers and throwin’ back a few beers, toss the Toasters in and see if it doesn’t get people moving. Having missed out on quite a few releases between Hard Band for Dead and One More Bullet, I think I’ll be delving into the Toasters’ back catalogue and playing catch-up for a while.