I have to admit that I like all sorts of music but the one type I least listen to but will have me up and making an ass of myself on the dance floor is Ska. Ska for the uninitiated is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. It combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the offbeat. The benefits of old age is that you can bore those that are prepared to listen about the bands you got to see. I was lucky enough to attend the 2-Tone UK Tour in 1979 which had The Specials, Madness and The Selecter packaged together and the saw Bob Marley and the Wailers at Stafford Bingley Hall in July 1980 on the Uprising tour. Bob Marley`s career started with a lot of ska influence. So, when I came across Milwaukee`s premiere ska band Something To Do`s latest album “Give Me Attention” it really whetted my appetite.
The album kicks off with the contradictory `Give Me Attention (But Leave Me Alone) ` a superbly upbeat bouncing number that has some cracking brass splashes and vocals that were shared as if spewed from a machine gun they were that fast. Then just when you think it`s over the song returns at a slowed down pace with some guitar shredding that Richie Blackmore would have been proud of. There`s no let up in pace as the band head into `Am I Still Coming Over` which retains its brass “wall of sound” a number that seems to emphasise a romance that may be on the slide and you can hear the anxiety in the vocal delivery.
`You Wouldn`t Like Me When I`m Hungry` comes at you like a speeding train but enjoys some subtle rolling drums from Brad Klotz and again that thump of brass. The catchy `I Wish the Best For You` has some noteworthy guitar inflections from Chris Holoyda and Alex Kayser and some whooh whoohs added to the song chorus.
`She Saw Me As I Really Was` is slightly different with more of a punk feel with again the addition of this band`s stunning brass section in the shape of Lil’ Jessie Dills (trumpet), Chris Smith (trumpet) and Marc Kuntz (trombone). A composition that is almost cinematic at times. There`s what I’d almost call old time ska with `I know Something That They Don`t Know.` This will be a floor filler in a live setting and has an infectious chorus that will have the faithful singing along.
`Somebody`s Wrong On The Internet` is a delightful bass driven track, supplied by Nate Tredinnick. It starts with a reggae texture before blossoming into a more thumping ska beat, not quite blue beat, and ska but very much drum, bass and brass, cracking stuff. We head back into the fast paced more danceable offerings with `That’s It, I Think It`s Time We Quit` A number to just let the beat overcome your inhibitions and go with the flow.
`The Fear Of Solo` is a much more mature piece which enjoys some clever Latin flavours at times. We return for a heads down no nonsense mindless boogie punk come dance submission with `Let`s Break Some Laws`
`Terrible Weekend` was a track I really loved as it seemed to encompass a number of musical styles with pop rock and ska amongst them and having that wonderful brass sound mixed in with bass, drum and some guitar riffs, a real band effort. There was an effervescence and playful feel to `Who Will I Tell My Problems To (Now That You`re My Problem To)? ` which also gained from some engrossing harmonies.
We return to some classic old-style ska with `Happy Birthday Leo` not quite one hundred miles an hour but heading there. There`s similar with the closing number `Illegal Placebo`
I`d never had the pleasure of Something To Do and was blown away with “Give Me Attention” which is the band`s sixth album so I’ve a lot of catching up to do. If you like Less Than Jake, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Reel Big Fish, you`ll love Something To Do.
The band mix the best that ska, punk, reggae and rock and roll have to offer and deliver it in an irresistible package from some gifted musicians with some amusing and contemplative lyrics.
Something To Do ask us to `Give them Attention` and on the strength of this I’d be encouraging you to so, as you won`t be disappointed.
Rating 9 / 10
