Have Nots – “Serf City USA”

Album Reviews | Nov 30th, 2009

Record Label: S/R
Genre: Ska Punk
Band Link: www.myspace.com/havenotsboston
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Youthful, fast and fun punk with a smash-the-state message. Considered a ska punk band, their rudeboy influence is limited to brass-less, fast, guitar up-picking, similar to early Suicide Machines. I tend to prefer a ska punk that approximates a more skanky rhythm (think Citizen Fish), but the Have Nots do the fast up-picking thing very well and without sounding like it’s a tacked-on novelty.

Regardless of your (and my) snooty ska predilections, the Have Nots tap into a catchy, fist-in-the-air sound that’s just a few chants away from raucous street punk. Although the rabblerousing and call for rioting seem strange in this Age of Obama, the lyrics are surprisingly sharp and, delivered in a Suicide Machines-like manner rather than a snarling, gruff Leftover Crack way, they go down easy.

Bottom Line: Reminiscent of all those ska-punk high bands back in 1996, except that this is good.
Notable Tracks: Frozen Heart, SBC, Used to Be, My Way
Overall Rating:

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