The Slackers – “Self-Titled”
Album Reviews | Dec 14th, 2015
Record Label: Self-Released
Genre: Ska/Soul/Pop
Band Link: Slackers.com
It’s been a full four years since the Slackers have released a full length album, 2011s “Radio” which was a cover album. Their full length of original material was “The Great Rocksteady Swindle” from the year before. It’s not like the boys from NYC have been “slacking” since then…they’ve continued to tour nonstop, record songs and an EP, fill in on random albums and just about anything else music related under the sun. That brings us to their soon-to-be-released self-titled album.
As with a lot of bands nowadays, the Slackers went the route of crowdfunding for their new album via Big Tunes as well as fundraiser shows. Not only is the album self-titled, but it’s also self-released.
With this new album, the Slackers find themselves diving deeper and deeper into the swinging sounds of the 60s and 70s. There are a lot of Motown, British Mod and 60s pop rock overtones heavily favored on a lot of the songs. While this has, for the most part, always been a part of the Slackers sound in some way, shape or form…the band favors those sounds over their traditional ska/reggae vibe. That doesn’t mean that they’re moving on from the ska sounds that they’re known worldwide for. Songs like “The Boss”, “By The Time I Get To Sleep”, “Spin I’m In” and a handful of other songs showcase that Slacker ska sound. That sound isn’t going anywhere. Instead, it’s sharing space with a little bit of Dixieland jazz, some 60s Euro-pop and plenty of soul.
Fans of the Slackers are going to enjoy this album because it’s a Slackers album and you know exactly what that means. You’re going to get and excellent selection of songs that cover a wide genre of musical styles topped with lyrics from one of the best songwriters in the business backed by one of the finest collections of musical performers on any stage. This self-titled released seems to show that the band is moving forward in a more progressive thinking manner in regards to their musical sounds. Their traditional ska sound may have to take a back seat to a wider variety of eclectic sonic influences. While I may not be that big of a fan of the British Invasion or early soul, I am a big supporter of the Slackers so it will be interesting to see where they go from here.
Bottom Line: One of the most diverse Slackers albums released. Some older fans may be turned off by the focus on more soulful rock sounds, but then again some new fans might find that sound more accessible.
Notable Tracks: The Boss, By The Time I Get To Sleep, Spin I’m In, Go Go Go!, Truth Comes Knocking
Overall Rating:
