Customer Reviews

Out of Nowhere

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I heard Hepcat's first release during the Ska revival that plagued MTV and pop-radio during the late 1990s, when people were force fed crap like Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake, being told how those bands were playing a type of Jamaican music made popular in the 1970s by British bands like The Specials and Madness. Man, comparing that Circus-Music to anything of the 2-Tone era is insulting enough, but putting it in the same category as classic Jamaican Ska and Reggae pioneers like Desmond Dekker (King of the Ska), Laurel Aitken (Godfather of Ska), and the Skatalites ('nuff said...) is an insult to those legends! Luckily, the Ska revival also brought forth bands of such respectability as The Slackers from New York and Hepcat from Southern California. Hepcat, since hearing this album (originally released on the now dead MoonSka NYC lable), has been my favorite ska band, ever! This album still stands as a testament to the vocal talents of Greg Lee and Alex Desert and the early songwriting talents of David Hillyard, who went along to join The Slackers. The group takes its cues not just from Jamaican music legends, but also American Jazz legends, paying tribute to the likes of Duke Ellington in thier music. One of the most soulful, beautiful, and dynamic albums I've ever heard, it is a must for anyone who loves Ska, and especially for Hepcat fans who were never able to find this album, as the MoonSka version (which I'm lucky enough to have a copy of) has been long out of print. Do yourself a favor--BUY THIS! The fact that you're reading this review shows you got taste...now prove it.

This album is one of the greatest traditional ska albums ever. It came out once long ago, but the label they were on folded and it became unavailable. If you like any traditional ska, if you like hepcat, SHlT, if you like music in general, this is a great album. Many of today's 'traditional' bands do not retain the moody flavor of O.G. ska straight offa the island. Man, I paid 200$ for a plane ticket to see these guys, which was 10$ at the door. Also, Hepcat broke up, formed Dubcat with Long Beach Dub Allstars, then got back together again because of all the fans' heartbreak. So do em the honor of buying this, who knows it could be the last chance (again)

When first seeing Hepcat in college, I knew these fellows were destined for greatness. Perhaps "Out of Nowhere" is the closest thing to traditional ska in the past 10 years. Driven by the influence of blue, jazz, and most importantly ska legends like Prince Buster and the Skatalites, Hepcat is THE ska band to listen to. With relaxing ballads like Skaravan and Come Dance Wid' Me, Hepcat captures the best sounds of real Jamacian music. This album should be everyone's collection...whether you are a fan of jazz, ska, or just a fan of great music. Hepcat is diamond in the rough.

I wih I knew why this album is so hard to find, as the music is excellent. After a long time of searching, I bought it from an Amazon marketplace seller for about 8 bucks, the best deal I've found in a long time.

First, the problems. As my title states, the production and mixing on this album is horrible compared to their last 2 albums, or even Scientific. The overall sound is very quiet, and no matter how high you turn the bass up on your stereo, Dave Fuentes's wonderful basslines are still lost in the mix. Also, as with most Moon Ska releases, you get a catalog instead in the liner notes. Cause, let's face it, who wants lyrics or notes from the band when you can have a catalog from a defunct record label? Also, Hepcat's sound isn't as dynamic without trumpeter Kincaid Smith, who excels on each of their other albums. The two-sax horn section just doesn't work as well. To the songs:

Dance Wid Me- good way to start the album. nice uptempo song with a doo-wop sound. Greg, Deston, and Alex all lead (in that order). 10

The Secret- just as strong as Dance wid Me. beats the hell out of the version on Right on Time. more uptempo. Greg leads. 10

Hooligans- good Wailers cover. Greg leads. 9

Skavez- Dave Hillyard shines on this smooth classic latin jazz track. only one verse of lyrics, though. 10

Miss Congeniality- My favorite on the album. slow rocksteady beat with cool guitar. Deston leads. GREAT lyrics. 10

Clarence Thomas- first of three instrumentals. pretty good. 9

Prison of Love- faster and more fun than the later version. "i said a little dab'll do ya..." and "you and i sittin under a tree..." lines make the song. Greg leads. 10

Earthquake and Fire- never liked this song much. Greg and Alex lead. 8

All For You- beautiful lyrics, nice doo-wop/swing sound. Greg leads. Second favorite on the album. 10

Caravan- instrumental #2, the best. anything written by Duke Ellington deserves more than a 10.

Police Woman- nice mellow ballad. not one of the album's best, but very good. Alex shines in the lead here. 9

Same O' Same O'- another great Hillyard song. kinda swing tempo. Greg leads. 10

Train to Skaville- the final instrumental. nothing special, by Hepcat's standards. pretty good ending to the album. 9

Highly recommended to any fan of classic Jamaican music or latin jazz fan. Some fans of big band swing should also look into it.

Altough Hepcat can be considered as a band from ska`s "third wave", they have always been recognized by a lo-fi, roots jamaican music style. Simply put: this is ska music at its best!

I've had this album several times over the years. It's been lost, and stolen here and there. Bottom line...This is their best record, and a MUST have for all Hepcat fans. 10/10!!! Buy it!!!

I truly believe that to this day! I remember when I got this album, too. Back when "ska" or whatever it was those MTV types were feeding us, was becoming popular. I knew some Ska, but not much, and was curious to hear more. I found this album by accident, really. I didn't know what I was going to hear, but I had no idea it would be quite like this! I guess I was expecting the more poppy, circus sounds that were popular in that day...silly me. Instead, I got a blend of some of the finest, most soulfull lyrics and sounds I had ever heard. It changed what I listened to and called Ska from there on! Mellow and smoothe from start to finish, there isn't a thing on this album I would change. "Skavez" by David Hilliard has got to be one of the finest American Ska tunes ever produced! If you like real ska, or even American Jazz from the 1950s and 60s, give your ears a treat and grab this album wherever you can find it. It was Hepcat's finest, and as far as I'm concerned, this is as good as American Ska in the 90s ever got!

Hepcat succeeds in giving you that original ska feeling at a time when so much ska is the barely recognizable evolution of this wonderful music. This CD has some fantastic tracks that give you an idea of what things were like (musically) in Jamaica when Bob Marley, Prince Buster, the Skatellites,Desmond Dekker, etc. got started. I got back into ska this past summer, looking around for new ska, listening to the local radio show for ideas (KDHX 88.1 FM), then on to the local music shops and trying different things. I stopped looking when I found Hepcat had the original ska sound & feeling. Take a break from third wave ska and try some Hepcat. It's a refreshing break from the same old thing -- or the same new thing!

Great album by these guys. I sure hope i still have this laying around in my house. Very nice and relaxing ska from these boys. Alex Dessert, use to be in this group, is now on the CBS show, Becker. Keep on skankin

over all great album
also look in to Monkey Man by the Toots & The Maytals not maytalls like the jerk above splled it