Customer Reviews

Ska Para Toujou

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

 

 

If you're a fan of Ska, I suggest that you pick up this recording. I assume no one is reviewing this band because they are a mainstay in Japan, and haven't really made it big in the United States (what Ska band has REALLY made it big in the United States after all).

Anyway, these guys are great, and the sound quality is awesome. I would also recommend picking up their live album Gunslingers. Another good Japanese Ska band is Kemuri.

Many years ago I was listening to the radio (to a now defunct programme) when the car turned into a mosh pit! What in the hell was that? None other than this album. What a blast.Twelve practitioners of the genre, still learning on this album, but quite capaable of pumping out a strict ska beat with jazzy solos over the top. Some of the compositions are not at the same standard as the others, but on the whole, a fun fun fun purchase. Just be glad that it is still in print.

This is a very fine production from a band I stumbled across by accident. They are much more technically proficient than the majority of ska bands one hears (who, lets face it, are often more enthusiastic than skillful wrt their instruments.) The songs are well composed and produced. They don't have the 'garage-y' sound often associated with Ska (that's both good and bad,) which will endear Ska Para to some and not to others. There's a good mix of uptempo, slow strummin' and cocktail lounge-ish tunes (I could actually do without the latter, but they will appeal to some, and are at least well performed.) None of the tracks are bad and some are positively brilliant (e.g. "Vampire" and the "Hit the Road Jack" cover.) Of note - my import copy is exclusively printed in Japanese, so you may want to grab the English track titles from somewhere if you don't speak the language.

In sum, this is a creative and very well executed CD, how I would love to hear TSPO tackle some of the classic 60's ska songs like "eastern standard time"!