Customer Reviews

Progress

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This cd continues to blow me away. Luckily, this was the first cd of the Bandits' I bought...if I bought either of the other 2, I wouldn't have wanted to buy another album of their's. Their first album is full of sub-par 3rd wave ska songs with bad lyrics, and their 3rd album is full of experimental, hard-to-define rock. On the other hand, this cd is almost perfect. They combine a few different types of music: punk, rock, reggae, ska, you name it. Every single track on this cd is solid, and some of the choruses are so catchy it will blow your mind. Listen to the chorus on "Status" and you will hear one of the best, catchiest choruses ever. Another great thing about this cd is the fact that it never really gets old. The singer has a distinct voice, the band has a pretty distinct sound, and you can tell they love to make music. The only flaw to speak of on this cd is the Bandits' strange desire to add another minute or two of feedback or weird sounds to the end of every song. That is irritating, but if you don't mind changing tracks at the end of every great song, then buy this. And it is worth it.

Rx Bandits are a unique blend of many influences, most heavily ska. However I would not call RXB ska since they have various influences including raggae and latin. This cd is more heavily leaned toward ska than anything else. This is also the more poppy of the RXB cd's. It also displays the amount of talent and versatility, that only RXB has. Check out "Analog Boy" and "Infection."

Musicianship, excellent songwriting, hooks, socially conscious lyrics, power, fun, this album has it all. You hear something like this and wonder why we're not hearing this on the "Clear Channel" owned radio stations.

This cd changed my life. So many different styles are incorporated into this album, and the delivery is perfect. It goes from punk-ish, to rock, to reggae, all with a touch of the ska. The lyrics to some of these songs are...can't put into words. The sound of Matt Embree's voice is out of this world, so much pain, yet so much happiness. All of this may sound kind of stupid, but that is because I can't find any words to describe how unbelievable this cd is. Buy it, or don't, either way it is still a landmark for its genre, err time.

The first song I heard of RX Bandits was, "anyone but you," and I was pretty pleased at what I heard. I wasn't freaking out about it....not yet. So one day I saw progress in one of the record shops around where I live and it was marked down to like six bucks or something, so I decide to give it a try. The first couple of listens I absolutely hated this album, the only song I thought was good was, "anyone but you." I didn't give up on it though, and a couple of listens later my mind was changed about this album, but it wasn't until resignation came out that I realized this is one of the greatest cd's I have ever heard! With the mixture of ska, reggae, punk-rock, and psychedelic dubbing, Progress is beyond words. Ripping through songs like the punk/indie (with horns), "VRG3", the reggae influenced, "status" and the pop-punk-ska song, "anyone but you," Progress, is not only an album of originality and diversity (which in my opinion is lacking nowadays), it's a album of brilliant musicianship and experimentation. In other words, this album rocks.

My son and I trade off playing our music when we're in the car. My musical tastes are pretty wide and varied. When my son played Babylon the first time, I knew I liked these guys. I haven't listened to all of their music, but I really like this album.

Very good example of ska music. At first I thought I was listening to a long lost very old No Doubt album.

Buy it.

With "Those Damn Bandits" and "Halfway Between Here And There", the best band on Drive-Thru Records, Rx Bandits, proved themselves a musically conscious and very decent ska band. With "Those Damn Bandits" being straight-up ska (almost comparable to Reel Big Fish) and "Halfway" being literally halfway between the Bandits' 1st and 3rd album, with a mixture of funk and poppy ska (the latter being prominent). With "Progress", they have transformed to a completely different band with a completely different sound, and have turned in one of the best albums of all time.

Reminiscent of Nirvana's "Nevermind" and The Beatles' "Revolver", every track on "Progress" is completely different from the previous and following. Every song compiles at least three distinctive genres of music and is arranged beautifully. The band had managed the nearly impossible... The incredible task of making every instrument come together so perfectly that the band performs as it's own instrument (this shows amazingly in their wonderful live show).

The guitars are beautifully played by both the band DJ and the lead singer, Matt Embree. Nothing very difficult, just great control and orginization. The horn section is sensational enough to make you forget that it's only a trombone and saxophone. Now, of all the instruments, the one that stands out among the rest is the drums. The only thought going through your mind while listening to the drum parts is, "How is that possible? The man only has two hands." All these pulled together by flawess songwriting and Matt Embree's not at all over-the-top vocals, filled with less vibratto and more feeling.

I can't single out tracks on the CD, because I'll end up listing them all. This CD is something you will listen to and never, ever tire of. You will only notice things that you had never heard before. This will be the best $...- you ever spend.

Rx Bandits is the only band worthy of being called "as good" as the classic bands, such as Nirvana, Led Zeppelin and, yes, even The Beatles. The end of the song "Infection" just screams Zeppelin.

The RX Bandits started in the SoCal Ska-Punk scene in the mid-90s. Through many years the band has evolved into something special, and this is shown in "Progress."

The album is incredibly powerful and moving, you can tell the 'Bandits are passionate about music. The large variety of instruments present in this CD shows the variety of styles that are present throughout the CD. "Progress" fuses punk, ska, rock and reggae into one of the most artistic and possibly influential albums to come out in a long time. In today's day and age it's rare if you're able to find a rock band doing revolutionary things in their music, but the RX Bandits have done such that.

The album starts incredibly strong VCG^3 is one of the most powerful songs I have ever heard. From there, each track has its own purpose, and meaning. Analog Boy, In All Rwanda's Glory and Nothing Sacred are all tracks that should not be missed. However it's very difficult to single them out among all of the great songs on this album.

Simply put, if you are a fan of music you will love this album.

I fell in love!! Take a Ska influence throw in a whole crap load of punk and a dash of Hardcore and youve got the sounds of Rx Bandits. This is amazing. if you have Ska you can still listen to this an love it. The best songs on this Cd are Analog Boy, VCG3, and Babylon. I love this CD and i guarantee you will too!

I was a big fan of the Rx Bandits from Halfway Between Here and There (great album). I heard some of the songs from Progress before its release, and since I've gotten it, I've just been blown away. It's the best blend of rock, ska, reggae, and hardcore that I've ever heard. If you like any of these music types or punk in general, this is a must-own. Hell, my sister who listens to country likes this album. I can't even pick out a favorite track because there is not a single one that I don't love. As they say, do yourself a favor and buy it now.