Customer Reviews

Push N Shove

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're a fan of the more traditional ska sound you won't find too many bands out there today that can compete with Hepcat. New York City's The Slackers are the closest in terms of putting a modern spin on the classic "Skatalites Sound".

Although "Push N Shove" is a good album; I still prefer their previous three albums. This record is slower; and although it's got a fun groove on it - it lacks the rollicking dance songs like "No Worries" from Right on Time or "Bobby & Joe" from Scientific that made those records great. The closest song on this album that would fit that mold would be "The Region"; which also appeared on the Hellcat Compilation "Give 'Em The Boot Vol. 2".

Here's how I would break it down:
If you're new to Hepcat's music and want to try one of their CDs to see if you like them - I would recommend you buy their 1997 album "Right On Time" first.
If you like that - then get their 1995 debut album "Out of Nowhere" (now back in print).
Next would be the 1996 album "Scientific".
Then pick up this one last.

If you're already a Hepcat fan then you know what you're getting when you buy this CD... another batch of soulful ska from one of the best bands of the last decade.

Put this CD on and close your eyes and you'd think it was Jamaica circa 1965. Truth is these guys are contemporary rude boys who sing and play in the tradition of such ska old schoolers as Toots and the Maytals. There are no sweet voices to accentuate the backbeat, like Culture from back in the day, nothing but gravely voiced rootsy vocals coming from the pipes of Deston Berry for the most part. The exception is the sweet stylings on "Live On" that sounds like something that the Mighty Diamonds might have recorded. For the most part this sounds like vintage ska, with the exception being the obligatory dub thrown in and a curiously latin sounding number. The strength of this CD is the simplicity of lyrics, strong vocals all backed by a tight horn section that compliments the back beat to near perfection. The influence of do-wop is evident in a manner chacteristic of the R&B influences that energized and influenced early ska bands. These rude boys now their musical roots. The sound is true to the original rock steady influences, unlike the pop flavored endeavors of some recent bands. Can something that sounds old sound refreshing? The answer is a resounding yes, when the ordinary sounds like all the rest, the exception sounds extraordinary. These guys rock, well not rock, they rock steady. My personal favorite from this cool set is "Gimme Little Sign," with it's sound like it is straight from the shanty towns of Kingston. Other faves include, "Live On," guest vocalist's Karina Denike's version of "Prison of Love" and the soulfull "You and I." This is pure ska, to be appreciated by those that like their music as it was intended to be, without gimmicks or posing. This is pure soul for your listening pleasure, grab a Red Stripe or something refreshing and sit under the shade of a palm tree and you'll swear you're in Jamiaca, yeah mon! If you like true ska you'll love this 2000 incarnation.

Oh my, this is by far the best ska/rocksteady album i have ever heard. The things i like about this cd are that the music stays true to its roots. It doesn't go down the road of ska-pop, like a lot of the ska bands of today. I also like that they got Karina Denike from Dance Hall Crashers to sing "Prison of Love".I think all the lyrics are written with meaning and power unlike a lot of music. I also think that the way the music is played is great. If you have the money and like ska i would definitly buy Hepcat's Push 'n Shove

Hepcat without a doubt is the best SKA band playing rootsy SKA in the Skatalites tradition, but at the same time they add other flavors to match- R&B, blues, jazz, reggae, rocksteady, calypso, dub,etc. This is my favorite band and they'll continue to be. But I have one disclaimer about this album- the silly little 20 second dub tracks. When you make any dub track, it has to be long and convoluted like some of Lee Perry's masterpiece dubs from the Black Ark, not have it be some silly little 20 second reggae beat with a few echo effects. Instead of having these little embarrassments to their fine new album, they should have had something like "Dancin' Shoes" from their second album. Even though this album isn't their best, it still continues to grow on me every time I listen to it. If you haven't seen Hepcat live, you're missing out too.

Somebody had to do it. In the late '90s, while third-wave ska bred new faces and new categories -- ska-punk, ska-core and others -- Hepcat stayed the traditional way, remaining faithful to a kind of rootsy purity. This purity wasn't based on snottiness or exclusivisity -- everyone, by all means, is invited to Hepcat's party -- but based on a determination that some music is timeless.

Push N' Shove's 14 songs showcase a skilled refinement of Hepcat's formidable talents and appeal. As the band hones its blend of smooth Caribbean melodies and the bluebeat and rocksteady sounds pioneered by the Skatalites, Desmond Dekker and Bob Marley in Kingston, Hepcat confidently finds its own unmistakable traits, rediscovering pre-ska influences of 1950s' soul, R&B and jazz.

Spanning the genres of Jamaican-styled R&B, soul, rocksteady, and ska-Hepcat has skillfully spanned many musical styles to create an all-inclusive sound that pays homage to the roots, while reshaping and innovating ska music. "Hepcat is beautiful, dey should go all de way-it's right on time!"

This album is simply, the best. A must get!

i loved Right on Time more than anything and have never listened to much of else. Now i add Push n Shove to this list, too. All the songs are great i especially like "Beautiful" and "Tek Dat". I also enjoyed the re-working of their old song "Prison of Love", from Out of Nowhere, although this time with a female vocals. The good thing about Hepcat is that you can pretty much play it for anyone and no one will have anything bad to say about it.

OK. So this probably ISN'T Hepcat's best. But so what? It's still amazing, and a fitting final chapter in this band's all-too-short career. The glaring weakness is, of course, the departure of Alex Desert, one of the best vocalists in ska today. However, he does appear as a "guest" lead on "Tek Dat" and "You and I", and for a verse or so on "Comin on Strong" and in the background on "Gimme Little Sign." This is not to say Greg and Deston aren't also very good; it's just the sound is incomplete. Raul Talavera (alto sax)'s departure is less noticeable, as the equally excellent Kincaid Smith and Efren Santana can carry the album horns-wise. To the songs:

1. Push n' Shove 4/5 Weakest song on the album.

2. Tek Dat 5/5 Lord Funny cover. Great, but can't understand a word of it.

3. Lude 1 2/5 Too-short dub track #1.

4. Prison of Love 5/5 Karina Denike of the DanceHall Crashers sings this one. Almost as good as the original, but very different.

5. The Ronnie 5/5 Solid instrumental. Some good guitar work.

6. Daydreamin' 5/5 Very doo-wop influenced.

7. Comin on Strong 6/5 My favorite. Sounds like a Temptations song. Everyone sings lead on this.

8. You and I 5/5 Beautiful slow reggae ballad. No horns, though.

9. Beautiful 5/5 Great fast jazz-samba. Rhythm section shines.

10. The Region 5/5 EXTREMELY catchy. Just try to not sing along.

11. Gimme Little Sign 4.5/5 Brenton Wood cover. Good, but not the best here.

12. Lude 2 2/5 Again, too short.

13. The Spins 4/5 Alright instrumental.

14. Live On 5/5 Fitting last song from the band. Very relaxing, positive lyrics.

This is the most available Hepcat album, but my suggestion is to get them in chronological order, to best represent the band's evolution.

Highly recommended.

Gosselin dude's review is spot-on. I discovered Hepcat through "Right On Time" and then "Out of Nowhere." I really liked those records. A lot. I'm no expert on ska. I used to really like English Beat and Madness back in the day. But I hated "Push and Shove." Hate it hate it hate it. Not a single song I like. Every song reallllly slow. There's no accounting for taste.

This disc does not grab you from the beginning like "Right on Time". However, after repeated listenings it does hold up very well. There are some great tunes on this CD with a few new twists from this very original ska band. Hepcat is not afraid to take chances and it shows on this outing. A solid performance, not 5 stars but still worth it.

Hepcat is my favorite band, hands down. I have seen them live at least half a dozen times, and I have been a faithful listener since I discovered a track of theirs on California ska-quake back in the early 90s. I rushed out and bought Out of Nowhere, and that was it.

But about this album. It's mellow, rude boy. So pour youself a glass of bourbon, set the lawn chair out on the fire escape, and turn the voulme way up.