Customer Reviews

Strictly Rude

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

 

 

This solid 3rd-wave ska record cements Big D in the Boston music pantheon (as if they weren't already somewhat revered). Bringing elements of their punk roots, dope ska and classic reggae and dub, "Strictly Rude" is a solid party album not to be missed. From angst and politcal railings of tunes like "Snakebite" and "Raw Revolution" to fun party jumpers like "Noise Complaint" and "Shining On," the band has grown musically, the song writing just gets better and better, and the instrumentation and horn arrangements are flawless.

Must have for fans of ska!

A surprisingly well rounded effort by Big D. With some of their louder material appearing on recent EP's and splits, this record is a bit tame, but brilliant. Some of the best songwriting the band has ever done.

You don't have to be from Boston to appreciate this cd. Big D has matured both musically and lyrically on "Strictly Rude". I love it more each time I listen to it. "Steady Riot", "Noise Complaint", "Snakebite", "Strictly Rude", and "She Knows Her Way" are real stand-outs.This cd is a must for Summer 2007, esp. if you love ska and reggae. Play it at your house party or backyard BBQ. Big D are even better live -they outshine all the other bands with whom they play and are really fun to watch- without question. Check them out on the upcoming Warped tour.

This is one of my favorite Big D & The Kids Table records; I think they totally captured the definition of "ska" within the tracks. I love "Steady Riot", "The One", "Strictly Rude" (which is even better live)....the whole album is amazing and has me dancing.

They're great! It may sound different then their other stuff, but I think that's not always a bad thing. Love the band, love this album.

referring to the review above...DOESNT SOUND LIKE REEL BIG FISH!!?!?!??! OH NOES!

anyways...this album is definitely my favorite Big D album, and has, to me at least, revitalized ska for me, since there are so few good new ska bands out these days, since streetlight isnt gonna come out with their new album in at least 239084923974 years.

definitely slower in some areas, and a little less punk and more reggae and dub. but theres still certain song that are straight up punk/ska, like noise complaint.

the songwriting is really great, and overall its just a good album

As a long time fan of Bid D & the Kids Table and Ska Punk music in general, this album is simply disappointing. How it Goes set the bar too high for the next album to top; simple as that. While How it Goes had great songs that each stood out because of there unique musical approach and compelling lyrics, Strictly Rude, fails to capture that original quality. There are good songs on the album but not enough to surpass the value of How it Goes or even Good Luck.

Okay, it's March 2007. I am going to the House of Blues to see Anti-Flag. There's some opening band called "Big D and the Kids Table." Funny name, probably not very good.

Well we all know how that ended. On the fateful day that I heard these dudes for the first time they were possibly better than the headlining band at that show. Seriously, these guys impressed me, especially Steve their bassist. Most of the songs were very distinguishable and then I found out that they had a CD coming out soon, and the track listing led me to believe that most of the material they had played live was from that CD. So naturally, I had to get it.

The album overall, as the title claims, is hit or miss, they just happened to play the songs that "hit" when I saw them live, so I guess their live shows are the way to go. The first four songs are really great, they feel both polished and raw at the same time and the ska influence is sprinkled on just perfectly. Then is kind of drops off for a while, picks up again with "Try Out Your Voice" and "Hell on Earth" and then again drops off at the end with the last three songs.

All in all, it's a pretty okay CD, probably deserves 2 and a half stars instead of three. The guitar is nice in that it goes back and forth from ska-guitar to electric guitar and back again. The bass is not as predominant as their live set made me believe it would be, and the horns sound like they've been watered down from their previous material (and I can say after buying "How it Goes" that yes, they are watered down a little bit). If they hadn't put so many ballads and slower songs on this CD like "Strictly Rude" "The One" and "She Knows Her Way" and had more upbeat and fun songs like "Noise Complaint" "Souped Up Vinyl" and "Breaking the Bottle" this would be a superb CD.

But it's not. It's just an okay CD from a great band. I would buy "How It Goes" first because it's got a lot more to offer than this does, and it's longer, plus the bass is more defined, (bassist ego showing?) and then after that, sure, pick this up. You'll listen to it quite a bit actually, the only issue is that you'll probably skip over a fair share of tracks. I still haven't been able to find a copy of "Good Luck" yet.

With their previous full-length release, How It Goes, Big D and the Kids Table set the bar pretty high. Although a few of the tracks, like "Shining On," are outstanding, Strictly Rude falls short of the standard fans have come to expect from the band.

The highlight of the album is its first four tracks, which are catchy, energetic, and grow more infectious with each listen. By the middle of the album, however, some momentum is lost with minor-key dub tracks like "Deadpan," "Snakebite," and the title track, "Strictly Rude," which would seem to have fit more comfortably on Salem Girls.

The album finishes strongly enough some very good tracks, like "Try Out Your Voice," "Fly Away," "Raw Revolution," "The One," and "She Knows Her Way," mixed in with some less-than-mediocre tracks, like "Breaking the Bottle" and "Relocate the Beat."

The lyrics on many of the album's songs seem either too personal and anecdotal or too vague and unspecific for the average listener to relate to, and as a whole, the album feels overproduced. The horn lines are less prevalent and catchy than in previous albums, and don't really carry the melody on any of the songs, which many fans of their work will find to be a letdown. Nevertheless, it is worth checking out if you are a long-time fan of the band or just getting into the genre.

Doesn't sound enough like Reel Big Fish or Hepcat.