Customer Reviews

Wasted Days

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Absolutely excellent. With Hepcat slipping away, the slackers are now the best hope for modern ska we have left, and they are totally equipped to live up to that title. "Wasted Days", the band's fifth album, is just another picture of how brilliant they actually are. On this album, all the bands trademarks are here: Vic's great song writing, dave's arrangements, mark's gospel-party like vocals, and the smoothest rhythm and horns section out there. The band also explores new territory here, using many dub and remixing techniques on a few of the songs.Helping out with the record's production is none other than legendary Upsetters organist Glen Adams. Unfortunately, amazon doesnt carry this album's vinyl counterpart, which features different mixes of a few songs, and also a few songs that arent even on the cd version! It also doesnt repeat any tracks from the cd with the exception of the title track.

If you already know who The Slackers are and like them, stop reading right now and buy this album. I guarantee you'll like Wasted Days, so don't even waste any more of your time.

If you're not familiar with The Slackers, well, this might be one of their best albums to start with because of its diversity. Now, I won't claim that they're "more than a ska band" or straying from their roots, because they aren't; however, it's long been said that they are a great ska band, but I'd like to go further and say that they are a great band overall. Their songwriting, orchestrations and harmonies could beat those of pretty much any other modern band of any genre. The songs here range from their classic dirty scratchy rocksteady to jumpy swing to soul to classic jazz. Vic Ruggerio impresses me more as a singer on this album more than any of their previous ones, and the horn parts here are more together and more interesting than I remember them ever being. Perhaps the best thing about The Slackers is that their songs can be catchy and bright on the surface while not losing their integrity or wit.

There are a few tunes that I wasn't too fond of here, but the majority of these songs are incredible. They have hooks that will stay in your head for your days, fighting each other over which one will get to control your brain and sink itself into your conciousness. I can listen to it over and over and still not get sick of it. If more groups sounded like this, the world would be a much better place.

The Slackers have done it again. this album is consistant with the premium quality of "redlight" and "the question" and the now classic "better late than never." I'll tell you one thing friend, the slackers are great showmen besides holding the title of best ska band on the block-- I've seen them play in Knoxville and Atlanta and both were two of the best shows I've ever seen because they have fun doing what they do. If you are ever priviledged to see them live, don't be surprised to see them take requests and witness Jeremy and Dave come out into the crowd. The new material is exciting because it shows that these guys can only get better. shh!- I also heard their photographer Denny is the best young photographer in NYC. rocksteady!!

well, well, well...it looks like the Slackers have done it again, those bastards. They went and made themselves ANOTHER great album that is just full of songs that any good Skinhead, rude-boy, ska kid, whatever, is just gonna fall to pieces for. *sigh* you know, just once i'd like a really good band like the Slackers to not be so damned good just so i'd have something to complain about. *hahaha*

i must say, this is a great CD, as one would expect from the Vic and Co. And since the unfortunate demise of Hepcat (R.I.P.), The Slackers are now on top of my Best Modern Ska list (if I actually had a list like that). This is another great album and i highly recomend it. Cheers and beers, until we meet again.

These guys are always pushing the envelope and bring a nice twist to their style with every new album. This album in particular stands out as a unique Slacker album. A good album for newbies and a must have for die hards.

Easily one of the best ska bands to date and are actually still touring and producing tunes. This album really showcases how damn good these musicians are. The 1st track, "Wasted Days" is a damn killer way to open up things. It really sets the mood throughout the rest of the album. Every track on this album is consistently good. I find myself either nodding along, shoulder groovin, skankin, or singing off key to the lyrics. Incredible musicans and Vic's voice is buttah. Buy This!

Fav tracks: Wasted Days, Old Days, Midnight Rendezvous

this is just an amazing album. i haven't gone 2 days without listening to at least one of the songs on it since i got it a few weeks ago. i can't really say enough good things about the album, so i'll just say go buy it and groove on to the groovy goodness.

I don't think this is the best offering from The Slackers, but they're such an amazing band that this definetly still merits five stars. I really like the title track, "Walking On," "Midnight Rendezvous," "Wanted Dead or Alive," "Please Decide," "Easy" and "Dave's Friend," but most of the tracks are really good. Good variety of sound, it's pretty solid all around but I liked Redlight better.

The Slackers are the perfect cure for the mess of punk/ska/crappo bands out there now. They sure do it right.

This album is very remeniscent of old reggae and dub classics. You can hear the Lee Perry and the Bob Marley in this album. Along with incorporating that old school flavor, on songs like (my personal favorite) "The Nurse", they manage to fuse just enough new school punk into the mix so it sounds like something new and fresh. I'm very excited about this band and they are on Hellcat Records too which is badass.

If you've heard anything about these guys, pick up this cd first. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

After listening to "The Question" 100+ times, I desperately needed to find more Slackers. So I went to the store hoping to find "Redlight" (since I've heard a few great songs from it) but bought this and Hepcat's "Right on Time" (another beautiful album) instead. When I first listened to it, I actually hated most of it (except a handful of songs), thinking it wasn't nearly as good as "The Question." Then, I listened to it a couple more times and grew to appreciate it by itself, and realized trying to compare it is a bad idea, since a band's music should change and evolve.

Wasted Days starts off with the killer title track, one of the few I liked from the start. It features Vic's best vocal on the album and a kickass bassline. The next song Henderson Swamp, took some getting used to (what is that instrument in the intro??) but it's now one of my favorites. Next comes Please Decide, featuring Marq on vocals and is reminiscent of the swing/ska of "Sarah" and ends with a gospel chorus. Pets of the World had a kind of dub/reggae feel to it with lots of echo effects and contains some toasting from DJ Mush One (aka former trumpeter Jeremy Mushlin). Dave's Friend is probably the strongest song lyrically, with nice slide guitar a lyrics about looking out for your friends.

So This Is the Night sounds like a "Question" retread (albeit a good one). "Made Up My Mind" breaks some new ground as the only ska song I've heard to feature violin, which adds alot to the haunting melody. After the inane, rather pointless Sermon, the album gets back on track with The Nurse, a fun live favourite with odd lyrics (someone tell me what exactly it's about) and a bouncing rhythm. Old Days has a great 1+ minute intro (good sax from Dave Hillyard) and classic lyrics. Midnight Rendezvous may be the best song on the album, and possibly the best they've ever done. It's a soulful Drifters-esque track, sung wonderfully by trombonist Glen Pine. Tales of the Mongoose is a cool instrumental with a great title, Easy is quality, and the album 'ends' with Walking On, a very unmemorable track. After a strange break, the album comes back with "Wanted Dead or Alive," a good Bon Jovi cover, and my other favorite on the disc: "Information Error," a 6 minute dub-flavored masterpiece (also featured on Hellcat's third Give 'em the Boot sampler).

While this is a very good album, I'd say get The Question and Redlight first. Also, if you like The Slackers' sound, get all of Hepcat's albums, too. And the Stubborn All-Stars. Recommended.