• Home
• Subscribe
• Store
• Service/FAQ

Fight The System

These guys stinkin' rule! Seeing them live is just the bomb. They are so funny live that, like Ghoti Hook, it's almost essential to see them first before you can truly appreciate their albums. This is not entirely the case (with either band), though, as these songs are good and the production is strong. While I have to admit that I only like ska when I'm in the mood for it, additive relatives to it, like Squad Five-O's "skacore" sound, is something that's easy to enjoy all the time. Sans the horns, the occasional polka-like guitar strumming and the hyped up reggae vocal meter come across as punchy and edgier than their ska purist friends. "Fight The System" and "Forever Young," with their fun vocal delivery and gang vocal hook are two of the album's high points. Other standouts include "Kids Of The World Unite" (featured on this issue's HM sampler CD), and the worshipful "All In The Name Of God." The clique-metal fun poke at power anthems intro to "Anthem Of Jimmy Rocketship" bring grins to this listener. The accents of the organ sound in the story-telling tune "California" is another winner, especially when you realize the story behind the song (see story this issue). Not only can these guys pull a laugh due to novelty and sheer fun, they pull off a credible and tight sound. [Gray Dot / Bulletproof/ Doug Van Pelt]