The one beautiful thing of running this web site is that every once in awhile you get the privilege of getting a band's EP/CD/demo in advance of every one else. This was the case with Prince Blanco's latest project (former co-front person of The Liquidaires). For those of you that do not know, Prince Blanco was in a band called The Skanksters (a song of theirs, which actually is an original Skaface tune, can be found on one of the All Skanadian compilations put out by Stomp Records). How is that for a little Toronto ska history?

Although only four songs, this EP will be well worth the money. Prince Blanco has taken four reggae hits, got a group of talented musicians to back him up, and sings his heart out.

I think I like the first track, Better Must Come, better than the originally. Maybe it is the better recording quality of the song, but everything just seems that much more powerful than the original.

I can't say that I have heard Desperate Lover before, but it reminds me of another song, which I just can't seem to recall at the moment. I like the tune a lot, and like the first song, everything about the song just feels right.

Good Ambition really reminds of Blanco's Liquidaires era. I can easily see them doing this song. I like this song a lot, and it is a great choice by Prince Blanco to cover as it suits him nicely.

The closing track, Passion Love, is another tune which really reminds me of The Liquidaires. Maybe they covered tracks three and four and I didn't know it at the time. This track is probably my least favourite of the four, but it is done really well too. It just seems the first three tunes go together so nicely and this track is the odd one out.

One more thing I should mention about this album is that the keyboards/organ parts are just phenomenal.

Go see Prince Blanco and The Rocksteady All-Stars on September 9 at the Cervejaria Downtown. I know I'll be there.