CD REVIEWS
Rough & Tough Reviews
Mustard Plug
Overall this record has more diversity than the previous ones, which gives a little something for every taste. In Black and White seems more sophisticated...
The Aggrolites
While I found their first album uneven and the second album much stonger this third album cements their place in the scene as the leaders of the soul revolution...
King Django
I feel this disc proves Django’s material is just as impressive as his resume...
True Trout
This is a band who has truly embraced the DIY ethic. On this full length the band has delivered 14 ska-core tracks for fans of music with aggressive tendencies...
Prince Blanco and The Rocksteady All-Stars
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...
beNUTS
According to the liner notes the band has been together for 12 years which is no easy feat for a band of any genre. If anything the ep is a little short which simply leads to repeated listens...
Razbari Sumthing
The tracks near the start of the disc bode well but somewhere in the middle the sound starts to repeat, lag and wane...
The Agency
Take The Agency from Barrie for instance. Their album title alludes to the ska dance craze and they do indeed employ upstrokes and horns in their music...
The Slackers
I will go out on a limb and state: "Peculiar is the best Slackers release since The Question"...
The Furios
The sound is still addictive, infectious and contagiously danceable! This release is a solid party disc...
The Afterbeat
The songwriting has improved. The musicianship has improved. The production has improved...
The Donuts
If you were to only buy one CD this year, buy this one! The debut from Newmarket's Donuts is a sonic delight from top to bottom. There's ska, rocksteady and reggae flavours galore...
Public Access
This is great EP that will get you moving in your seat from start to finish...
Cheap Suits
Essentially, the ante has been upgraded on all fronts and it makes for a great disc! The band is finally giving us the recorded performance...
The Johnstones, Keepin' 6
Its a short split EP from 2 of the hardest working ska bands in the GTA!
Skratch 3
Just like it did in The Heatskores disc, the quality of production is able to capture the band's energy.
The Heatskores
This disc will quickly become an instant favorite. The production levels are way up on this recording...
Mustard Plug
A nineteen song carrer retrospective with tunes off each and everyone of their releases. You really can't go wrong with a collection like this...
Greg Milka Crowe
Even if you are only a casual fan of Canadian Ska you know who Greg "Milka" Crowe is. You have heard his tunes even if you didn't know it was him...
Madness
First, Madness is back and doing ska again! That in itself is fantastic news. It is a sheer delight to once again hear Chas and Sugg's voices mixed with ska...
Sub City Dwellers
Comprising of various members of the Winnipeg ska and punk scenes, The Sub City Dwellers successfully combine the best aspects of both genres...
The Big Sound
The sound of The Big Sound is very first wave. Piano and organ heavy rhythm tracks keep this kid very happy...
Ill Scarlett
Whenever I hear that a band has a DJ I have to say that I instantly become skeptical. Not that I have thing against turntables...
Angry Agency
Over the past month I have had the pleasure of seeing them twice and picked up their sophomore release "The End of an Era" and I must say its one solid record...
The Hebrew School Dropouts
I think this 8 song introduction shows tons of promise and there's a good fun vibe to the tunes...
The Liquidaires
Meeting Place is a sonic delight that will please everyone from the connoisseur to the casual music fan...
The Planet Smashers
No matter how bad your day has been going, you can always rely on a Smashers tune to turn your frown upside down...
The Bruce Lee Band
Its been 9 long years since we've heard anything new from the Bruce Lee Band...
The Makeshift Heroes
Man, this disc is sweet. I just wish there was more. Its like a dessert that is tasty but never fills you up...
Westbound Train
Listening to this, I feel like my head is like a big bobblehead that can't stop bobblin'! This IS essential trad ska...
The Pylons
This sonic treat is heads and tails above anything previously released...
Keepin'6
They are also the only indie band I know to have a self-imposed Parental Advisory Warning on the front of their cd...
The Next Best Thing
The first time I ever saw The Next Best Thing was in a shitty little bar in Burlington three years ago where they were opening for The Salads...
Various - Rhino Records
I managed to pick this holiday compilation up after last year's season and its quickly become one of my fave...
The Flatliners
The disc is full of piss and vinegar and if you like good punk rock and ska there is no reason to be without this disc...
Lo and the Magnetics
For the longest time there had been no news out of The Kingpins camp. Then the band came to town and announced they were breaking up...
Random Order
This is not only a band that likes to have fun and groove but lyrically they also have strong social messages...
Dubfreque
Dubfreque is a Vancouver based group that distinctively and stylishly grooves between Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae and Soul...
Los Furios
An irresistible blend of ska, punk, reggae and Latin sounds complete with some solid, memorable lyrics that will take up some critical headspace...
Mad Caddies
But on their newest record the Caddies have come back with more life than the rest of their releases combined...
Skavenjah
Skavenjah has managed to make a fun, interesting disc that announces proudly that prairie ska is now on the map...
Chris Murray
The opening track is the classic signature "hit" song Rock Steady. Good luck not singing along by the last chorus...
Various Artists
It is no secret that Montreal was the centre of the Canadian ska universe...
The Slackers
You can always count on The Slackers to put out a solid album. After spoiling us with two longer records...
Catch 22
This time around we are looking at the latest release from Catch-22, a band that has been rocking the punk/ska scene since 1996. They remain one of the few bands who continue to thrive after the big "I Love Ska Trend" triggered by...
The Barrymores
The band that breaks our new zines cherry will be The Barrymores from Winnipeg. This disc was just released early this month on Bacteria Buffet Records and the band has been on the road ever since trying to create a buzz about their Peg City Brand of ska...
