Search - Slackers :: Wasted Days

Today's Best Ska/Rocksteady/Reggae

Adam Adam Adam | Placentia, CA United States | 03/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Essential for Slackers fans, but reccommended for anyone

Jeff Lash | Saint Louis, MO, USA | 02/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

*sigh* not again....

Marc A. Coignard | Denver, CO United States | 02/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."