Spunge – “Idols” mp3

Buster the Ska Doggie, with whom I am acquainted, posted a sweet series of ska and ska related mp3s with his own peculiar annotation. It must be a dog’s life, posting blurbs about ska songs all day and night. You can listen to the lot of it @ Buster’s blog on ska4u.com. Here’s one of the tunes, I just have to re-post – “Idols” by UK ska rockers Spunge. Big silly good ska-pop-punky fun, about something I think we can all relate to sometimes. Which idol do I wanna be like? Why Buster the Ska Doggie, of course.

I was thinking today about the Harvey Danger song “Little Round Mirrors,” from their “Little By Little” EP. I was completely gobsmacked by it when they released it in late 2005, and though I haven’t heard it since a bunch of spins back then, I can recall the magnificent hooks in vivid detail and it’s one of those songs that just pops up from time to time in my mental playlist. So this morning I went to their site to see what’s up with them now, only to learn that like many recording artists in this era of severe public apathy about new music, they have called it quits. Their statement about hanging it up is gracious and completely without bitterness, which is about what I would expect from a band of such talent and generosity. You see, what they did with this EP, is they released the whole thing, for free, asking for donations if you felt like giving them something for their efforts, but hoping simply for their music to be heard. They detailed their reasons rather eloquently here. Their conclusion is by no means unique – plenty of bands have realized the same thing, and I wouldn’t bother posting this if not for one thing: the song is magnificent. It deserves to be heard. It’s a beautiful performance of a great pop composition that while difficult to classify, is immensely accessible. The hooks are breathtaking, the lyrics intelligent, poetic, compassionate and heartbreaking. I could go on. Think “Pet Sounds” goes to Seattle or, like, Jellyfish without the clown makeup. The whole EP is great, in fact, as I am just discovering now. Thanks to HD for leaving it up there. As a musician in a band myself, I know the cost in time, money and gear that it takes to write, rehearse, record, mix and master a record this good is anything but trivial. If you like, you can send the band some $ to offset their investment a bit, here. Hey it worked for Radiohead. Or you can go old school and buy a hard copy. Either way I think you’ll really enjoy their music.

One of my favorite newish groups is one Sonic Boom Six from Manchester. This is one of their earlier singles and it just kills. In fact I love it too much to speak intelligently about it. Just hit it and be knowing about them. CDs @ CD Universe.

Here’s a lesser known gem from original Two-Tone giants The Selecter. Haven’t lived til you’ve seen this group live, oh my freakin gawd. Pauline Black is an amazing vocalist, and if her onstage energy could be tapped it would solve the energy crisis. Like all the Two-Tone era ska bands, The Selecter was never shy about expressing their politics in song, as in this defiant broadside against racist ignorance and fear. Musically there’s an interesting twist in this track – while most of the song contains their trademark Hammond Organ, a vintage Arp String Ensemble sound pops in at the bridge for an eerie, dark transition between the bouncy and bright choruses. Massive. Pick up a bevvy of their mp3s on the Three Minute Hero collection.

The Selecter

Three Minute Hero

I really like this little outburst of power-pop ska fervor. It has a bit of “3rd wave” spice, but it’s also well rooted in the two-tone stylee. A natural fit then, that Neville Staple – from the daddies of two-tone, The Specials – would be a guest singer on this. “Explosive” by Toronto’s own Planet Smashers. Skank and be happy.

Available @ CD Universe