Skalars CD romps with soul, swing-laden sound
Soul, baby, soul!
You know I'm talking about. Soul. Motown. Stax. Volt. Aretha. Otis. Booker T.
Some people have soul, and some don't.
Isaac Green and the Skalars, from St. Louis, Mo., definitely have soul. And lots of it.
On their debut album, "Skoolin' With The Skalars," on Moon Ska Records, they take you on a fun romp thorugh 13 songs that will get you out of your chair and onto the dance floor in no time.
Their distinctive, soul and swing-laden ska sound is set apart from other ska bands due to their triple female vocals, which are sure to make you weak in the knees.
After releasing two 7-inch singles in 1995 and 1996, it's good to see them in compact disc form on a nationwide label, so they get the respect and exposure they deserve.
All of the songs on here are live favorites, and all but two have not been released in studio form. Earlier versions of "The Row" and "Junbok" have appeared on the "Skankin' 'Round The Internet" cassette compilation and their first 7-inch single, respectively.
"Spoiled Brat" starts everything off on the right foot, and they don't stop pumping out the soulful grooves until the final song, the unlisted "Ike's Ride."
The Skalars show just how much soul they have on their cover of the Motown classic, "Beechwood 4-5789," by the Marvelettes. The Marvelettes would be more than proud of this version.
Vocalists and saxophonists Jessica Butler, Amy Scherer and Michelle Ferguson step aside on their cover of jump-blues legend Wynonie Harris' "Bloodshot Eyes" to let trombonist Evan Shaw take over on the vocal duties.
Manhattan native Shaw tears it up and rocks the house down to its foundation. You will be singing along in no time.
They even do the Skatalites justics, which is difficult, on their cover of "I Love You."
The musicianship shown by the Skalars ia amazing. Each member of the band performs at a top-notch caliber.
The horn section is very full-sounding.
Scherer, Butler and Ferguson's vocals are stellar. They're smoother than silk and sweeter than a chocolate bar. They are easily the best singers in all of ska.
Ethan D'Ercole, guitarist, blows me away every time I hear his solos. They are very soulful and reminiscent of soul guitarists like Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MG's and Otis Redding's backup band.
Drummer Dave Sharma is one of the best drummer in ska music, and this album is no exception. Along with bassist Willie Horton, they lay down some of the most rock-solid backbeats every recorded.
Jason Brody plays the Farfisa organ how it should be played -- incredibly well. He is phenomenal and there are some rather unusual sounds coming out of it during "Ike's Ride" that have to be heard to be believed.
Isaac Green himself, on "Steps and Shouts," does just that. He dances like a madman, with some of the best dance moves ever, during their live show. He also plays a mean cowbell and sings co-lead vocals on many songs, including "Junbok" and "Ike's Ride," a song about his ego.
It's too bad Isaac doesn't come with the CD because he is amazing to watch on stage.
The Skalars have the potential to be monstrous, and a force to be reckoned with in the ska world with an album like this.
