I’m going to be honest with you here. When I first heard the debut from this Minnesota band I wasn’t too impressed. however The more I’ve listened to this album I have grown to really enjoy it. The band has a funky groove that makes for some good time music.
The band definitely has the influences of the bands that I enjoy. Hearing the opening bars of “Hypocrite” reminded me of a Hepcat tune, while “Truth and Lies” has a dirty reggae feel. ”Before Tonight” has a boogie shuffle ska feel to it, with a great walking bass line and Jamaican ska style piano style. “Brujereia” is an instrumental tune with a latin flavor and definitely a number that makes you want to wind up your hips.
The highlights of the album however are the intro which blends seamlessly into “Outside My Window” an upbeat where the guitar and organ switch off on the melody. It’s a super catchy song that will have you singing along by the end. The other song that keeps getting stuck in my head is “Follow My Sound”. It is the title track and an early reggae track that I have been waking up with the opening organ line stuck in my head.
Follow My Sound is a solid album that may not strike a nerve with you at first but give it a couple more listens because it is a solid album, full of gruff, yet catchy dirty reggae, and ska tunes. Also they are from the Midwest and the sax player Courtney runs MNSKA (click here to check out),It’s a great site for not only Minnesota Ska fans but the midwest as well. Oh and they have a girl keyboard player in a ska band rocking the bubble (super awesome). So pick up a copy of the album, it’s available at Jump Up records and Stubborn Records and let it grow on you.
Picked up this album and loved it with the first play. Singer reminds me of Vic from the Slackers
This band has really grown and continues to do so. Love the tracks and looking forward to more from these guys.