Post subject: Skabilly Rebels - Blues Attack Album Review
Whilst many Specials fans ponder whether their heroes will ever record new material,or even a new album,let us not forget that at least one Special has an album out,worthy of Special mention.
It has been said that Roddy Radiation Byers contribution to the Specials sound has been vastly underrated over the years,and you need no further evidence to back this up than to go and get yourself a copy of BLUES ATTACK,if you haven't already !
There may be some die-hard Specials fans who feel uneasy about the mix of Ska/Rockabilly/Country/Blues,but The Specials were never a pure Ska band either,with a mix of Ska/Punk/Reggae/Soul that some Ska purists actually don't like either.
However if you haven't realised yet of how Roddys Guitar sound dovetails and punctuates everything The Specials do,listen to all their albums and imagine doing so without that distinctive Rockin' Punk style guitar,you cannot replace a guitarist of that quality and innovation.
Roddy's Skabilly Rebels have released an album which confirms with great skill,all of what most of us already knew....he can write a damn good tune with the best of them
Whilst a novelty act like THE BASEBALLS,gets TV Exposure releasing a Rockabilly Album of covers of modern pop songs,the Skabilly's should be getting a slot on the Jools Holland show if there's any justice in this pompous music business.
Now I've never attempted to put down an album review in print,and the following may leave a lot to be desired, maybe some of you will not hear what i hear when spinning Roddy's tunes,but it's what i hear and i hope it does the album some justice.
The Skabily Rebels understand their influences and know how to mix and blend those influences within a unique sound which is all their own.
BLUES ATTACK is a classic thundering Skabilly meets the Specials track which has always been my favourite,in any form or mix and as a fan of Seminal 60'S Icon,Johnny Kidd, i couldn't help but hear similarities in the way both Kidd and Roddy Byers are able to blend Rockabilly and Country blues ,such as on BLACK ZODIAC.
Elvis Presley's Sun Years get a nod on FORGIVE AND FORGET,but with some honking sax reminiscent of The Kings mid-tempo 60's rockers.
Roddy's vocals are pure class o this track and his rich tones suggest that a duet with Imelda May could be a match made in Rockabilly Heaven.
I could go on here and review every track but i will give you the general picture by picking out what i think are the Albums Highlights.
The reworking of JUDGEMENT DAY sounds like some heavy Rolling Rockabilly put in a mixer with Fats Domino rolling Blues and nice Harmony vocals,one of the best tracks on the album.
DESIRE works surprisingly well in it's Reggae style but I still prefer the Original Rockin' versions of this track.
But i have to mention the brilliant LONESOME NO MORE,which apart from being a really brassy rocker behind that Skabilly sound,has echoes of the great Buddy Holly and The Crickets...especially the Jerry Allison style rolling drumbeat,which incidentally if intentional,has been well executed.
Most of the Albums tracks blend that Skabilly sound and use it as a backbone for some adventurous arrangements,but then again when you get a dose of pure Rockabilly like THIS CAT NEEDS A KITTEN,you really begin to understand just how well Roddy and the boys understand this music, it's in their blood and they play it like they invented it. This could out strut Brian Setzer and everything that came before him...absolutely awesome.
Some great examples of humour make BLACK LEATHER JACKET an hilarious piece of songwriting for all the right reasons and the Ska'd up version here works well,whilst the delightfully easygoing Ska Pop of GREEN EYED BLONDE sounds like pure single release material, very 2-Tone style and again one of my favourites. Roddy's vocals are mellow on this track and again display another facet of his many vocal ranges, with lyrics like ''..You keep on twisting the knife,two wrongs don't make it right '', he's on a winner again !
The whole album is a delight and if i put it on once,its repeated at least twice,always the sign of a good record.
So if you haven't yet got this album,don't hang about...treat your ears to the one Special who is reminding us of just how important he is to that band, of just how good his Skabilly Rebels are.
Skabilly Rebels Rule Ok !!
Cheers
Daz
Posted:
Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:14 pm
Harry Gangster
Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Posts: 445
Location: London
Post subject: Re: Skabilly Rebels - Blues Attack Album Review
inlikeflynn wrote:
listen to all their albums and imagine doing so without that distinctive Rockin' Punk style guitar,you cannot replace a guitarist of that quality and innovation.
Daz
I think it's true that Roddy is a great guitarist and his contribution to those two classic Specials albums is absolutely vital. He has a distinct style all of his own.
I was talking to a young friend at work yesterday. She said that she and her mates had been to a show by The Skabilly Rebels and that they had all really loved it. She had been impressed by the way the band had played different types of music and how they had skillfully blended them all together. I was pleased to learn new young fans were being won over. _________________ I got one art O'level it did nothing for me
Posted:
Sun Jul 11, 2010 4:49 pm
Paul Willo Site Admin
Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 6620
Location: Darlington
Post subject:
Great review Daz. and spot on. _________________ ANGER IS AN ENERGY
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 3150
Location: Tottenham
Post subject:
I was well surprised when I got my copy ages ago now, I knew I was going to like most of it, but didn't quite realise just how good it was unitl I had it and played it a few times. _________________ As good today as it was then
Posted:
Sun Jul 11, 2010 5:13 pm
inlikeflynn Gangster
Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 367
Location: Exeter
Post subject:
Paul Willo wrote:
Great review Daz. and spot on.
Cheers Paul....
Posted:
Sun Jul 11, 2010 7:00 pm
Hugh Too Hot
Joined: 02 Apr 2004 Posts: 9234
Location: New Westminster, BC Canada
Post subject:
Roddy's guitar made the Specials for me.
I've got a test pressing of Blues Attack. _________________ There's still nothing wrong with it!
Posted:
Sun Jul 11, 2010 9:48 pm
Rankin Robbo Too Hot
Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 2471
Location: Royal Leamington Spa
Post subject:
Superb piece Daz!
The west country's not all about supping apples & pears _________________ !!!
Posted:
Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:26 pm
Liam_Ska Too Hot
Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 1446
Post subject:
Great review, mate. 'Blues Attack' ia a great album and certainly deserves far more exposure than it's received, as do the Skabilly Rebels themselves.
'Blues Attack' is miles better than any of The Specials MKII albums and when I saw the Skabs live I thought that the MKII era songs they played sounded far better than on 'Guilty...'
If you haven't bought the album and haven't seen the Skabs live make sure you do. You won't regeret it.
Posted:
Mon Jul 12, 2010 2:34 pm
TTN Too Hot
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 3150
Location: Tottenham
Post subject:
Spot on Liam _________________ As good today as it was then
Posted:
Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:39 pm
inlikeflynn Gangster
Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 367
Location: Exeter
Post subject:
Thanks to everyone who's enjoyed my review....dare i say it but i agree with that man.....yep, i think BLUES ATTACK is better than the GUILTY album as well
Cheers
Daz
Posted:
Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:02 pm
kitty Gangster
Joined: 24 Jun 2009 Posts: 401
Post subject:
Liam_Ska wrote:
If you haven't bought the album and haven't seen the Skabs live make sure you do. You won't regret it.
Couldn't agree more Liam. Buy it!!!
Roddy's guitar sound is such an integral part of the Specials and I didn't know quite what to expect when I went to see the Skabs for the first time. But it was a great gig, and I've seen them a few times since. About time they played London again! _________________ www.youtube.com/boogaloobooks
Posted:
Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:19 pm
JETT RINK Too Hot
Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 3582
Location: Texas
Post subject:
Yes ... many thanks.. been trying to get a recording deal but no takers unless its a indi label which gives you 6 boxes of youre own C.D. as payment and you cant use the material for 5/6 years.. bin there done that
As to gigs - everyone is finding it tuff im told and most promoters wont take a chance on something which is neither one thing or the other
Might have to go West im affraid..
Posted:
Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:29 am
Hugh Too Hot
Joined: 02 Apr 2004 Posts: 9234
Location: New Westminster, BC Canada
Post subject:
Right off the cliffs. _________________ There's still nothing wrong with it!
Posted:
Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:41 pm
marigold Special
Joined: 16 May 2010 Posts: 513
Location: washington. d. c.
Post subject:
After a career like yours - and with one now, I'm sure travelling and being away from home holds no Illusions, I do really believe though that your superb writing, singing and playing talents would sell out in Nashville.
Country music has always been a bit in for a dig at home [not Ireland though] and from what you say, I now realise why bands have their C.D.'s for sale at gigs here.
I apologise for 'collecting' your sound into 'Country' I know It isn't - but I was so impressed when I read an Interview with Roddy in which he described the 'Ska' sound and mentioned "From a Jack to a King" an all time favourite in my house.
When I was a summer intern at C.B.S. our Irish dealers would take boxes [25Lps per box] unheard - If It was an Artist with The Skabilly's sound [only close/] Do The Skabillies tour Ireland?
There is still a big leather following here and we can't pretend that this style does not follow The Skabilly's around.
Nashville is just one big concert, giging, cafe - lounge circuit/venue.
But who wants to leave home now : )
I would love the Nashville D.J's to be aware of "Blues Attack" they are missing a lot.
We go to a lot of shows at The Birchmere in Arlington Virginia - [20 mins from Reagan National hint hint] Raol Malo has played 3 x Ray Price, Patty Loveless... The crowd is amazing...you never know my luck There is a record store in the club too. Merle Haggard 20th Sept. Richie Havens 19th Nov. Don Mclean, Terri Clark...Jerry Jeff Walker..
_________________ marigold
Posted:
Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:20 pm
marigold Special
Joined: 16 May 2010 Posts: 513
Location: washington. d. c.
Post subject:
Jett puts on his reading glasses to write a song..... _________________ marigold
Posted:
Tue Jul 13, 2010 10:26 pm
TTN Too Hot
Joined: 18 Dec 2008 Posts: 3150
Location: Tottenham
Post subject:
Stay here and fight like a man Jett _________________ As good today as it was then
Posted:
Tue Jul 13, 2010 11:38 pm
Harry Gangster
Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Posts: 445
Location: London
Post subject:
JETT RINK wrote:
Yes ... many thanks.. been trying to get a recording deal but no takers unless its a indi label which gives you 6 boxes of youre own C.D. as payment and you cant use the material for 5/6 years.. bin there done that
.
I think the music industry is in a strange situation at the moment. Mick Jagger said recently that after 1997 releasing CDs was no longer a secure way for companies to make money and so it's only bands that tour who will survive.
In the mid 90s there were decent labels around liked Setanta (who gave us Edwyn Collins, The Magnetic Fields, Divine Comedy etc) who were run by people who really cared about the artist and were able to push them forward. Now it's getting trickier. Rough Trade still seem like they're the good guys and there still are a few other decent labels about. Stiff records has started up again (they represent Chris Difford and Wreckless Eric). I'm sure they offer their artists a better deal than just 6 boxes of your own CD as payment.
There are other things starting up like http://corporaterecords.co.uk/signup
With Corprate records the artist gets 80% of the money and keeps all his or her rights (but, it's like when Radiohead released an album where you paid as much as you thought it was worth, it relies on a kind of honesty box type system.)
Lloyd Cole recently made a new CD http://www.lloydcole.com/weblog/index.php?p=3594&c=1
by asking 1,000 fans to pay 45 dollars for a deluxe signed edition before it was even made. I must say I kind of like this idea and imagine there are a lot of people on here who would be keen to support you. _________________ I got one art O'level it did nothing for me
Posted:
Wed Jul 14, 2010 6:06 am
JETT RINK Too Hot
Joined: 08 Apr 2004 Posts: 3582
Location: Texas
Post subject:
Well i know my stuff isnt the Specials ....but im affraid from what the majority of the guys say about recording new material, thats as close as it youre gonna get to a new Specials C.D.
Im going back in the studio with Skabillies in September..
so many songs so little time
Posted:
Wed Jul 14, 2010 8:44 am
Liam_Ska Too Hot
Joined: 10 Dec 2008 Posts: 1446
Post subject:
JETT RINK wrote:
Well i know my stuff isnt the Specials ....but im affraid from what the majority of the guys say about recording new material, thats as close as it youre gonna get to a new Specials C.D.
Im going back in the studio with Skabillies in September..
so many songs so little time
Shame there's not likely to be new Specials material as presumably that means there won't be too many more gigs. However, great news about new Skabillies recordings and I look forward to hearing them and seeing them live again as soon as I can
Posted:
Wed Jul 14, 2010 12:02 pm
Hugh Too Hot
Joined: 02 Apr 2004 Posts: 9234
Location: New Westminster, BC Canada
Post subject:
Surely it can't be that difficult to compose a pop song?
_________________ There's still nothing wrong with it!
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