ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Slackers endure past the alleged “death of the Ska scene,” the music genre that originated in Jamaica as a precursor to reggae. Their secret may lie within their crafty genre fusion of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, soul and garage rock, among others.
Their appeal stems from the sensuality of Vic Ruggiero’s scratchy, guttural East Coast twang that cradles almost every track on the record. However, “Swindle” branches out from the group’s other releases by giving band members a chance to wail into the mic.
The album stretches by alternating from fast-paced ska tracks such as “How it Feels,” to mellow reggae tunes. Ruggiero’s lyrics are often the battle cry to political reform or the soundtrack to heartache.
In “A Long Way Off,” Ruggiero speaks upon the aimless wanderings of a lonely man’s life: “I wagered all my winnings on a table made of tears. She looked at me and said, ‘Man, we don’t play that game here.’” However, Swindle has its own staggering moments of imperfection.
The song “Mr. Tragedy” glares off the album with a goofy robustness at first listen, from an unseemly British voice-over to the launch of high-pitched upbeat vocals from trombonist Glen Pine.
Despite slight missteps, “Swindle” keeps their fans interested by pairing sultry moodiness with upbeat dance hits.
Contact this reporter: julia.prescott@thepantheronline.com
