Skatesian remind me of the music I liked back in the summer of 1998, when Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake ruled my stereo and silly pop-ska was the order of the day. I blame the sunstroke. This York mob may have come seven years too late for me, but their brand of silly ska-fueled punk rock is enjoyable, in the short term at least. It certainly won’t break any new boundaries, but ‘Nu-Metal Attitude’ is well put together and showcases eight fun songs which, I imagine, will have them playing to packed local crowds. A mammoth 15 people were involved in this recording, while 8 appear to be permanent band members – although three seem to play bass, which is rather odd.
As their album name suggests, this isn’t the most sensible of records. Tracks like ‘What’s her name again?’ and ‘Lesbian Lover(s)’ showcase a very bouncy and perky pop sound, interspersed with some well positioned brass. Vocally the band again don’t break new ground – the singer seems to switch to Mike Flowers Pops mode at times – but their laid back style does suit their relaxed sound. Their version of the Sugababes ‘Hole In The Head’ is really good though, easily the best song here but it’s the way they apply it which really makes it stand out.
There’s nothing new to see here, but Skatesian are fun enough to ensure a laugh if you’re seeing them as a support act. I guess they’d probably done a bit better had this record come out at the time of the great ska revival of the nineties, but either way, this is fun enough to warrant checking out.
www.skatesian.co.uk
Paul