Manhattan ska-rockers The Slackers return with their first album in seven years, and they’ve sure made the wait worth it, where a dozen of their best tunes to date are highly animated and dance floor ready. It’s their 15th studio album to date, and was penned right after lockdown ended, when the band had plenty of energy to put into the songs.
“Windowland” gets the listen off to a lively start, where the bright brass, playful keys and smooth vocals from Vic Ruggiero make for a playful garage-rocker. The title track then follows with more emphasis on Ara Babajian’s drumming and soulful backing vocals, as the band bring a breeziness that’s quite warm.
Packed in the middle is the raw, nearly gothic-ska sounds of “They Are Losing” that channels the band’s inner Tom Waits, while “Shameboy” bounces and shakes with a punk-filled charm that sounds right at home on a mixtape with Operation Ivy and Skankin’ Pickle. “Nobody’s Listening,” the best track, then brings plenty of grit to the rock-steady rhythm and melodies that you can’t help but want to revisit.
The final two tracks don’t disappoint either. “Boogie Nowhere” recruits a vintage rock’n’roll spirit to the head bobbin’, toe tappin’ climate, and “Time Won’t Set You Free” exits with a bit hazy, very reggae-influenced sound, even a bit psychedelic in its adventurous nature.
The Slackers are a band who have been at hit for 30-plus years now, and whether this is your first time with them or you’ve been listening for awhile, Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya is a great time, and one that focuses on darker lyrical topics while the music is generally upbeat in their inimitable ska / rocksteady / punk / reggae / dub / garage-rock hybrid.
