Best of 2018 Albums and Ep/Lp Picks by CPRA’s Skabones
It’s been a crazy year here at CPRA. We’ve reviewed so much amazing music this year. We debuted our very first show, “Happy Skanksgiving” at Tennyson Tap. By the way our last show of the year, “Merry Punxmas” is on December 29, 2018. I know we all get a bit tired of these end of the year lists. As admins we all couldn’t possibly agree on overall favorites. So we are going to individually announce our own personal picks.
We reviewed almost 100 albums in 2018. So picking only a few was very tough on me. Happy Holiday and don’t let Krampus get ya! Be sure to pick up a CPRA shirt, patch, or sticker before Christmas! Email soon if you want one by Christmas!
Favorite Tracks:Rebel Down, Original Rudegirl Sound, Way of Life, Tattoo King, Be As One, Why Oh Why
Sounds Like: The Specials, The Beat, Bad Manners, and Last Reel Hero
If you haven’t listened to, “Rude Rebels”, you’re missing out on some great new 2 Tone ska! Ska Legend Neville Staple has returned! Check out the new video for ‘Way of Life’ below! This record has been running non stop on my Spotify. Pick this one on vinyl for the best listening experience! I’ve included more videos just to give a taste of how amazing this album is!
Format: Digital, physical copies released 9/14/2018
Label: DIY
Location: Pueblo, CO
Current Lineup: Per Facebook
Andy Jackson – vocals
Carlos Gomez – guitar
Shanon Sinclair – guitar
Geoff Andersen – bass
Shaun Herrera – drums
Dan Wiley – keys/trombone
Favorite Tracks: All I Want, Bitter Ending, Hero Can’t Dead, Guns Fever, All I Want, My Survival, and Cool Down.
Sounds Like: Bad Brains, Dendrites, Pietasters, Bad Manners, English Beat, Fishbone, NOISE, Street Dogs, Dark Buster, Jackie Mendez, Mad Caddies, Streetlight Manifesto, People Corrupting People, The Specials, Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Steel Pulse and Judge Dread.
I was lucky to grow up during the golden age of MTV. Back when new videos came out every other week and British bands ruled the airwaves. Now sadly it’s a pile of rubbish. “I want my MTV”! As a child I fell in love with bands like Bad Manners, English Beat, Madness, and Steel Pulse. My love affair continues on to this day.
This was mainly influenced from a British sitcom called, “The Young Ones”. The show was hilarious and featured various bands within each episode. The show helped many UK based bands gain international attention like, The Damned, Motorhead, and Madness.
You didn’t come here to read my life story you came to check out the Last Reel Hero! Let’s do this. The band formed in 2017. I reached out to the band, because well this album is pretty badass. Per bassist, Geoff Anderson, “We’ve been together for a little over a year, but have all been involved in punk/oi/reggae/ska/skinhead/rudeboy music/culture for years on end.
The name Last Reel Hero is taken from a line in the movie “The Harder They Come” and refers to the hero of a spaghetti western (Django, in this case) not dying until the last reel of the film. Why we have a slight spaghetti western theme”. The band details their spaghetti western theme through their various show flyers and album art. Check some of them out below! I personally cannot wait to get my hands on some merch!
So let’s check out the album in pure CPRA fashion track by track style. The album kicks off with “The Show”. This one has a late mod sound to it with a bit of ska and punk. The bass and keyboard shine on this track. The vocals remind me of Prince Buster and even a little Jackie Wilson. This song calls all the rudies, punks and skins to drop their weapons and get to the party.
Next up is a Valentines cover “Guns Fever”. This is probably my favorite track on the record. It’s catchy and sure to be a favorite among the rudies and skins. It has a very traditional ska sound mixed Northern soul. Get your dancing shoes on! This one changes things up a bit to pay homage to their Pueblo roots.
“No Fool For You” follows with a classic ska riff in my favorite anti love song format. You can definitely hear guitarist Carlos Gomez (The Dead End) and Shannon Sinclair (Might Of Henry). “Bitter Ending”, is up next. This one is pure OI in your face. It sounds a bit like Bad Manners meets Cock Sparrer. It’s the perfect blue collar song for anyone who busts their ass for pennies everyday.
So far I’d say the Last Reel Hero is winning this gunfight with the author! Haha. ‘All I Want”, continues the OI. The kids will be running for the pit on this track. This one is my second favorite track on the album. It’s almost anthem like. So far Django (Last Reel Hero) has been up against the wall. He’s been faced with enemies, and lost love. How will this end for him?
“Cool Down” is up next on the track list. This one slows the record down in with beautiful reggae beats. Not many of us were there in England during the 1980’s skin riots. This song encapsulates that time period in my head. So if if any Nazi skins are reading this, you need to “Cool Down” ya and stop being a blockhead.
“Hero Can’t Dead”, ok so I lied this is my favorite on the album. This one will have the listener skanking at their desks, in schools, in pubs and at home. I love the lyrics! The vocals again come with a great Northern Soul mixed with reggae sound.
“Hero can’t dead,
Hear what I said,
They come at him in red,
But he riddle them with lead,
The bad men fled,
When he opened up his coffin bed”.
‘My Survival”, this one to me sounds like Fishbone. Even the vocals sound a bit like Angelo Moore. That makes this a great song. I fact I kinda want to light a joint right now. Ok I better not as my office tends to frown on mj use. Haha! I love the lyrics and everything about this song. This one is about helping society find a better resolution to help those suffering.
“High Noon”, speeds the record back up and injects that OI. The progressions on this one are fantastic. I can see this song ending up as a football anthem. Hello football fans? Not US football obviously. This one is very Cock Sparrer/The Business like.
“We’re Coming Back”, is a kick ass cover of the classic Cock Sparrer sound. This one closes out the record. It infuses some Bad Manners backbeats while the band throws in their style. So there you have it. Let’s break down the battle between the reviewer and Last Reel Hero.
Ska Bones – is awesome, yet super nerdy, 0 points awarded.
Last Reel Hero – Coolest band theme ever, makes great tunes, 10 points awarded.
There you have it folks. The Last Reel Hero wins this bout. In conclusion the album far exceeded any expectations I had. In the last 24 hours I’ve listened to this record 100 times or more.
Their hooks are catchy, deep and funky bass lines, Northern soul edge, and OI driven punk make this one album I will never forget.
