Courtesy of The Scotch Bonnets
Baltimore punky reggae rockers The Scotch Bonnets, who've worked with HR from Bad Brains and Roddy Radiation of The Specials, release Come on Over for their ten year anniversary while touring across country.
Come on Over kicks off with sixties R&B-styled ska track "Another Saturday Night", with some impressive saxophone by David Hillyard and Pablo Fiasco's keys standing out, along with a fantastically rockin' guitar solo by Kristin Forbes. The Scotch Bonnets keep the traditional ska flavor going with "Hair Did". This is one tight song between Names Thompson's drums and Dan Breen's bass, as well as the killer vocals of Forbes and MC Selah, plus a terrific sax solo from Hillyard.
The band simmers down on rocksteady jam "Blank Stare". Breen's bassline and Fiasco's key tickling really sizzle here with a stripped down feel that isn't lacking in the least, with a dub groove standing out on Thompson's percussion and Forbes' guitar. The album closes out excellently on R&B/rocksteady tune "We Can't All Be Astronauts". Fiasco's keys and Breen's bass dominate while the drumming of Thompson and dual vocals set the mood here, whether it's Forbes' sixties harmonies or Selah's dub flair. Come on Over is certainly a top contender (if not the top contender) in a sea of ska albums being released this year. This is no freak occurrence: The Scotch Bonnets might just be what fans are looking for who love the sounds of amazing Jamaican-influenced dynamos such as The Slackers or Hepcat.
thescotchbonnets.bandcamp.com/album/come-on-over
facebook.com/events/169215633985394
The Scotch Bonnets play War3house 3, located at 100 Park Avenue in Swarthmore, PA outside of Philadelphia, on May 3rd with Philly Reggae Girls.
~ Garyn Klasek
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