Although they’ve always been lumped in with the third wave of US ska bands, The Slackers have often presented more of a mature sound. Much like The Toasters, The Pietasters and Hepcat, their musical approach has drawn far more from a reggae pool over the years, and although their studio catalogue isn’t as extensive as some of their peers, it’s more than worth exploring. Although it may be short, this two track release will certainly please their fans.

Both recordings are inspired by the US Presidential Election of 2024, and the band are in a questioning mood. ‘What We Gonna Do Now?’ opens in classic Slackers style by adopting a mid tempo, very Jamaican sounding ska rhythm, allowing a solid bassline to steer a steady groove, over which a wheezing trombone and natural vocal take charge. Moving away from the main refrain (the title is used repeatedly as a very effective hook), the lyric looks at people who’ve supposedly “lost their faith” and challenge the status quo with anger. The core of the track appears to rightly lambast the right wing voters and the rioters who “killed the sacred cow” with covered faces, but for those not into message based material, the track offers a strong musical arrangement which could be likened to the best material on any number of Slackers albums. The natural drum sound employed throughout is particularly pleasing, as is the steady rhythm guitar work which barely breaks from its original remit. Everything here is good, but the real jewel in the melody comes from a wheezing trombone which creeps between each vocal line. It’s hard to make the trombone stand up against more obvious melodic fare, but this is handled brilliantly, and in a way that would please the legendary Rico Rodriguez.

With a touch more warmth, ‘Pick & Choose’ takes inspiration from more of an early 70s reggae palette, serving a sunnier sound that provides a very easy listen, without being easy listening. A brilliant bass riff sits in the centre, but as before, it doesn’t ever aim to be the most dominant feature. Here, a more soulful vocal really shines, and a simple backing harmony accentuates the melodic edge. Taking cues from old Island records crossed with more of a bass lead John Holt vibe, the track feels almost timeless for the style. As with so much Slackers material, whenever the brass arises, it has a superb sound, and here, a low key sax and trombone come together to create a very strong riff to bring the number to a close.

The Slackers might not have achieved the bigger commercial success of the more upbeat ska merchants Reel Big Fish or Less Than Jake – particularly from a UK perspective – but their blend of ska, reggae and socio-political interests has always resulted in great sounds. This is no exception. Both tracks are markedly different from each other, but are complimentary enough to create two halves of a musical whole. As part of the bigger picture, these tunes are certainly superb additions to the band’s already impressive body of work.

August/September 2024