Review Summary: A ska band that makes some great jams.
I've been putting off this review for a while now. Music is always changing, always evolving. I came into contact with this band at a party while wearing a Jeff Rosenstock shirt. Two dudes came up to me through a sea of people with open beers. Obviously, I had to oblige them and they started talking to me about music and such. Artists got thrown around such as "Bomb! The Music Industry", "Tom Waits", and "Alkaline Trio". As we began to get to know each other they began to inform me of a band that they were in called "Stacked Like Pancakes". And I must admit the title itself made me chuckle as I thought they were joking with me. But they grew more serious and tossed a demo of their songs in the form of a spray painted paper case with a sticker on it. A little under the influence, I gave them my word I would listen to it and try to gain them some publicity. Well for about a year and a half it sat under a collection of other CD's. Until one day they invited me to one of their concerts with a bunch of other local bands. So I went with a few friends, loaded up with some drinks at the Ottobar and awaited my old pals to play. They were the headlining act to my surprise, a band that I had discarded to the side. To my surprise the band was positively energetic and bursting with excitement all over stage. I found myself rocking out to a few of their songs, I found out they were filming a music video and that further extended my excitement as the entire crowd was electric.
In fact you can view the music video here, if you give a *** I mean.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8OSCFUd-Yk
I found myself completely into the lead singers voice. It was nasally but it was just enough where I loved it. It had a higher pitch and could carry himself further than I expected. The backing vocals did what they needed to perfectly, which was further accentuate the main voice itself. Everyone did exactly what they needed to and kept on playing off the energy of the crowd. So without any more exposition, I will start with reviewing the album itself.
Although this album is somewhat long going on for almost an hour, it really doesn't drag on like most projects do. The only time I find it to be dragging on is the very last song which feels tacked on honestly. The song "Money Sucks" is your stereotypical song about life as an adolescent and how money corrupts so many and the kids who weren't as lucky to have their parents loaded and have to scrape and save to get by in this work a day world. The song itself breaks the fourth wall, to the point in which it becomes self-refriential.They began referencing all the other songs in the album becoming self-aware. Its really an enjoyable part of the album that you can find yourself smirking to. The song starts off extremely well with a fantastic upbeat song laying out for you exactly what this album is going to be about. These are a group of people who came together in hopes of making good music to tell you that you are not alone with the things that you are doing in life. "These are Odd Times to be Alive" is the opener and the singer does a great job depicting a story, along with a catchy and chorus and beat to match it. It invites you into the album, captivates you a weird sort of way. The melodies and the music itself is a really a big aspect of this record. It helps carries the vocals, along with keeping your interest.
"Laughing At Me" is the next big hit from this record, its all about being stuck in your head and how much it sucks and how constantly back and forth you are with yourself. This is perfect because we all have those inner deviations from oneself where you struggle to figure out who you are, what is what and who is who. Along with the people who judge you and snark at you for choosing your own independent style trying to get you to follow them. Overall its a track I would jam to anytime. The last song I wanted to address personally is "SFDD" which stands for "***, ***, Dammit, Dammit" which is just a fantastic song. Its about just saying things to get your mind off of all the nonsense you have to endure. To the point where we all know there's something bull*** we are going to have to go through but its all apart of life. The faster we shake it off, the faster we can go back to making our progress. Just don't let anything get you down, and if you feel yourself losing the battle just yell out "***, ***, Dammit Dammit" and laugh it all off.
The whole album itself a delightful mixed bag, its roots are in ska, but it deviates away to experiment around with some slight reggae influences at times but continues to remain true to its base. It even has its own jam session that comes in at a good time, but doesn't overstay its welcome. It is there just long enough to infect you and show exactly what it is capable of. Some songs are based off of love but the singer twists it around to make you question if its really a love kind of song, but at its core, its message is love. The overall messages of this album are simplistic and that's really where this album carries its charm. Togetherness, Happiness, Energy, and Fun. Enjoy what you have and enjoy yourself doing it. We don't posses all the answers but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves amidst the confusion. IF I had to say one thing about this album that surprises me is the production quality, it feels very polished, as if a lot of time, care, and consideration was really put into the creation of this album. The flow of it all just seems very natural, very carefully crafted. Its an enjoyable listen that I would jam out to any day.
I wish I could do this album more justice by talking about it, but its a great listen that I highly recommend for the ska music fans. Check it out on Spotify or YouTube if they seem like something you could be down with.
Song Recommendations:
Renegade
Pimp For A Day
It's To Late
