Review Summary: A fun album that has enough energy to keep you skankin for days
When my friend Dan turned me on to the Supervillians, he described them as a cool new ska band, he put this album on and we sat back in my car and gave it a listen. We got a few tracks through and I realized Dan wasn’t far off in his description. I found myself enjoying most of the songs and was surprised that they were a recent band, since they had a sound so similar to the third wave ska bands in the 90’s. After hearing a couple of songs I went out and bought the album and quickly saw the great musicianship and fun this band is bringing to the world of ska.
Grow yer own starts off with 20 Excuses, the bands most recognizable song. It’s a jump ska song with a really catchy beat and words that you’ll find yourself singing all-day. The second song Moonshine is another standout on the album, the song grabs your attention with a horn section that’s as classy as any jazz album you’re going to buy with lyrics that are as carefree and uplifting as the music this track is well worth the listen. After the first two tracks, the album takes a more lively approach to the music. The next two tracks, Little Girl & Jumping Beans are fast songs that show off the bands powerful horn section and slick guitar work. The album smooth’s out a bit on Beaches, a simple song that becomes more and more enjoyable as you listen to the album.” Once you move out of the calm beach atmosphere you get thrown back into the fast jump ska with Surfing USA, guitar work would impress Dick Dale. The next track is my personal favorite on the album, another reference to the reefer, a refence the album love to make, Resin, has a slow steady deliver and a chorus that goes well with the goofieness of the song. It’s not a very fast song nor does it have a jump beat to it but the delivery is pleasant and the lyrics are fun enough for any stoner to appreciate.
The stoner vibe is quickly replaced with a suave jazzy beat, a nice transition, when Punch Drunk Dub comes on. The track is an instrumental that shows off the musical range The Supervillians are capable of, it’s similar to Reel Big Fish’s “Victory Over Peter Bones” with its noticeable jazz influence. The good thing about The Supervillians is they never stray too far from their comfort zone, after each experimental song they go back to high energy ska songs. Ex-Girlfriend, Uno Momento, and Bagdad all have the same lively feel to them, mixed in with some humorous lyrics (especially “Ex-Girlfriend”). Get Out Da Way is a cool song that has good vocals, musically it’s a softer track with soothing guitar work and mellow bass lines. If you’re not a big fan of softer music don’t let it catch you off guard, this track, it’s one of the underrated highlights of the album. Breakfast on a Mirror is a boring track that just seems like filler, for some reason it reminds me of The English Beat so if you’re into that give it a listen. The albums final song sends the goofy ska band off in style. Maryjane and Jagermeister has an undeniable reggae influence and features guest vocals from deejay Jack Ruby Jr. who lays his thick reggae voice over the songs excellent guitar work.
Over the years The Supervillians have been cutting their teeth by touring with bands like Fishbone, Pepper, Streetlight Manifesto, and Slightly Stoopid and Grow Yer Own establishes them as a legitimate reggae band. On the surface the Supervillians look like some goofy band of stoners but listening to this album I think it’s clear The Supervillians have learned from the best and figured out how to blend different genres into their music without losing their ska roots.
