Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Ska offers a number of opportunities that other brands of music don’t. The tradition behind it, Jamaican calypso bands interpreting Sixties music from radio stations in the Southern U.S., lends itself to hybridization. 6 Pack Deep are participants of a fourth wave of ska groups, absorbing everything from jazz to rap to metal into a hyperactive tangle of interlocking horns and thumping beats, a prime example being “Crak Rox (Sux).” The problem with modern ska, however, lies in the non-ska parts of the equation, and 6 Pack Deep short-circuits by overemphasizing vocals and uninspired mall-punk lyrics when its intricate instrumentation could’ve shined. Its stabs at humor, namely the medley piece “Bar-B-Q,” come off as sophomoric, and sure, maybe that’s the point, but ska has a tradition of mixing humor and heavier topics effectively. It is something a band with tight musicianship like 6 Pack Deep should try. myspace.com/6pd
Recommended if you like: Mighty Mighty Bosstones, They Might Be Giants, the Deuce Bigalow movies
Essential tracks: “Wake Up,” “Chuck Tuna”
Comments
Posted by WackyJohnny on August 4, 2008 at 6:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe how nice you are to this talentless bunch of "musicians". I mean, talk about trite, watered down meaningless drivel.... If they could write a song that would be worth a review, but they can't. I guess you're just trying to be nice to a local band, but you know better Alex!!
Posted by telephone on August 5, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Whats a matter WackyJohnny, did someone in this band hurt your feelings?
Posted by WackyJohnny on August 8, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ha! No, I got a myspace bulletin from 6 Pack Deep telling me to write Alex Cook and complain about his review!!! So I listened to their music, which SUCKS! They should feel lucky they got a review, but like all bands, I'm sure their mothers and friends tell them they are great!!
Posted by volkie71 on August 12, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does music always have to have meaning? What happened to music just being fun? 6PD is a band full of solid muscians with a lot of talent. Sure the lyrics can be "sophmoric". But who cares? If you want meaning you can pull out your Yanni cd's.
And you WackyJohnny. If you would have listened to more than 10 seconds of one song and without the preconceived notion that you hate them because they sent you an e-mail, you would have to acknowledge their talent. Granted, their music does not shape the world, but so what? Yours sound like the meaningless whining of an untalented musician who has tried and failed.
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