A Review by The Phantom Tollbooth

Scoop It Up
Artist: The Skadaddles
Label: DTS Records@aol.com
Length: 49:35minutes / 14 tracks

Whatever you may think of the trend, third-wave ska music continues to conquer CD shops and Christian radio airwaves. At least the Skadaddles have a playful sense of humor about the current popularity of their chosen form. Their album, Scoop It Up begins with a sample of what sounds like Dick Clark asking a sidekick:

Johnny, some kids on the show yesterday mentioned a new kind of music: ska. Know anything about it?

And the response:

...Nothing but a modern offshoot of reggae, updated white rock influenced...definitely upbeat. It will never become really popular, because even though they've made the back-beat more conventional, its still too exotic for mass acceptance.

Whatever mystery message you take from that sample, the Skadaddles are clearly all about having a good time while simultaneously glorifying the name of Jesus. Their album contains fourteen relentlessly happy ska-core numbers ranging from exhortations to pray and keep the faith, turn from sin, and worship the Lord all the way to more elusive fare like "Secret Agent Vladamir," which is a fun, ska-style spy song. Stand-out cut, "Shelby," celebrates friends who help lift the central figure when he is "feeling down and all alone." "Matt is a Dork," is a heartfelt confession from a contrite heart, and shows principle songwriter Matt Malpass's gifts for coupling teen-age angst and introspection in relevant, catchy phrases.

The lyrics will be primarily of interest to high school students, because they were written by their peers. The surprisingly accomplished bassist, Skuter Malpass, in particular is quite young. What the Skadaddles lack in age and experience, they make up for in sheer enthusiasm and a surprisingly tight nineties ska sound. Hailing from Georgia, East-Coast ska is their specific bag and they are impressively accomplished in the genre for such young players. The requisite horn section is comprised of two trumpets and a lone trombone. Two vocalists share leads, and the standard guitar, bass, drum ensemble rounds out the outfit. Taking other cues from the triumvirate of Five Irony Frenzy, Insyders and O.C. Supertones, the Skadaddles offer very similar fare, but nothing that significantly differentiates them from their forerunners.

Scoop It Up comes cheerfully packaged with a breakfast motif and photos of the band on milk-cartoons, as well as a collage of concert shots. The indulgent thanks section has a paragraph from each band member, because these young men naturally have more than just their youth pastors and parents to thank. Lyrics from each song are generously typed-out, though the vocal delivery is such that this effort isn't entirely required. Although serious ska-aphiles and the youth group set will be particularly pleased with this pleasant upbeat ska mix, newcomers may find the appeal harder to grasp or just the introduction they need to dive headlong into the genre.

Steven S. Baldwin 6/9/99

For me, ska should be fun and pumped up with energy. The Skadaddles accomplish this with seemingly effortless ease. These guys are young (the bass player is 13 years old), so they know how to make music that today’s youth like while combining it with surprisingly honest lyrics.

The Skadaddles aren’t the greatest band in the world (and for some reason I don’t think they think so either), but they can have fun and play good music. So do yourself a favour...

Eric Daams 9/8/99