Don't get me wrong. I like the Supertones. Really, I do. They've got great energy, coupled with an equally excellent message. Perhaps it's just the fact that I liked their first album so much that everything afterwards has been a disappointment. Or perhaps my ska tastes have migrated towards a slightly different flavor of ska. Maybe some of both. In any case, I can't complain that this is a bad album, because it simply isn't. Nicely polished and well constructed, it's more of the same, tried-and-true recipe that got the Supertones where they are today. Produced by the well-seasoned GGGarth Richardson there are several bright spots on the album that deserve mention. "In Between" is a great track; "Dedication" and "Grounded" make up a great, energetic 1-2 punch.
A good deal of the album doesn't jive with me. A fair dose of slightly saccharine praise, didn't fit the tone of the music and the album sounds a little over-produced to me in some spots.
This album is sort of like your Halloween candy stash--while you don't really dislike any of it, you don't really want to get a bag full of your least favorite things, either. This album is along the same lines as their previous efforts, but simply has less of the 'ear candy' I've enjoyed from past albums. You'll probably like it, and I certainly don't hate it. But it's not my favorite Supertones album, either.
By Corey Welton (3/16/99)
The most popular Christian ska band around is back with their third
horn-poppin' jumpfest for the kids. Not being familiar with either of the
Supertones' previous albums, I thought I'd go straight to their main audience
and ask them what they thought. So I got my 8 and 10 year-old cousins to
quit skateboarding for a few seconds and answer some questions about the
album:
Me: What do you think about the new Supertones album?
Mikee (8 yrs.): Um...they got a new guitar player, and he's not
as good.
Me: Why not?
Mikee: I don't know.
Me: How about the songs?
Mikee: They're better than the last one.
Me: Why?
Mikee: I don't know.
Ryan (10 yrs.): I like it more than The Supertones Strike Back...it
had slower songs. Chase the Sun is good!
Me: Do they have more or less horns?
Mikee: The same.
Ryan: They have way more horns!
Me: What do they sing about?
Mikee: I don't know. Except that on the other ones they sing
about the
same things a lot and they don't do that on this one.
Ryan: Uh, I don't know.
Me: Okay then. Run along. Watch out for those cars in the street.
That should be more information than the typical Supertones fan needs to make a buying decision. All hope is not lost for the lyrical impact, though. Mikee and Ryan's 13 year-old brother Kyle showed sharper observation skills: "It's all worship songs, basically." I think in pre-teen speak that means they talk to or about the Lord, God, or Jesus in just about every song, which they do.
Usually, the hearing of ska causes much weeping and gnashing of teeth on my part, but I took a listen anyway. It seems more streamlined and friendly than the other ska I've heard; this is undoubtedly pop music meant for unchallenging listening and youth group sing-alongs. Only a few tracks rock out; most take the less aggro, no-distortion route. The variety might surprise, from the total rap of the title track to the western-flavored acoustic balladry of "Old Friend" to the reggae stylings of "Hallelujah" and "Away From You" to the semi-hardcore toughness of "Grounded" to the cool surf guitar and '60s organ of the instrumental "Revolution." Not to mention the borrowing of the main riff from Metallica's "Damage, Inc." for the intro to "Fade Away"--the best ten seconds on the album.
The lyrics range from insipid pre-school cheerleading ("through C-H-R-I-S-T...we are bound to win")to a well-needed jab at the American Church's worldliness in contrast with Christians in China:
Poor men bound in persecution,
God's their portion
everyday.
But we don't know
anybody
who lives that way.
There the church grows
stronger,
under politics and
chains and whips...
Health and wealth,
we help ourselves,
and let them play
the hand
that they've been
dealt.
Health and wealth,
indulge ourselves,
a big fat belly underneath
our belts...
We'll never understand
the Christ they've
felt...
(from "Health and Wealth")
There you have it. The new Supertones album, a must-purchase for fans and a mixed bag for newcomers.
by Josh Spencer (4/7/99)
