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Big D And The Kids Table

Stomp

Written by: PP on 08/01/2014 00:13:24

To release a double album is almost always risky business and very few bands in history have been successful in doing so. So when Big D & The Kids Table decided it's time for a ska punk band to become ambitious and pursue such a dream, it was a smart decision to divide it into two separate releases instead called "Stomp" and "Stroll", albeit both were released on the same day. At least that gave fans some time to absorb one release before digging into the next one. They've gone a little further than just cutting the songs half-and-half into two albums; they've also separate them into two distinct styles: ska punk and reggae/dub/stroll.

"Stomp", which is under review consideration here, is the ska punk album, and it is that with a capital S. It's a record full of upbeat, danceable melodies, bright horn sections, groovy ska riffs, and catchy choruses that'll have you singing along at first and skanking right after. "Shit Tattoos" should give you chuckles for its funny lyricism, while also sporting an infectious chorus. "The Noise" feels like a throwback to the band's classic track "Noise Complaint" from five years ago, but despite those similarities it's a fantastic sing along track as well. In fact, most tracks on "Stomp" are just that, whether they're delivered with the characteristically fast ska punk pace or slowed down a little bit, such as "Don't Compare Me To You", both which are a little more reggae inspired - so it isn't exclusively ska/punk on this one despite the initial promises. But then again, Big D & The Kids Table have always been able to seamlessly shift between the two styles being competent at both, so it's no surprise to find the genres intertwining at will here as well.

Big D continue to draw from the more serious realm of ska punk where you also find bands like RX Bandits, Catch 22 and Streetlight Manifesto, instead of going all out tongue-in-cheek as many bands in the Reel Big Fish school of thought do. So just like their previous releases, "Stomp" is therefore incredibly solid throughout, featuring well structured melodies, great juxtaposition of horn instrumentation against high tempo ska riffs and vocals, and most importantly, great songwriting. It's their best record since 2004's "How It Goes", so you can safely put it on whenever someone claims ska music can't possibly be great.

Download: Shit Tattoos, The Noise, Social Muckary, Pitch 'n' Sway, Line Selector
For the fans of: RX Bandits, Catch 22, Streetlight Manifesto, Suburban Legends
Listen: Facebook

Release date 11.06.2013
Strictly Rude Records