"Wow. I bought this album based on what I heard of "Dear Sergio" and "Riding The Fourth Wave" (the instrumental) and I wasn't at all disappointed. It is, quite simply, right up there with the best ska I have ever heard. The whole CD, from start to finish, is a masterpiece. Not one track on this Cd is bad, every one is superb. The horns are so tight in this band...as tight, if not tighter than any other ska I have ever heard. The lightness of the acoustic guitar makes it that much better, and on track 6 (Giving Up Giving In), when the switch is made to electric and heavier punk, its still amazing. And it's stuff that I can relate to ("I got no girl got no cash but I got the world in the palm of my hand and I dont' care if you care or if you understand"). It also has two of the saddest ska songs I've ever heard- "Kristina She Don't Know I Exist" (which has an amazing guitar solo) and "As The Footsteps Die Out Forever". The horns come together amazingly on the whole album, the guitar is just great, the bass lines are noticeable (which is good enough for ska/punk). One song I absolutely love on this album is "Keasbey Nights", the title track. This album is amazing...it's hard to find anything better. If you have even a remote interest in ska or punk, have even a little bit liked anything out of any band along the lines of Less Than JAke, Reel Big Fish, Mustard Plug, get this album. You won't be sorry...in fact, you'll be happy. Not one song on this album is bad, every one shows you what Catch 22 is about. You should also check out their EP "Washed Up" to get an idea on how they've matured. BUY KEASBEY NIGHTS AND REVEL IN THE WONDER THAT IS CATCH22 SKA."
Instant Classic.
Cenate Pruitt | 11/09/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"One of the most influential ska albums of the past ten years, and certainly one of the most important, Catch 22's "Keasbey Nights" broke free of the Bosstones/Reel Big Fish-esque fratboy themes that had dominated most ska-punk to that date (with perhaps Fishbone, the Toasters, and a few others managaing to circumvent these themes as well) with a force and energy that is essentially incomparable to any of their third-wave ska cohort.
Keasbey Nights is a dark album (although not as dark as the followup "Alone in a Crowd", perhaps the bleakest ska album since the Specials) filled with songs about the two things Tomas Kalnoky writes extremely well; girls and violence. Given that most of the band members were barely out of high school when this album was cut, its honesty and depth are striking in a way that many older artists could only dream of achieving.
The band split down the middle after this album, with the surviving half going on to tour incessantly and release some albums that, while excellent in their own right, are hampered by standing in the shadow of one of the most amazing debut releases in ska history.
Five stars.
-HX"
A simply awesome CD
C. Jaycox | 03/31/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is simply a great album no matter the kind of music you listen to. Every song on Keasbey Nights is an excellent song. There's not just a couple of good songs and filler like you find in so many other albums. Every track on here is worth listening to over and over. Catch 22 seemlessly blends a myriad of different influences into their punk-ska sound, making every track completely different. There isn't any other band that sounds like Catch 22. This is an album that I would recommend to anyone without hesitation.Note: After this album the lead singer and song writer left the band because he was tired of touring, so Washed Up and Alone in a Crowd aren't nearly as good as Keasbey Nights."
The greatest ska album ever?
Mark Twain | 07/20/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With a perfect score of five stars (out of 108 reviews, no less), it's only too evident that Keasbey Nights is an awesome third-wave ska record. I was self-introduced to Catch 22 only four months ago after first hearing 1234, 1234, and I was simply blown away. With the energy of Operation Ivy and the brilliant lyrics of the pioneers of punk rock, The Clash, Catch 22 provide the listener with so much to enjoy. Keasbey Nights is one of the most fun albums I've ever listened to; with thumping bass and incredibly cool horn work, I don't think I ever liked the ska genre so much after a listen to this ensemble. However, underneath all of the catchiness and humor of Catch 22, there is a very dark undertone. Many of the songs on Keasbey Nights deal with very real things: from suicide to hypocrisy to love, Catch 22 show that they are more than just great musicians. I credit lead singer Tomas Kalalnoky for being a true lyrical genius; without the lyrics of Catch 22, I couldn't possibly fathom how they would perceived.
In the end, Keasbey Nights is one of the must successful ska records with good reason. While Catch 22 may be no more, Keasbey Nights lives on to show what they were once capable of."
THIS CD IS SO GOOD! ! !
alexthepsyco | USA | 11/21/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD literally makes me want to get up and dance! The base line is pumping, the guitar is jammin and the horns are blastin, it's all perfect! This is exactly how Ska should sound! Another thing I really like about this CD are the lyrics in each song. They're so catchy. Not a day goes by that I don't thak the lord for giving sucha bountiful gift of ska from the heavens. I don't even know why any ska fan would consider not buying this CD. BUY IT! It's worth every cent you spend!"