Search - Pacers :: Strictly for Lovers

3rd Wave Champions!

07/09/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I listen to a lot of music. I listen to many different types of music ranging from Jamaican roots, blues, funk, hip-hop, & jazz to British invasion, soul, mod, punk and even some metal. This is a band that manages to combine many of these elements whether it was intentional or not (but definitely no metal involved). It's very hard for me to choose favorites, however I can safely say this is one of them. Ironically, they're from my hometown and I was fortunate enough to have seen the bulk of their Midwest performances. The best way to experience this band was to have seen them live. I'm not a music aficionado who prides himself on saying things like this because it is an impossibility. It's the truth. The Pacers never managed to capture their amazing sound on a professionally recorded release. This CD is pretty much the only remnant left of one of the greatest bands of their time. However, 'Strictly for Lovers' does have great moments, like 'Poison' and 'Swimming in the deep end'. These are easily the best 2 must have tracks on the album. There is also a nice rendition of Desmond Dekker's 'Unity'. Most of the tracks on the never-to-be-released 'Pacers Essentials' can be found on their ultra-rare vinyls and a 6-track cassette entitled 'Bigger Hats, More Fire'. Once in awhile, you may be able to find the vinyls on Ebay. If you can get a hold of that material, you've struck gold. If you really love the Pacers as much as I do, try to find material by the bands: Animal Chin(ex-drummer of the Pacers on lead vox/guitar) & the Siren Six(saxophone player from the Pacers). They've managed to capture a lot of their influence and are worth checkin' out. 4 stars for 'Strictly for Lovers', but undoubtedly 5 stars for the Pacers."

I remember it so fondly.....

Jeremy Eagles | Chicago, IL United States | 05/29/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"the pacers are a very underrated american ska band--they are one of the only u.s. bands to play essentially 2nd wave (england) style ska. not all of the tracks on this rare cd are exactly brilliant, but they are heartfelt and when i was 17 or 18 years old this cd was one of my favorites to chill to, alongside let's go bowling and oldschool jamaican ska. "Poison" is clearly the standout track, beautifully sung with thoughtful lyrics and a great chorus. this song deserves to be on all u.s. ska compilations, and yet the pacers only made it onto one comp that i know of, with a less than great song. the second best song in my opinion is "strokes of reality", also great lyrics, and on top of that, one of the slowest ska songs since marley!! this song is basically dub or reggae style, i love it. there is actually a super rare second cd called "essential pacers" which has many songs i've never even heard before. good luck trying to find it, i suggest denmark or australia, they always have weird backstock of cds."

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

Jeremy Eagles | 11/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ah, Midwest ska at it's finest. The Pacers embody everything that I love about ska. Catchy songs filled with passion and emotion, they stay true to their roots and there is variety on their album. Not one song is alike. Best album I've heard in a long time."