Search - Scofflaws :: Record of Convictions

The Scofflaws: Record of Convictions

11/30/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the midst of a declining ska scene in the US, littered with dozens of mediocre new bands and their legions of apparently deaf fans, The Scofflaws continue to play some of the best new ska music, largely unnoticed by newcomers. The Scofflaws' previous album, "Ska in Hi-Fi", remains one of the best 3rd wave ska albums ever recorded, and firmly established the New York band among the leaders in ska in the mid 1990's. Although this album is perhaps a hair in quality below their last one, it is still quite good and certainly among the best 3 ska records of 1998. "Record of Convictions" is helped by the excellent sound quality, and has a few knock-out songs, but there are unfortunately a number of mediocre ones that suffer mainly from underdeveloped lyrics. Former Long Island bus driver Sammy Brooks' position at the mic has been usurped by trombonist Buford O'Sullivan, who sings on more than half of the songs. He's great at the points where the lyrics are developed, but just doesn't cut it on songs where he's trying to do too much, like on "College Student", which is an example of the tunes that had potential but fall to filler status on the album. The bald-headed O'Sullivan was welcome in his periodic vocal role on "Ska in Hi-Fi", but his prominant position on the new record upsets the brilliantly obnoxious chemistry of the band, which was previously centered around the charismatic Brooks and his womanizing, slacker persona. The best thing about "Ska in Hi-Fi" was that it was great to play loud at parties, and because there were no mediocre songs, you could just let it run. This new record is still a rowdy party album, and there are even some promising radio-friendly songs on it, so maybe we'll be hearing it at least on college radio in 1999."