PEPPER “Kona Town”
And now for something completely different: PEPPER. Okay, so maybe they aren’t completely different, but come on, how many ska/dub bands have been talked about lately in the pages of pastepunk? (almost none would be correct). This Hawaiian group undeniably has their groove on with this thirteen song festival of relaxation. “Kona Town” dropped me into a state of ease almost instantaneously, and although this album is rather long with almost an hour’s worth of music, there’s a total flowing spirit. Back when Moon Ska records was huge, and Hellcat Records soaked up ska bands daily, this type of jaunt dutifully exploits the steady beat. With a monster bass sound, a vocalist that doesn’t need to yell “pick it up,” every other minute, and an aura of unyielding brightness, PEPPER are a heck of a lot of fun. I imagine that if SUBLIME had extended their ska and reggae roots just a tad further, PEPPER would be right in that kind of zone. The standout track on here is song six, “Stormtrooper,” featuring Josh Fischel of BARGAIN MUSIC, and it screams out, “killer beach tune dude.” If you miss the mid 90s fascination with ska, dub, and dancehall, this should cure that longing as “Kona Town” seems like a pretty cool place to hang out.
Volcom
