41 by Reggie and The Full Effect is a real blast from the past. I really enjoyed the 90’s ska punk feel of this album, in the same vein as Less Than Jake’s Hello Rockview, or Anthem. What sets Reggie and the Full Effect’s album apart is its level of variety.
41 has A LOT going on, everything from metal influences to digital sampling. With so many elements blended in it would be easy for 41 to lose its identity; however, the band does a fantastic job of blending their eclectic influences into a very cohesive whole. Some of the song to song transitions seem a little sudden. The shift in tone from the choral ambience of “II Sniffy Incontra” into “II Pesce Svedese’s” heavier high energy sound is a bit jarring’ that being said, “II Pesce Svedese” is probably my favorite track on the album. I am a sucker for nostalgia, and this song is a brass section away from classic Ska Punk.
The production quality of 41 is great. Each of the many elements shines through loud and clear which is impressive for something with this many elements. The vocals are crisp and show off James Dewee’s awesome vocals. If anything, I would not mind a little more bass on the airier numbers like “Off Delaware” to give the piano more weight in the mix but that is being picky. I love the album art for this one. The allusion to Adele’s 21 is just the right kind of snarky for this record.
Overall, I really enjoyed this album. For being new, it feels classic and makes me think of some great bands. If you were into the Gainesville punk scene in the 90’s, I’m confident you will enjoy this album. You can find them in Itunes, on Spotify, at http://www.ratfe.net/, and many other places. Now if you will excuse me, I am going to go listen to the Digimon Movie soundtrack.
Composition: [star rating=”3.5″]
Style: [star rating=”4″]
Production: [star rating=”4.5″]
Overall: [star rating=”4″]