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From: David Sarno <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 1994 23:41:55 -0500
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: (Fwd) Johnny Socko
Status: O

Forwarding mail by: [email protected] () on 11/7/94 11:01:14 PM
-------------------
JOHNNY SOCKO
Bloomington, IN

This band is one of the many new arrivals on the national
scene from the Midwest. You may not have heard of them
before, but
you're sure to hear of them again. Their new album,
Bovaquarium, proves these Hoosiers are musically blessed. The
mix of ska, funk, Reggae, and blues play to their
surroundings. After listening to it a few times, I felt like
running through a field and chewing my cud.

Lets start with the ska. You'll be happy to know that their
ska is ska and not a mix of a variety other musics, even
though they play many other types on this album. The horns
are the quick, boppy brass type. The guitar is close to a
funk rhythm, but maintains it's chink-a-chink.

The CD opens with "Vasectomy" (also
available on AMERICAN SKA-THIC) The
horns on this single make you want to hop, while the guitar
keeps you on your toes. The Lyrics, however, are not for the
weak-
stomached. "(Do the) Post-Modernist Ska" is like Fishbone's
"Skankin to the beat." This is more traditional ska, and has
straight horns. Track 11, "The Rousing Theme
Music," is great. "Art No. 24" transcends you to the Indy
500. Again, it's back to quick guitars. A simple ditty which
closely resembles another
Midwest band, Mustard Plug. This song is good solid stuff,
which momentarily breaks into a very bland R&B riff.
Otherwise, solid ska.

Now this album only has four ska tunes, but they are great.
Okay, Okay, you say your a purists? Well, normally I'd agree.
I mean, why pay all that for four songs. But the album is
good. I mean, they are actually musicians. If you can
stomach music other than ska, you'll dig this album.

I was fortunate enough to see these guys live. They skank
hard. Now, I'm not sure an audience attending a ska show
would be
happy with them, but they have enough
energy to ride from coast to coast.

CD: Bovaquarium *** (Mulberry Street
Productions, East Hill Studios, 3 East 28th Street, Fifth
Floor, NYC, NY 10016) $12