Ask any band and they’ll tell you it is pretty impressive for a band to be around for 25 years. This feat is even more impressive if you’re an American ska band, facing the continual cycle of battling out shows in the underground in between momentary appearances on the mainstream radar. The Toasters have managed this feat remaining amazingly consistent in the quality of material they’ve produced despite an ever-changing lineup. With the release of their latest album, “One More Bullet” The Toasters add one more quality chapter to their impressive 25 year resume.

Fronted by Rob “Bucket” Hingley (the only constant in the bands lineup over the years), the Toasters have been putting out material to keep their fans happy. As pioneers of what is best known as the Third-wave of ska , which peaked in popularity in the mid-1990s, the band has resisted the opportunity to drift away from their roots like so many of the other bands that took off during that time. I think this deserves particular credit, as ska music isn’t exactly burning up the charts these days. Ska bands take particular pride in their roots and the Toasters can be proud that they have stuck to their guns.

The themes in the album are consistent with other work Hingley has written in the past: government interference in people’s lives, revenge and a bit of relationships for good measure. The opening two tracks dive straight into an assault on what I would guess is the Patriot Act . “What a Gwan” is a straight up third-wave ska song, showing the traditional up-beat rhythm and tempo and instrumentation that screams “dance music”. With lines like “What a Gwan/ Photo ID license/...where ya gone and where ya been” and “Big brother’s watchin’/ At home and in your car…we’re all strugglin’ in 1984” it’s pretty straight and to the point. The fun part about ska is that it can tackle a serious subject like personal freedom and make it sound like you should be dancing at a beach on a sunny summer day about it. It appeals to people who want depth in their music and those who just want to have a good time.

The third track “where’s the freedom?” carries over the theme from the first track, only this time it tacks a distinctly different sound, focusing on the toasting vocal skills and bass licks of new band member Jason Nwagbaraocha, formerly of underappreciated Florida ska group the Strangeways.

“You’re Gonna Pay” is really the quintessential Toasters track on the album: catchy guitar into by Bucket followed by a catchy horn riff to a sped-up, up-beat tempo and a simple catchy chorus and some fine solo work from tenor sax player Jeff Richey. It fits in the mold of a track you would hear on many of the other Toaster albums of years past.

Instrumentally, the Toasters always seem to alter their album sounds based on the horn players in the band. On past several albums there was a strong focus on trumpet, as insanely talented trumpet player Brian Sledge anchored the horn section. Prior to that in the ‘80s there was a focus more on trombone. This time around the focus seems to be sax, a position anchored well by Richey. Having said that, I think it would have been nice to hear trombone brought out more based on the talent of the individuals brought in to play the instrument. Two trombone players split the duty on the album, Chris Rhodes, who has spent time with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Spring Heeled Jack, and Greg Robinson, best known for his work with the late, great Mephiskapheles. Although you do get to hear it a bit on tracks like “Step Up” (Robinson soloing with Richey and old Toaster standby Dave Barry on keys) and the opening “What a Gwan” (Oddly unaccredited to either…).

The disc is rounded out by a couple of old soul covers, as is characteristic in a Toaster album. This time it’s the Everly Brothers “When will I be loved?” and a bit of a Blues Brother shout-out at the end of the disc. Additionally, as is custom for the Toasters, they re-do one of their older songs on the record: “Run Rudy Run”.

The Toasters can be proud to be the standard bearers of the American ska scene for the past 25 years. If the band can keep rolling out solid albums in the vein of “One More Bullet” we’ll thankfully have them around for years to come.

For additional tracks, check out the band’s website for tons of live downloads.

The Toasters - Where's the Freedom?

The Toasters - You're Gonna Pay

-- Kevin