Slackers – Close My Eyes

Oh man, this takes me back to our time living in Montreal (1999-2001). I was much in love with ska and reggae (aren’t we all!), and I had no trouble finding all sort of great acts in the shops to try out. Slackers was one that really stood out to me (among several). I used to have far more of their CDs (of course I ditched them because I am a doofus), but I recently found this one for $2. And it’s one I’d never heard before (from 2003)!

You know how sometimes, when you walk into some record shops, they’re playing really sweet ska/dub stuff and you don’t know who it is but you don’t ask because the hipster at the counter (the one in the toque who looks like a gust of wind would blow him over) is so past answering questions? Chances are, it was this band. Maybe even this album! So good, even the dumbass hipsters would love it.

But don’t be fully fooled by the warm music here. From the cover art (mushroom cloud, newspaper article on 9/11) to the lyrics of the songs, there’s an anti-war message in here too. Right on.

Another thing I noticed, with the good headphones on, was how it sounds like a vinyl, pops and hisses intact. It’s friggin’ awesome.

Slackers. Get you some.

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