So, Here’s The Thing… Legal Disaster doesn’t really care if you call them ska-core or crack rock steady or just ska punk. What they are about is that you get on your feet and move to the sound of their music. Out of Petaluma, California, this five-piece band has been putting out music for ten years now, and their newest album- “So, Here’s the Thing” is an extension of the sound they’ve been putting out for years now. It’s probably best described as ska core and has heavy punk influences, but there is no doubt that there are some crack rock steady influences as well- most notably in the aptly named “Crystal Rock Steady”.
The album begins with a 30-second piano intro that ends with a quote from Adventure Time- “If I remember- I might get angry”. “You should be angry”, and then we are immediately dumped into the aggressive guitars and incredibly fast-paced drums of the lead track- “New Age Anthem”. An anger-filled social commentary about social indifference to a collapsing society, slaves to technology, and an economic system that exploits us, all while people blindly march along with slogans of freedom- the song is fast-paced punk with plenty of ska-infused upstrokes. There is plenty of melody in the guitars as you feel your way through the first song, and the lack of horns doesn’t make the song any less ska.
While there is absolutely no lack of rhythm in the first full track, “Question Yourself” kicks it up a notch to really get you dancing. The drums on this album are some of my favourites I’ve heard in a while, as they really deliver the goods in every song. From the incredible fast pace throughout “New Age Anthem” to leading the movement in “Question Yourself”. It’s just a solid track that feels less angry and more introspective while reminding all of us to follow the advice of the song title. However, if this song is danceable, the crack rock steady influences and the introduction of horns to the album in “Crystal Rock Steady” are where the danceability and movement come up to the next level. The first three minutes of the song settle into a nice groove and get you dancing and feeling comfortable, then the pace turns way the fuck up for the final minute to get back into those crazy fast drum rhythms with aggressive vocals- as if someone remembered and got angry.
The album features two acoustic tracks, including the last track on the album, and a cover of “I Lost My Life” originally by Prince Daddy and the Hyena, which is acoustic through the first half of the track. Each of these songs is really good, and shockingly, they don’t feel out of place regardless of how aggressive many parts of the album get. The blend of genres and style, the change of pace, the piano intro to the acoustic close around some of the fastest drumming on a ska album I’ve ever heard, all fit together perfectly to make a smooth, cohesive album, but there is one song that stands out to me above the rest of the album.
Anyone who has read more than a couple of reviews or knows me in real life knows my bias towards songs that critique capitalism, and “Money” is no different. It comes in with a juicy, thick bass line, before the guitars layer in on top, carrying a similar beat. The vocal storytelling feels like something from last year’s Grim Luck album, which was one of my absolute favorite albums of the year. The lyrics tell about a protagonist facing rent increases, inability to afford a simple dental visit, and wealth hoarders in an aggressive punk song that begs for anger, aggression, singing along, and slamming in a pit. It also features a line that I love about the protagonist contemplating leaving music and their passion to pursue a law degree just to be able to afford to pay their bills and survive in a world that punishes art and passion.
If you’ve missed Legal Disaster to this point, it’s time to go give them a chance. The album is solid from front to back, and shows an amazing range without ever feeling forced, and still keeps the flow in a way few albums do
Written by Gimp Leg
