Detroit, Michigan, has one of the best ska scenes in the country, and The Boy Detective is definitely one of those bands anchoring the scene. Their sound is more heavily rooted in punk than ska, but that does nothing to discredit the ska chops the band puts on full display, and does more to help place the band within the ska spectrum. Punk, a little ska-core, and a great rhythm section help define the Boy Detective Sound, and for their upcoming album, they connected with producer Roger Lima of Less Than Jake to really nail down the sound.
“Good Year” starts off with a slower guitar intro, and it feels like a sad emo song for several bars before the horns jump in, the big electric guitar slide, drums pick up the tempo, and those killer upstrokes bring in the fast ska punk rhythm and demand you start dancing. Thick bass lines, fast drums, and tight upstrokes masked under great punk rock guitars, with the constant melodies from the brass instruments highlight most of the song, with a few nice key and tempo changes. Lyrically, the song is about turning things around and things getting better, making changes, and taking accountability. Overall, it’s a very solid song that offers a lot of excitement for the upcoming album.
“Good Year” is the second single on the upcoming album “Disco Lunch,” which is released on November 7th on Punkerton Records, out of Columbus, Ohio. It will be the second ska album in as many months from the label. Stay tuned for more information as the album gets closer to release, and watch this video of their previous single, “Beth Truss,” after you listen to “Good Year”.
Written by Gimp Leg
