I always feel privileged when I get to cover a ska band from Europe that isn’t from the UK, and probably the biggest and best known of those bands is The Chains, out of Copenhagen, Denmark. With sounds of two-tone ska, boss reggae, and rocksteady filling the air, you’re certain to find joy as these masters of their craft put out another album, Be Careful What You Wish For. The Chains’ sound is unmistakable; they are some of the best around when it comes to two-tone inspired music. I feel like this album is going to be in heavy rotation for anyone who has an affinity for that boss reggae and rocksteady vibe, as it takes everything the band has done before and just levels it up.
The album starts with the title track “Be Careful What You Wish For”. The intro to the song is such a good table setter. The drums and organ rise quick, followed by a laughter and celebratory “Yeah” as the organ starts laying a backing melody for the song; from here an immediate vibe is established. The song is heavy on the reggae, as they lay down lyrics on worrying about what you don’t have and failing to appreciate the life you have. The song has phenomenal backing vocals, which I think almost define the track. The lead vocals are solid, of course. But the backing vocals aren’t just layered on top, they add a richness to the leads that really make the sound pop.
My favorite track on the album comes next: “The Rent”. Anyone who follows my reviews knows that I have an affinity for political tracks that critique the system, and this song is exactly that. It begins with a repeated call and response of “Money, money, money”. Then it goes into a story about the rent being due on Monday, no matter how much you struggle to make ends meet, need a break, or work the grind; the landlord doesn’t care. The second verse dreams of a future where the protagonist owns their own home, the landlord gets his one way trip in a hearse, and their tombstone reads “The rent is due on Monday”. The flow of the vocals in this song are hypnotizing. The song also features a fucking outstanding harmonica solo that takes the song to another level.
“Why?” changes tempo completely. Lyrically, it’s a more simple song that features more repeated lyrics and just explores the remorse of a failed relationship in a more direct reggae track. The change in tempo on the album feels good as it fits completely with the sound of the album, but also adds in the diversity needed to keep things constantly fresh and interesting.
To add in another twist, the next track is a cover of 1970 Latin hit “La Murga” (originally performed by Héctor Lavoe and Willie Colón) and features Sr Kalaga. It’s a little more upbeat and in Spanish, and absolutely begs you to get up and move your hips. Overwhelmingly, it’s a dance song, but damn does it do what it’s supposed to.
A few tracks later we get “It Must Be Nice” featuring Lady Kay, whose voice is perfect in this song. It’s a slightly faster paced ska song with some phenomenal keys, a nice chorus, and layered vocals, but it’s the verses that really impress me with the vocal performance. In the first verse, the protagonist calls in to work because their car broke down. Their boss says “just get a new one”, leading to the premise that “it must be nice” to be oblivious of the struggles of normal people. Later in the song, the protagonist calls in to work because they need a job that pays better. Subtly political, acutely aware and relatable: Definitely one of my favorite tracks.
This one leads into the last song I’m going to discuss: “It Shows”. This song has a little skit that feels like it was taken from The Madness. The song has a very two-tone British feel in a song about a failed relationship. While it’s not one of my favorite songs lyrically, the song just hits that British two-tone sound so well that it needs to be mentioned for anyone looking to scratch that itch.
The Chains put together a masterful album that does exactly what they wanted it to. The two-tone sound feels huge this year with several two-tone inspired albums coming out and this definitely sits near the top of the list. The band has their own unique sound, and they can weave through Latin, boss reggae, ska, and rocksteady to keep the music feeling somehow consistent and unique and diverse, bringing in guest vocals to feature on songs. Not once do you not realize that you are listening to The Chains’ signature sound; you definitely want to dance through the whole album.
Take a listen to Be Careful What You Wish For below.
Written by Gimp Leg
