Last September, Washington DC’s The Maka Sticks dropped their debut EP, “The Nation’s Skapital”– 6 tracks that had me excited for the outstanding blend of two-tone and ska punk, with a sound that was their own and featured some exceptional lyrics, great composition, solid vocals, and really fun, catchy riffs. This felt like a band that had been playing together for years and had everything working.
Today marks the first single since that debut EP, “Sleeping on the Beach.” The ska riffs in the song are solid. It definitely has a bit of an island vibe, but the pacing is a little fast for anyone who lives their life on island time. The whole song is a jam. It’s fun, playful, and relaxed, but most importantly, it’s good. This is such a damn good song, musically. The vocals are solid and easy to sing along with. The keys are phenomenal, whether soloing or supporting, and they change throughout the song, so it always feels fresh. The horns are outstanding, and the solo is arguably my favorite part of the song. The drums do a terrific job of setting the pacing and carrying the song. The guitars do a great job of letting the upstrokes carry most of the work, but also leading into the sax in the solos is beautiful.
This is one of the most entertaining songs I’ve heard in a while, and the production is absolutely top-notch. Lyrically, it’s just a song about falling in love and sleeping on the beach. Still, it’s essential for me to remember that it’sthose little things like this make life worth living. I’m a sucker for political songs, songs that raise awareness or build community. I love songs about mental health and overcoming struggles. These songs help people connect and feel less alone as they relate to the struggles of others. But songs like this remind me that life is worth fighting for so that we can love, be happy, relax, and sometimes sleep on the beach to the sound of fantastic music.
I recommend you check out this single and then listen to their EP if you missed it.
Written by Gimp Leg
