Redlight (The Slackers album)

Redlight is an album by the Slackers, released in 1997.[3][4]

Redlight
Studio album by
Released1997
GenreSka
Length46:53
LabelHellcat Records[1]
The Slackers chronology
Better Late Than Never
(1996)
Redlight
(1997)
The Question
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Gazette8/10[2]

The band promoted the album by touring as part of the NYC Ska Mob Tour '97.[5] The opening track is a tribute to Tommy McCook.[6]

Critical reception

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The Washington Post thought that the Slackers "are clearly as interested in ska's jazz roots as its R&B ones."[7] The Gazette concluded that "the ska tempo is slackened, proclaiming Jamaican independence while lowering tariff walls for reggae, dub, R&B, soul, jazz and boogaloo."[2] The Dallas Observer wrote that the album takes the listener on a musical tour "of the studios of Jamaica, the tiny clubs of London, the streets of New York, and the barrios of Los Angeles."[8]

The Deseret News listed the album as one of the best of 1997, writing: "Outside of the Skatalites, the only band that can do traditional ska."[9] The Orange County Register also considered it to be one of 1997's best albums, writing that "Married Girl", a "Double Indemnity-style tale of lustful revenge, is a killer."[10]

Track listing

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All songs written by Vic Ruggiero, except where noted.

  1. "Cooking for Tommy" (Dave Hillyard, Ruggiero) – 3:58
  2. "Watch This" – 3:58
  3. "Married Girl" – 3:11
  4. "I Still Love You" (Hillyard, Ruggiero) – 3:15
  5. "Soldier" – 2:55
  6. "Fried Chicken/Mary Mary" – 3:28
  7. "You Must Be Good" – 3:55
  8. "Redlight" (The Slackers) – 4:58
  9. "Tin Tin Deo" (Gil Fuller, Chano Pozo) – 3:47
  10. "She Wants to Be Alone" (Toots Hibbert, Jeremy Mushlin) – 4:28
  11. "Rude and Reckless" – 4:36
  12. "Come Back Baby" – 4:15

References

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  1. ^ Hibberd, James (30 Oct 1997). "City beat". Austin American-Statesman. p. B12.
  2. ^ a b Siblin, Eric (25 Apr 1998). "The Slackers Redlight". The Gazette. p. D8.
  3. ^ Thompson, Stephen (16 Oct 1997). "WATT, REGGAE, POP TO SHOW AT CLUBS". Wisconsin State Journal. Rhythm. p. 6.
  4. ^ "Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny". AllMusic. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  5. ^ Ross, Curtis (December 12, 1997). "Skankin' across the South - The Big Apple sends a volley of bands into the ska-crazy Sunshine State". The Tampa Tribune. FRIDAY EXTRA!. p. 18.
  6. ^ Minge, Jim (March 1, 1998). "Three-Band Bill to Keep Ska Beat Going Strong". Omaha World-Herald. Entertainment. p. 3.
  7. ^ Jenkins, Mark (8 Feb 1998). "Blossoming Ska-High Beats". The Washington Post. p. G2.
  8. ^ Crain, Zac (February 5, 1998). "No Doubt about it - Hellcat Records keeps it real". Dallas Observer. Music.
  9. ^ Vice, Jeff (December 19, 1997). "Guitar-pop, punk and ska". Deseret News. p. W3.
  10. ^ Wener, Ben (January 9, 1998). "POP LIFE - '97's top 10: All I know is what I like". Orange County Register. p. F47.
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