Streetlight Manifesto - Everything Goes Numb

Here at Silent Uproar, we don't seem to get a lot of ska-oriented bands to review. Why? I guess because a lot of people these days just don't like ska. But, I do, and this album has been playing pretty much nonstop since I retrieved it from the mailbox. In 1998, New Jersey's Catch 22 released their debut, Keasbey Nights, which proved to be an instant ska-punk rock classic. Not too long after, the band (as it was at the time) split up, with singer/guitarist Tomas Kalnoky, bassist Josh Ansley, and trombonist Jamie Egan taking their skills elsewhere. Where was that, you ask? I don’t know where, exactly. All that matters is their present whereabouts. Here in 2003, Streetlight Manifesto reunites the three. One listen and I was convinced that Kalnoky was the genius behind Keasbey Nights, and as far as the rest of the scene goes, his songwriting skills are unmatched. Saxophonists Jim Conti and Dan Ross, and drummer Paul Lowndes round out the rest of the group. A lot of the band’s peers have discontinued or cut back their use of ska - to name a few, Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, and Goldfinger. There is little more than a handful of bands that are still skankin' successfully, and Streetlight Manifesto is at the helm. To describe the band's sound in more depth: lighting fast vocals, gang vocals, hints of hardcore, and finely refined musicianship with horn lines and choruses as contagious as STDs on a college campus. Each song has its place on Everything Goes Numb and the band has actually crafted songs that last upwards of five minutes. While a very rare occurence in this genre, none of the tracks lose an ounce of energy. You can close you eyes and it just might feel like Keasbey Nights: Part 2. Not a bad thing at all. So, there you have it!. Twelve tracks of ska-punk fury at its finest. An instant classic. I'm hoping this band can bring about another ska revival. It's doubtful, but if anyone can do it, Streetlight Manifesto can. [www.streetlightmanifesto.com]