Bad Time Records – 26 August 2022
Bad Time Records is crashing two waves of ska bands that break well together.
Wavebreaker #2 is the second release in a series of split EP’s from Bad Time Records to combine an artist from one wave of ska with one from another. This one features the legendary Mike Park of Skankin’ Pickle, The Chinkees, and The Bruce Lee Band; paired up with the Philly ska quartet Catbite.
There are four songs total, two from each artist. The first track is a Mike Park song with Dance Hall Crashers‘ Karina Denike assisting with the vocals. This one is slowed down, jazzy, heavy on the horns, and has some fun whistle sounds. The vocal tradeoff between Karina and Mike work very well together. The second Mike Park track picks it up with a more third wave ska feel featuring some heavier guitar riffs.
The first Catbite song was written by Mike Park and the second is a cover of Neon Trees 2012 song “Everybody Talks”. The first one, called “Sprial” has a more classic 2 tone ska feel.
Catbite’s Neon Trees cover track is faster paced, fun, and full of energy. There is also a fun video to go along with this one that’s worth checking out, especially if you have children that are discovering new music.
Mike Park and Catbite’s songs pair very well together on this EP. Both bands pull from some more classic ska sounds and so I’m not sure if we are combining two different waves of ska on this one. Would Catbite be in the fourth wave of ska, is that even a thing? Regardless this is a good handful of ska tunes that I plan to add to my ska playlist, my only complaint is that it is only four songs. Maybe in the next wave of ska, whoever number it is, they will do some more together.
Likes fine beer and cheap cheese. He has been a DJ, sound mixer for commercials and television, and currently designs motorcycle parts. He also has a habit of creating pastiche style cover songs and changing the chorus to incorporate “Jeff” or “Sorley.” (sigh… it’s true – Jeff)
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