Jump Up Records – 23 Jul 2021
Mr. Kingpin’s debut is a ton of fun for ska fans, despite a few flaws
2021 seems to really be the year of ska, with the Bosstones, We are the Union, Bruce Lee Band, and the Voodoo Glow Skulls all making waves with their new releases. Enter Mr. Kingpin, a delicious new ska artist paying tribute to the classic first wave of ska music. His debut album, Introducing…Mr. Kingpin, is a delightful blast from the past, even if the lyrics are a little on the shallow side. But if you’re looking to bask in some classic ska goodness without having to get too deep and complicated, this is definitely the album for you.
The song topics are broad, often centering around old cliches like “Lightning in a Bottle,” “Actions Speak Louder,” and “Cards on the Table.” But musically this album is a skillful ska album. There’s surprisingly not a lot of horns though, instead focusing on guitars and keyboards, which are pretty impressive. The keyboard riff on “Think Again” is infectious, while the guitar solo on “High Road” is gorgeous. “Should I Stay” isn’t exactly a cover of the Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” but cleverly riffs off the latter’s famous chorus over a very smooth ska melody. And Mr. Kingpin’s vocals are powerful and passionate enough to really make up for the somewhat superficial lyrics.
For a debut album, Introducing…Mr. Kingpin is pretty strong. There’s definitely room for improvement, but it’s ultimately a very enjoyable album and, after everything’s said and done, isn’t that what an album, especially a ska album, is supposed to be? Introducing… is a fun collection of broad ska tunes, mostly love songs, that are hard not to find, at the very least, endearing, and which give hope for a promising future from this artist.
Julie is punk rock, lesbian time lady from the future. The greatest things in the world are punk rock and science fiction. Check out her website JulieRiver.com!
