It’s been seven years since the ska punk band Mad Caddies last put out a studio album and the time off has certainly done nothing to dull the band’s sound. Arguably the band has never turned in a bad record, but Dirty Rice, is easily one of their best.
The dozen tracks that make up their sixth record flirt with punk rock (“Love Myself,” “Bring It Down”) reggae-infused ska… or is it ska-infused reggae? (“Down and Out,” “Shoot Out the Lights”) and even a little straight-up pop (the beautifully tipsy “Brand New Scar”). There is really nothing to complain about on this album, a triumph from the first note to the last.
While ska’s popularity has ebbed and flowed over the years and bands have jumped on and off the bandwagon as it circled back around, the Mad Caddies have consistently ignored the fads for the past two decades and concentrated on simply writing fantastic horn-heavy, punk-influenced albums. Dirty Rice is proof that they are still sticking to that tried and true formula.
Mad Caddies – Dirty Rice/12 tracks/Fat Wreck Chords/2014