Chickenpox

The latest offering from Sweden's Chickenpox is topnotch! Chickenpox plays a wet, slick and fun style of ska that I presumed they would have abandoned at some point to concentrate more on pop songs. Luckily that hasn't happened here, as they mix up ska sensibilities with modern effects and sounds in a non-offensive way. Sure this is quite poppy and quirky, but who can't handle some fun, seasoned ska tunes in their lives from time to time? "Watcha Gonna Do About It" and "The Tale" stand out not only for their pure catchiness but also because they are good ska romps as well. The way they use the keyboards in their tunes is like no other in the ska world. They know when and how to use it and it makes this disc stand out from a lot of other rubbish out there. Lyrically, the disc is mainly about relationships, so we can all identify with what the songs are about. This is best served with a cold beverage; run to the fridge and enjoy!