Hepcat Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
In the 1990s, a variety of young bands found a variety of ways to use the ska beat. Many of them combined ska with punk or pop and did so with interesting results; no one would mistake the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Reel Big Fish, or No Doubt for an authentic Jamaican ska band of the 1960s, but then, none of those bands have claimed to be ska purists. They are rockers who love ska, not disciples of the Skatalites or Toots & the Maytals. Hepcat, however, is another matter. While other bands that emerged in the 1990s offer ska-punk or ska-pop, the Los Angeles-based Hepcat really does sound like a classic Jamaican band. Push 'N Shove, Hepcat's fourth album, was recorded in L.A. in 2000, but much of the time, it sounds like it could have been recorded in Kingston in the 1960s. Most of the music on this rewarding, if derivative, CD isn't fast enough to be called ska; rather, many of the songs recall rock steady, an early form of reggae. From a remake of Brenton Wood's 1960s soul hit "Gimme Little Sign" to Hepcat's own material, Push 'N Shove often takes you back to a time when Jamaican greats like Desmond Dekker, the Wailers, and the Paragons were being influenced by the great soul music that was coming out of Detroit, Chicago, and Philadelphia -- a time when residents of Kingston and Montego Bay were well aware of what the Delfonics, the Impressions, and Marvin Gaye were up to in the United States. While Push 'N Shove isn't innovative or distinctive, it's heartfelt and certainly rewarding. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Hepcat's third album, Right on Time, was released at the peak of ska-core's popularity. Consequently, it received more attention than their previous albums, but it would have deserved that attention anyway, since it's their best record to date. Unlike their ska-core peers, Hepcat keep fairly close to the sound of original ska, spiking it with some reggae, soul, rocksteady, and jazz. It's an energetic, welcoming sound that's quite entertaining, even if the group occasionally has trouble writing distinctive material. That doesn't matter, because Hepcat keep the good times going throughout the entire album, which is easily their most consistent and best thus far. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Scientific'
Release Date 1/1/1996
Tracks 16
Label Better Youth Organization
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Throughout the mid-'90s ska revival, Hepcat should have felt right at home, but ironically the multi-racial Los Angeles-based band couldn't have sounded more at odds with then-current ska trends. Instead of offering a fashionable ska-punk hybrid, Hepcat went way back to the '60s for its inspiration, expertly emulating ska's first wave by bridging R&B and jazz with ska's trademark upbeat. Scientific, the band's second album, doesn't break from the classic ska formula, which is what makes the disc so great. Hepcat's dogged dedication to old-school ska sets it apart from the competition, with the outfit embracing lengthy horn solos and soulful vocals where other groups offer shouting and distorted guitars. Vocalists Alex Desert and Greg Lee would even sound right at home on any Studio One session, crooning, cooing, and toasting where necessary. Scientific doesn't always stick strictly to ska, but it stays in the vicinity: Hepcat also explores ska's antecedents rocksteady, reggae, and dub, with songs such as "Keep On" slowing things down to a less danceable pace. But despite the slight style juggling, the emphasis remains mostly on traditional Jamaican music -- pure, simple, musical, and joyous, with a touch of politics, even if a potentially galvanizing track titled "Anita Hill" is perversely presented as an instrumental. ~ Joshua Klein, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Unlike most bands of the third-wave ska revival Hepcat's music does not have much influence from the British second wave. Instead the group focuses entirely on Studio 1 influenced ska bearing a strong resemblance to artists such as the Skatalites, Toots and the Maytalls, and early Wailers. This album contains the catchy vocal tracks "Dance Wid' Me," "Hooligans," and "Prison of Love." In addition, there are also numerous instrumentals, the best of which include "Caravan (Skaravan)," a remake of the Duke Ellington classic, and "Train to Skaville." An essential album for fans of the band and neo-traditional ska, it lays the foundation for the minor mainstream success the group had with their 1998 release Right on Time. ~ Curtis Zimmermann, All Music Guide
