Mustard Plug Albums (5)
What The Critics Say
You have to give these guys credit: no one can tell them that ska-punk is over. On their sixth album and 16 years into their musical career, Mustard Plug are still sticking with the verities: sharp horn charts, big and crunchy guitars, vocals that are more enthusiastic than tuneful (though still fairly tuneful) and lots of gleefully skanking backbeats. "Gleeful" may not be not the first word that comes to mind on listening to these songs, though. In Black and White opens in an up-tempo but dark mood, with the dour "Who Benefits?" followed by the even darker "Over the Edge." "Hit Me! Hit Me!" brightens things up a bit and offers the album's first real hooks; by "You Can't Go Back" the band seems to have started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and "On and On," which is one of the album's strongest tracks, is also its most unapologetically poppy. This is where you can really hear Mustard Plug's 16 years of accumulated songcraft pay off. Then they go out with a two-fisted bang: the snotty and hilarious "Real Rat Bastard" and the horn-heavy, singsongy "What You Say." Most ska-punk bands celebrate their maturity by breaking up; this one shows signs of being in it for the long haul. Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Mustard Plug aren't trying to reinvent the wheel on Yellow #5; the group is still just chugging away at the strong punk-ska blend that they rode in on years ago. This is another solid outing that continues the path charted on previous albums. "Not Enough," the strongest track here, is a good representative statement with a catchy, pop/punk chorus underpinned by rousing horns. Meanwhile, "Get It Goin' On" leans more to the frenetic punk side of things; the only tip of the hat to ska being the arbitrary presence of horns (buried in the jumble of power chords). The anthemic "Just a Minute" with its euphoric chorus is another highlight, as is the more punked-up "Safe." Overall, however, the group is at its best when relying more on catchy hooks bolstered by the horn section, rather than when trying to rough things up with heavy doses of punk. But Yellow #5 remains another solid effort from Mustard Plug. ~ Erik Hage, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
For anyone who wished the new-school punks would play more ska (yes NOFX, Rancid, et al.; that means you), Mustard Plug is the answer to their prayers. Marrying the melody drenched sound sweeping out of the current crop of spiky haired bands with the razor-edged riffing of reggae, and strewing it all with brass, this Grand Rapids, Michigan band fall firmly between the genre cracks. They're much faster and more musically upbeat than Two-Tone, far punkier than their fellow skankers, but lyrically less angsty than the punks. In fact, what first hits one about Pray for Mojo is the sheer exuberance of the set's sound and the pure enthusiasm of the band. But for all its uniqueness, one can still hear the antecedents, a melting pot of influences. "So Far to Go"'s dynamics are reminiscent of Simple Minds' "Street Life," as played by U.K. Subs, assuming, of course, they had a brass section as ferocious as their guitarist. It's easy to forget that Simple Minds began as a punk band, but Mustard haven't; however they're closer in sound to the hardcore scene, past and present, as "Throw a Bomb" makes clear, while "Someday, Right Now" is just one of a number of tracks that nod to NOFX. With their sharp melodies and hefty hooks, anthemic singalongs are the band's specialty, but they're agile enough to occasionally slow down the pace with powerful results as on "Time Will Come," or slip into purer pop-punk-ska as they do on "Yesterday" and the exhilarating "Send You Back." Of course, plenty of punk bands have delved into ska, and vice-versa, but few with such panache and exuberance as Mustard Plug. But what makes this ska-core group special is the fabulous horn section of trumpeter Brandon Jenison and trombonist Jim Hofer. The pair plump up the band's sound, give further kick to the rhythm, but crucially carry the rousing melodies on their own or in collusion with their bandmates. Without them, Mustard would still be a magnificently tight and melodic unit, but with them, the band move onto an entirely new plane. Who knew that brass could blaze away with as much punk fire as guitars, bass, and drums? ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Even though it is plagued by the sophomoric humor ("Beer Song," anyone?) that makes third-wave ska revival a frat favorite, Evildoers Beware is still an infectious party record, demonstrating that Mustard Plug have become tighter and funkier through constant touring, even if their songwriting hasn't improved dramatically. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
'Big Daddy Multitude'
Release Date 3/15/1994
Tracks 16
Label Moon Ska UK
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
If goofy mid-'90s third wave ska wets your tongue, Mustard Plug may be just what you need. Completely indicative of the era and style in which it was created, Big Daddy Multitude is a happy-go-lucky record of bouncy rhythms, cohesive horns, occasionally chugging distorted guitars, and slightly nonsensical lyrics that focus on nothing more than "skanking" and having fun. Just about any band from the same era will evoke the same emotions, and there honestly isn't too much distancing the septet from cohorts like the Scofflaws or anyone else on the '90s roster of the now defunct Moon Ska Records. Even the running theme of novelty ska tracks makes its way onto the disc, this time around in the form of the ultra pop-friendly murder tale "Mr. Smiley" and the '60s goofball odyssey of "Gum." It's difficult to criticize the group for its mildly unoriginal sound, as the bandmembers seem so awfully happy that it probably wouldn't matter to them one way or another. For what they are playing, pre-popularized but still easily consumable ska/rock, it seems the members of Mustard Plug might have made it a little further if they weren't so goofy but, at the same time, it's an incredibly upbeat and innocent record that is really nothing but a good time. ~ Peter J. D'Angelo, All Music Guide
