The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

WHEN GOD WAS GREAT

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ft. Jesse Wagner, Glen 'The Kid' Marhevka, Dave McWane, Dan Vitale, Jon Pebsworth, Jet Baker, Chris DeMakes, Erin Mackenzie, Angelo Moore, John Feldman, Rusty Pistachio, Fumio Ito, Roger Lima, Felipe Galvan, Jimmy G, Pete Wesilewski, Tim Armstrong, Sirae Richardson, Laila Khan, Jake Burns, Stranger Cole, Jay Navarro, Christian Jaccobs, Karina Denike, Brie McWane, The Interrupters, Steve Jackson, Peter Poker, Roddy Radiation, Robert Hingley, Toby Morse.
Genre: Ska Punk, Ska, Skacore.
Released: 07/05/2021
Via Hellcat Records

Album Review: The Mighty Mighty BossTones – WHEN GOD WAS GREAT

The Mighty Mighty BossTones are back with their first album under Hellcat records titled ‘WHEN GOD WAS GREAT’. The band from Boston has captured Ska and Punk fans’ hearts with their unique blend of the two genres, which has become know as Skacore. Alot of hype has been generated around the new release as fans are hoping for more classic tracks like ‘The Impression That I Get’ and ‘Where’d You Go’. I cannot wait to jump into this one so without any further delay, here are my thoughts on The Bosstones’ ‘WHEN GOD WAS GREAT’.

The album kicks off with the track ‘DECIDE’. The song has the Bosstones signature style right from the get-go, A very fun and energetic song with a strongly syncopated skank from Lawrence Katz on guitar. The song is fairly short however it’s a joy to listen to. If you’re looking for a song to get your skank on to, the song ‘M O V E’ is the track for you! The bouncy bassline from Joe Gittleman leaves you with no choice but to groove along to the track. It’s an extremely energetic opening to the album from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones!

Following that is the second single from the album titled ‘I DON’T BELIEVE IN ANYTHING’. The song’s brass section adds a lot to this track. Tim Burton, Leon Silva and Chris Rhodes have great chemistry and that is very apparent in just how tight the horn section sounds through this track! A real highlight for me. ‘CERTAIN THINGS’ is a more emotionally driven song and Dicky Barrett’s vocal delivery is what makes this song something special. His unique voice lends itself to the track in a way only he can. The song feels more like an admission of imperfections from Dickey rather than a song itself. 

Continuing down the album, ‘BRUISED’ feels a little odd. The track is decent however, it feels like it’s missing the same charisma and energy that is present in most of the Bosstones music. Thankfully, ‘LONELY BOY’ brings it all back in a more mellow way. A much more reggae-influenced track from the Skacore band is a very nice surprise. The song wouldn’t feel out of place on a more traditional ska album which just goes to show what The Bosstones are capable of. I highly recommend this track!

The third single from the album is up next and it’s called ‘THE KILLING OF GEORGIE (PART III)’. Unsurprisingly, the song is full of charisma and boasts a bouncy rhythm. In more of a surprising manner, John Goetchius’s performance on the keyboard is really what makes this song tick. Although subtle, the key phrases add that little bit of spice to the track that allows it to stand out. Continuing the upbeat pace is ‘YOU HAD TO BE THERE’. Yet another song that has a lot of danceability. I had a lot of fun while listening to this track and it’s certainly one of my favourite tracks on the new record!

It’s time for the title track, ‘WHEN GOD WAS GREAT’ is a nice bit of contrast on the record. A much slower paced song that has an addictive swing to it. Dicky’s vocals shine during this track and I feel that this is a perfect example of his vocal range. Sadly, ‘WHAT IT TAKE’ was a little disappointing. The song doesn’t have much to offer and I feel that it seems slightly out of place on the record. I wouldn’t recommend this one. 

‘LONG AS I CAN SEE THE LIGHT’ is a decent entry to the album. I’m not the biggest fan of the effects that have been put on top of Dicky’s vocals however the instrumental of the track is very cool and unique. A real old school reggae vibe is given off from the slow, syncopated beat. It’s almost a mix of reggae and church gospel. Very unique but interesting to say the least.

‘THE TRUTH HURTS’ will strut its way right into your head and you will be humming this one over and over again for days. An extremely catchy chorus accompanied with the energy and charisma The Bosstones are known for makes for one hell of a track and the momentum continues straight into ‘IT WENT WELL’. Once again, Lawrence Katz guitar playing dominates this track. The way his skank feels almost alive is something many bands struggle to do. The more Hawian feel the song exudes is a welcome change as the band manage to pull it off with flying colours.

The penultimate track is ‘I DON’T WANT TO BE YOU’ and I feel like this song is a shining example of how The Bosstones have evolved as a band. Hint’s of their older style mixed with their newer calmer style, shows you just how far the band have come together. It’s hard to stay relevant for as long as these guys have and the way they adapt to the ever-changing climate of the music industry is a big part of how they’ve managed it. 

Who’s ready for a massive collaboration of some of the best Ska artist around at the moment? ‘THE FINAL PARADE’ boasts one of the most impressive feature list’s I’ve seen. From old school classics like Roddy Radiation from The Specials and Tim Armstrong of Rancid to Newcomers like Jet Baker from Buster Shuffle to The Interrupters plus so many more! The song is an absolute blast, and all these artists’ collaborating on one track creates one of the most exciting songs in recent ska history! What a way to end the album

The Mighty Mighty BossTones have managed to release a Mighty album under Hellcat records. A plethora of exciting tracks have come out of this release and it’s safe to say that the Bosstones haven’t peaked just yet. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the band and with the potential of live shows returning soon, I cannot wait to catch these tracks live!