Because my indoctrination into ska music didn’t happen until the mid-’90s, I wasn’t immediately aware of who Bim Skala Bim was. That awareness didn’t happen until after I discovered The Pilfers. Back when Mojo Records was still a thing, I would get promos of their bands to review for my college’s paper. When Chawalaleng hit my desk, I was drawn to the power of the trombone player on that album. Once I did some more digging, I learned his name was Vinnie Nobile. I also learned that he was in Boston’s Bim Skala Bim.
In the 21 years since I discovered Bim Skala Bim, the band has continued to keep most of their original line-up from the band’s inception in the ’80s intact. Upon listening to Sonic Tonic, the band’s first full-length album in eight years, I’m happy to report that they’re still firing on all cylinders and sounding as fresh as they did back in the good ole days.
Sonic Tonic starts off with an upbeat dance number about getting older and memories of yesteryear. While a mature and relevant topic, the band channels The English Beat and UB40 to tell their tale. I can honestly picture this track feeling right in place during an English Beat show. The song’s energy is infectious, and is a great introduction of what to expect from the rest of the album.
Lead singer’s Dan Vitale’s raspy vocals shine through on every track.
One of the standouts for me is “Gumbo.” A Ska beat is the backbone of the song, but it blends together with some down and dirty Nawlin’s flavor. Vitale’s vocal cadence on this one immediately reminds me of New Orleans royalty Dr. John with a dash of Joe Cocker. Other highlights include a cover of Bob Marley’s “Easy Skanking.”
There’s always a worry that a band will sound off after having such a long time between new releases, but there’s no ring rust evident at all on Sonic Tonic. Bim Skala Bim hasn’t missed a beat, and sound just as good as they ever have. A band doesn’t stay together for almost 40 years because of dumb luck. It’s because they’re best in class at what they do.
Sonic Tonic stands as a testament to the talent and staying power of one of American ska’s most influential and important bands. It’s well worth the listen.
“Cuz A U” talks about life, love, and travel. It’s also got a little taste of soul and rock ‘n’ roll intermingling with the ska sections of the song. Much like “Cuz A U,” the album touches on multiple topics related to the human condition. There’s a lot of introspection happening this time around, and the more mature sound and lyrical content throughout really ups the enjoyment factor for me. As I get older, I don’t want to only be distracted by music, I want to connect with it. There’s a lot of connection to be had on Sonic Tonic.
If the opportunity to hear one of the best American ska bands at their best isn’t enough of a draw, how about this? The band donated the release to The Specialized Project to help them raise money for teen cancer support and mental health charities. Amazing ska music for a great cause? How can you go wrong? You can’t. If you’re interested in checking out Sonic Tonic ahead of its physical release later this summer, you can check out The Specialized Project’s bandcamp page and download it.