I want you to look back into your past and remember that one time you heard something for the first time. You know, that moment where everything changed. I have a few moments like that. It happened with Nirvana and grunge and Snoop and Dre with G-Funk. Then, The Offspring and Green Day exploded in a way that ushered in a more mainstream interest in punk music. After that, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the Third Wave Ska Boom in the mid – late ’90s. I have fond memories of each of those times in my musical growth.
While I still listen to lots of different kinds of music, but admittedly, I’ve stayed most faithful to ska music, to the point where I never left it when the rest of mainstream America did. It’s exciting when something comes along that changes your perspective on music, and what you enjoy. With his debut on Bad Time Records, I think Eichlers is at ground zero for one of those big moments in music.
For the uninitiated, Eichlers is the brainchild of Russ Wood.
Wood blends his love for hyperpop, emo trap, EDM, punk, and ska music. Once blended together, the mad scientist that is Eichlers lovingly created a new genre of ska music that he affectionally calls hyperska. While Ike has been using elements of ska in his music since i may b cute but im dumb af, his sophomore album is his hyperska coming out party. My Checkered Future is a ten track masterpiece that will serve as a blueprint for the future hyperska artists it inspires.
The album starts off with “Hi (Album Edition),” and it intersperses heavy bass drops with Reel Big Fish hornline samples and Third Wave ska references. These aren’t the only times Third Wave ska homages pop up on the album. Aside from Reel Big Fish and the BossTones, there’s a reference or two to Goldfinger in “Things U C in Me.”
I think “Things U C in Me” is a pretty good representation of the tone you should expect from the album. On the surface, it’s a high energy, upbeat-sounding ska song. Once you dig a little deeper and listen a little further though, the song is about Ike’s insecurities. It tells the story of someone who doesn’t really feel like he deserves the love and relationships in his life. He ends the song pleading with himself to see himself the way his partner does. The album is filled with this duality of happy, upbeat music, mixed with more introspective and personal lyrics. It’s a testament to Eichlers as a songwriter and composer.
One of the other things I like about Eichlers and his music are the times he either guests on other artist’s songs, or when he brings special guests along as well.
My Checkered Future continues that trend. This time around, you’ll hear folks like Tape Girl, Jer, and Adam Davis from Omnigone. While all of the features are stellar, “Nickel City” with Omnigone rises to the top for me. It chronicles their lives as musicians, and continuing on into the future. As someone who will be turning 42 this year, I completely related to Adam’s verse when he declares “I’m going gray, but my soul’s still young.” Vocal features aren’t the only times you’ll hear guest stars though. Chris Graue of Lo(u)ser fame also provides trumpet on several songs.
When the dust settles on 2022, I fully expect to see this album on my year end list. It’s that good. What Eichlers is doing with ska music is innovative and creative. It’s a lot of fun for me to hear other interpretations of genres I know and love so much. Ska music has been around since the late ’50s / early ’60s, so evolution of the form should be expected. That’s how we got 2-Tone, ska punk, ska core, and now, that’s how we got hyperska. I’m excited about the beginning of hyperska, and can’t wait to see (hear) where it goes next.