REVIEWS
On Strictly Rude, the latest effort from Boston-based rude dudes Big D and the Kids Table, David McWane and co. travel back in time to revisit their two-toned roots. Strictly Rude marks Big D’s first release for Side One Dummy Records, and also their first experience working with producer Joe Gittleman, of Mighty Mighty Bosstones fame. The recording quality on Strictly Rude is wonderful, and all of the various instruments are mixed perfectly. This album showcases Big D doing what they do best: creating catchy, thoughtful, and relevant ska songs. Even the few tracks that I didn’t care for at first have managed to grow on me. I find it very refreshing to see these guys staying true to themselves and sticking to their guns, especially in a day and age when many rude boys and girls are trading in their checkered vans for a pair of pleated khakis and a clip-on tie.
Having been a fan of Big D for quite a while, I was a little surprised upon my first listen to this new album. Most of the songs on Strictly Rude have a fairly laid back and smoother feel than the band’s older tracks, many of them complete with retro sounding reverb and occasionally a very haunting melodica. “Noise Complaint,” “Souped-Up Vinyl,” and “Hell on Earth” are probably the tracks that come the closest to channeling the classic Big D vibe. My favorite track on this album would probably be “Relocate the Beat,” which has a quite danceable rhythm and sounds to me very reminiscent of the Specials. “Breaking the Bottle,” a catchy commentary about having a friend suffering from alcoholism, comes in at a close second on my list of favorites. I am very excited to hear how these new tracks will sound live and mixed in with Big D’s older material. Start to finish, Strictly Rude clocks in at just over fifty-two minutes worth of two-tone goodness. Buy it now.
Big D and the Kids Table website
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Big D and the Kids Table
