Buster Shuffle – Together

Buster Shuffle are the fun side of the Ska scene, a party band with anthems and words that make people dance, or at least this is how they may be perceived mostly, but what I want to know with this latest album, is there more to them?

Together is the name, and togetherness runs through the core of this album like a stick of rock. So is there any real soul searching going on, some dissecting of the human psyche, a delving deep into the politics of life, nah!. ‘Shows How Little You Know’ drops like a lollipop that when licked makes you tongue fizz, there seems to be some depth to the lyrics, but I can’t fathom what it is. Then ‘Masterplan’ sets out just how this all should end, but then do they really want it to? Its when you get to the super catchy ‘Take A Pill’ with its “should have been on Top Of The Pops” sound, but wait a minute, this is a song of sadness and loneliness that is combatted by friends and support, how to get back up again with all the right people around you. Now we’re getting into the nitty gritty of this album, its full of love and togetherness, it exudes it from every seam, well almost every, it still finds time to make it a joyous occasion. 

‘Waiting For You’ is by far the most Chas n Dave with tinges of Madness. ‘Together’ hits every nail on its proverbial head of how the title track is the glue that makes an album.  ‘I Don’t Mind What I See (Jack’s Song)’ is the rockiest of the bunch, but still retains the bar room upright piano vibe.  ‘One In Ten’ has a massively important message, it gets this across so wonderfully, even the upbeat and positive tune works perfectly to make it stick in your head. Looking back at what I opened with and everything that went on in between, yes this is an album of layers, but the layers aren’t too thick and sticky to get bogged down in. This is an album of musical sunshine and lyrical happiness that pulls you through when you need it, isn’t that what ‘togetherness and friendship’ are all about after all!

We’re not breaking ground here, or flying off to the sunshine of Spain either, but we are getting all warm and fuzzy inside.

Out Now via Do Nothing Records

Check out the band WEBSITE for everything.