Keepin’ 6 – Uncensored

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: sometimes the best CDs are the least expected ones. My first introduction to Keepin’ 6 was when I had their CD in my hands, and even then I didn’t know what I’d be getting into. While yes, the artwork did spark my interest from the start, it was only once I finally threw the CD in that I was really blown away.

Straight from the start, Uncensored jumps out at you. The opening drum roll pumps you up before they drop into the ska breakdown to pull you in and soon after the raspy vocals explode with intensity, an intensity that never wavers until the final song comes to an end twenty eight minutes later. The eleven songs are built around a ska punk foundation, with a crusty street punk sound layered alongside ska beats and reggae tones. It’s like the Flatliners only more controlled and with more decipherable vocals; and it is in those vocals that Keepin’ 6 really shines. They are harsh and worn, very nasally and delivered in a lightning fast spit of fury. With a serious similarity to Pezz-era Ben Kowalewicz, they are intense and energizing, able to cough out the lyrics instantly or drag them out in a more melodic manner without ever wavering. Other times they sound like Chris Cresswell of The Flatliners while TYF 634‘s beginning sounds as if they Deryck Whibley stepped in to kick it off creating a diverse sound while continually maintaining the same general tone.

Of course, a vocalist is nothing without a backing band, and Keepin’ 6‘s trio of musicians never disappoint. Switching from IllScarlett ska tones to three chord punk rock ala Fat Wreck Chords, Uncensoredis fun throughout and it’s plainly evident that the band spent a lot of time working on the songs to get them where they are. Once you’re finally able to get pass the initial shock of “my God, this is great” you start to get the itch to see them live – because while the CD is awesome it is also painfully obvious that it is their live show that would really blow your mind.

Really, the album can be summed it fairly simply: punk rock speed with ska beats and venomous vocals coming together for thirty minutes of polished ska-punk rioting. Fans of Pezz (the Billy Talent band not the Fueled By Ramen band) and The Flatliners will eat it up. After all, the worst thing about the record is that the track order is messed up and when it comes down to it, the track order really makes no difference in any album.