Sonic Boom Six: The Ruff Guide To Genre Terrorism (2006)-Constantine Koutsoutis
Sonic Boom Six: The Ruff Guide To Genre Terrorism (2006)
By Constantine Koutsoutis
Just don’t ask how I came across this record, I just did, OK?
The Ruff Guide To Genre Terrorism by Sonic Boom Six is now, officially, how I look at all Britons. This UK band’s record, a weird mix of punk rock, ska, pop, trip-hop, and electro influences, is all over the place from the first to the last song, and I love it.
The easiest way I could describe this record, or this band in general, is similar to the genre-hopping and infectiously catchy bands that sprung up into national recognition post-Green Day and No Doubt. Basically they’re a band that I would have latched onto when I was sixteen, before my obsession with 80’s DC hardcore started to fully manifest.
What’s a better description of what they sound like? Think a female-fronted, socially conscious and hip hop-heavy Reel Big Fish. Or, a more punk and hip hop-oriented No Doubt. Singer Laila Khan’s fantastic, although all 5 members do contribute vocals to each song, and “All In” even features Coolie Ranx, of the Toasters and the Pilfers, staples of NY’s third-wave ska movement. In fact, “All In” sounds like something I’d listen to obsessively during a lazy summer riding the subways to and from work, hoping and praying for weekends of the beach and shows to come, a smooth and welcome reggae/ska song that wouldn’t have been out of place on a mix tape I’d have made when I was younger. However, my favorite song on the whole thing is the radical-sounding but not self-righteous “Piggy In The Middle”, raving against the hypocrisy of police power and the disappointment of realizing former friends have given up on their past lives to become members of the establishment, standing. The opening trumpet line has been stuck in my head for weeks on end, and I’ll listen to that one specific song over and over all day, easily.
It might be hard to come across, but it’s such a ridiculously unique record it’ll definitely be worth it. Frantic, exciting, and catchy as fucking hell. Get on that.
Copyright C. 2008 Constantine Koutsoutis