A few years ago, BEC femme-ska band One Eighty changed their name and released an album of swing covers, to, as the band admits, capitalize on the current swing fad in America. According to the band's current press release, they can't understand why people thought they were a swing band. I'll refrain from giving my opinion on that.
At any rate, Flight 180's latest record, Boys & Girls, is definitely not a swing record. The press release drops the name of No Doubt about fifty times, but I hear a much greater Dance Hall Crashers influence to it, with its zippy guitars and harmonized female vocals. The lyrics are quite obviously focused at early teenage girls -- quite a few of the songs are about wanting a boyfriend, not getting a boyfriend, and unsurprisingly for a youth group band, being satisfied with God. Obviously, I don't fit this demographic, so I have a hard time appreciating the lyrics, but if you're thirteen years old, female and you like Dance Hall Crashers, this is right
up your alley.
2.5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2001Reviewed by Olin JenkinsFlight 180, the swing-ska band formerly known as One Eighty, is back, right? Only half correct. The band, which had to change its name after its first project, Crackerjack just before the all-swing Lineup (if you prefer swing, get a copy of Lineup), makes it very clear that their style of music is straight-ahead rock and roll. There are hints of ska and punk that point towards the sound of BEC…Similar sounding releases
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