There's a tendency in reviewing Christian music to latch onto a certain secular band within a given genre and then identify any and all Christian bands that fall into that genre with that (e.g. insert Christian punk band which sounds just like Green Day). W-e-l-l-l, it doesn't always work that way. Case in point: Detroit-based band The Insyderz has consistently been lumped into the same category with No Doubt since it first arrived on the scene last summer. With the release of its debut disc, Motor City Ska, the band moves as far away from those comparisons as possible. Its liberal use of horns, which is the trademark of ska (an idea No Doubt doesn't often embrace), gives The Insyderz a big band vibe to go with its off-kilter, left-of-center neo-punk, surf, rap-metal sound. Where No Doubt falls squarely in the pop/rock category, The Insyderz moves easily between the aforementioned styles, often within the same song. What's more, and this can't be emphasized strongly enough, The Insyderz' lead singer Joe Yerke sounds nothing like No Doubt's Gwen Stefani. The Insyderz may be too eclectic to appeal to a mass audience but it should be given points for its efforts to do just that. Motor City Ska stands alone as an outstanding album and an excellent first offering from this young band. It's not deep listening. The messages are simple. The band plays tight. And the music is fun.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 1997Reviewed by Josh SpencerI'm not a ska fan, so take that into account. Vocals are grittier than other ska bands, and seemed sometimes almost like rap, though in a ska way. Lots of horns, minimal guitars on most songs (I remember the horns more, anyway). One really cool tune about Christ that was more a hardcore/ska song (instead of punk/ska). Overall, the album was well-done, but too many horns for my taste. 2.5 tocks
