After no new studio material being released in 1998, the Orange County Supertones' third album, Chase the Sun, came out February 23. While the Strike Back album had its moments and sold well, Chase the Sun displays what many fans knew the Supertones had the potential to do. If you are expecting an average, stereotypical third-wave ska album in the vein of Strike Back, be ready to be surprised. Chase the Sun has a fairly eclectic variety of sounds, ranging from acoustic ballady songs, to hip-hop, to rap-core with horns, and of course a bit of the third-wave ska for which the Supertones became so well known.
The album starts off with "One Voice," which picks up where "Unite" left off, both lyrically and sound-wise. It and "Hallelujah," a ska praise and worship type song, display similar stylings to the more solid tracks on the first two albums, though the organ on "Hallelujah" is a nice addition. "In Between" starts off with a classic rock style intro, then morphs into the ska-rapcore that the Supertones do best. The ska-rapcore was the strong suit of the Supertones leading up to this album, and they display it mightily on this cut and several others.
"Away From You" is a fat-grooving, reggae-styled song. Crystal Lewis adds some pretty good back-up vocals. When done live, the chorus becomes a call and response thing, and the song overall sets a worship mood. The lyrics to this song are very touching.
If you're into the catchy "skunk" (ska/punk) tunage displayed much more often on the first two albums, you'll like "Dedication." Not a bad cut, but not one of the stronger songs on this album. In my opinion, "Grounded" is one of the best songs on this album. This is the 'tones at their ska-rapcore best. The "hoo, hah" part of the song is just a load of fun, but don't let it distract you from the message of this song. Wow. This is sure to be a concert favorite, and after hearing this song, I often find myself hitting the repeat button on my CD player.
The pace slows down a bit with "Sure Shot," a song which, if you listen closely about 1:45 into the song, you'll hear the horns distinctly play the chorus from the Christmas favorite "Angels We Have Heard on High." The pace gets even a bit slower with "Old Friend," one of two acoustic (yes, you read right) songs on the disc. In a somewhat neo-folky way, they sing a worshipful and somewhat emotional song to their Maker. This is a side of the Supertones only slightly displayed previously, and it adds a lot to this album. By late spring, early summer, don't be surprised to hear this as a youth group favorite, sing-along song.
The album's title track, "Chase the Sun," takes the Supertones in another entirely new direction from earlier material, as well. This song is undisguised hip-hop, with a dash of horns for good measure. Matt sounds great on this track, and despite having the last name of Morginsky, he spits out a great rap. The gratuitous record scratching isn't extremely loud, and therefore not overdone, and this song does a lot for the album. Another of my favorites. "Fade Away" comes next, and the Supertones return to their skacore sound on this one, a pretty autobiographical song. Some darn good skacore, and a good song that's easy to lose amongst the diversity of this disc. A bit more of the same with "Hanani." The guys from Orange County insert a surfy instrumental, complete with organ, into the album with "Revolution." Some of it is ska, but there's a nice drum cadenza, some cool surf guitar, and just a great variety of sounds within this song. And more organ.
Musically, this is the 'tones at their best. They throw in one of those "rock with horns" songs (as Brandon Ebel coined this album) with "Health and Wealth." Though in many ways a typical song for them, it shows how even their core sound and bread-and-butter material has matured. The final song, "Refuge," is another acoustic, non-ska song. It includes a cello, which, without being overdone, lends quite a bit to the song musically. Lyrically, the song is fitting for the end of the album, another worshipful song.
Overall, Chase the Sun is a much better album than Strike Back and shows a great deal of maturity. For the most part, the songs that are reflective of previously released Supertones material contain just a bit better sound. But the diversity displayed in this album is a tribute to the musical growth of the band, as well. Ska fans who previously have somewhat ignored the Supertones or who became bored with them after Strike Back should give this disc a listen, and Supertones fans will definitely want to pick it up.
3.5/5
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #77Reviewed by Amanda NelsonIt's hard not to like the O.C. Supertones' new album, Chase the Sun. There is a lot of talent between these six guys. The Supertones made this new album minus one trumpet; although Daniel Spencer, trombone, and Darren Mettler, trumpet, manage to hold their own just fine. Have these guys been to the islands recently? There is a kind of Caribbean feel, especially in the song "Away From You."…Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco Povervest"1999 and the stakes is high. Our options have come down to either we do or die." Once the Supertones were described as skacore but skarock would fit them better now because half of the songs rock, like One Voice, the opening track from which I quoted. Well, the stakes is high indeed with all the ska-bands popping up. But the Supertones have enough to offer to stay prominent in the popular…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Corey WeltonDon't get me wrong. I like the Supertones. Really, I do. They've got great energy, coupled with an equally excellent message. Perhaps it's just the fact that I liked their first album so much that everything afterwards has been a disappointment. Or perhaps my ska tastes have migrated towards a slightly different flavor of ska. Maybe some of both. In any case, I can't complain that this is a bad…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Josh SpencerThe most popular Christian ska band around is back with their third horn-poppin' jumpfest for the kids. Not being familiar with either of the Supertones' previous albums, I thought I'd go straight to their main audience and ask them what they thought. So I got my 8 and 10 year-old cousins to quit skateboarding for a few seconds and answer some questions about the album: Me: What do you think…Similar sounding releases
1999The ChinkeesPeace Through Music
1999Common RiderLast Wave Rockers
2000Five Iron FrenzyAll the Hype That Money Can Buy
1998The DingeesArmageddon Massive
1998BuckBuck
1999GodrocketSaved!More from The O.C. Supertones
1997Supertones Strike Back
1998At the Movies!
2000Loud and Clear
1996Adventures of The O.C. Supertones
2005Faith of a Child
2002Hi-Fi Revival
