You might not like ska music, but The Slackers are the exception to that rule (at least for me and probably should be for anyone else) with their smoother sound and laid back vibes which incorporate a variety of sounds across many different genres from jazz to salsa to soul, which all create the amalgamation that is their distinct style. Even the band's songs which utilize faster tempos still manage to exude the smooth confidence that they project on record and live, The Slackers maintain a semblance of consistency and level of quality that few bands can muster over the course of two, three, or four albums let alone the eleven albums under the collective belts of these musicians. Self Medication is The Slackers' latest album and comes from their new home on Indication Records (the record label of The Pietasters, another ska band and former label mates of the band).
The lead off emanations of "Every Day Is Sunday" absolutely screams to be a summer afternoon driving with the windows or top down song with its laid back tempo and lazy feel (but not sound as it is spot on good); it is definitely an upbeat number with a wistful or longing mood. "Don't You Want a Man" is a "bouncy" sounding track with a classic Slackers vocal arrangement, harmonies and all (just minus Q-Maxx who no longer sings with the group and has not for a few albums); the bassline is particularly sweet and does the job with its persistent run keeping the song moving at a nice pace. The balladeering that The Slackers perform on "Stars" has more in common with a pop record than what would show up on a ska record, but partially due to the breadth of their stylistic capabilities and partly because of their abilities as musicians, the band somehow makes this song work. The sickeningly sweet melodies and occasional horns effectively underscore Victor Ruggerio (vocals, keys, organ, etc). "Don't Have To" is a strange mix of rockabilly or roots rock and roll mixed with ska while the production sounds almost as if the song was recorded in a live setting, and while it is a bit on the short side, it is an enjoyable listen and a highlight of the second half of Self Medication. The more jazzy sounds of "Sing Your Song" are another highlight for the album as a whole; it is a bit of classic Slackers and a welcome addition to the record;
Leave it to The Slackers to be completely consistent by at least giving people a good time record after record, and Self Medication does this in spades, and thankfully so because the number of records that are just sheer fun seems to dwindle from year to year. Although this album is not the best in the band's discography and contains some unworthy tracks, there are surely its highlights, which more than make this record worth grabbing and adding to one's Slackers collection if some of their better albums are already a part of said collection.
