Album Review: BUSTER SHUFFLE – ‘DO NOTHING’
Time has gone by since the days of The Specials in Thatcherite Britain. Their critically acclaimed 1979 album was seen to encapsulate the disaffection of Britain’s youth at the time. Though not as severe as the aforementioned, one does get the sense of youth’s current social grievances, as well as their excitement, from Buster Shuffle‘s new album, Do Nothing. The band sing about relationships gone bad, lost youth and even stuff made in China!
Buster Shuffle‘s amalgamation of rock, reggae and The Specials-esque sound 2 Tone, a combination of punk and ska reggie, mean they can fill a dance floor better than most. Their positivity toward ska and its roots come out in this album while they inject their own 2012 East London swagger, resulting in a very good record.
The infectious upbeat rhythms of So Such of Much to the slower endearing tones of The Lake Song have warm yet nuanced lyrics and attitude.
Expectations have grown with the success of their first record and the band have done well to meet and surpass them. Jet Baker, the authentic East London Geezer fronting the band, may be seen to get the plaudits, but life’s clearly pretty good for the rest of the band, and long may it continue.
If you are a long-term fan or are new to the Buster Shuffle ska melodies, you will enjoy this record.
Review By: James Greenwood
