The Lads - On The Street
www.lads.live.com.au

Well, I'll admit it in the first paragraph. I really like The Lads. Really. And this album has given me no reason to like them any less.

I know I'm easily pleased, but I really like the first track of an album to really rip into it. The song A.G.B. delivers. It's fast, it's powerful and short. About 30 seconds to be exact (you can download it from The Lads site by following the above link).

Next up, a better feel for the band in the track Outlaws. It's catchy, it's lyrically accurate and it just damn rocks.

Third is my personal favourite Lads song. Sick. It's so incredibly catchy, makes you just wanna get up and skank. It's extremely well performed street ska and the use of their organ adds an element that pushes it above the standard street ska fare.

Halfway through the album and the title track, On The Street, provides more powerful gang vocals and good old fashioned rock 'n' roll guitars. It's a fucken good song and really sums up the band.

After more catchy organ infused street ska in No Hope, the band really pulls out all the stops. The military theme of Join Today makes it a great song to just slam your fucken brains out to. It's fast, it's got great lyrics (I wanna fight pointless wars that have no resolution / I wanna be a powerless puppet used for political retribution) and fuck, it makes you wanna go nuts.

The album comes to a close with the tracks Still Fun and the crowd favourite Ye Olde Shoppe. Again, they are very catchy ska-punk anthems that would make even the most rigid punk wanna get up and dance.

All in all, The Lads put a great spin on a genre that has been becoming more and more tired. At $11, it's a very worthwhile purchase.

Jake Downunder