Home Read Classic Album Review: Liberator | Worldwide Delivery

Classic Album Review: Liberator | Worldwide Delivery

This came out in 2000 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):

 


Frankly, I have lost count: Is the latest ska revival the third wave or the fourth wave? Oh well, no matter.

At least I can pinpoint exactly where Swedish (that’s right, we said Swedish) ska outfit Liberator are coming from. This skanking septet — vocals, guitar, bass, organ, drums, sax and trombone — are riding the 2Tone new-wave sounds of ’70s and ’80s British outfits like Madness and The Specials. The herky-jerky beats, the scritch-scratch stylings, the funhouse keyboards, the honking horns and the twangy surf guitars on these 14 tracks could have been lifted straight from classics like One Step Beyond or I Just Can’t Stop It. If it’s a new shot of old-style rudeness you’re jonesing for, this is your fix. Just make sure you hurry up and get it before the next wave hits.