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):
Every party’s gotta end sometime — and for Dicky Barrett and his Mighty Mighty Bosstones, it’s 6 a.m., the ladies have gone and the keg is empty.
After 15 years of testosterone and beer-fuelled ska-metal high jinks, Barrett and co. take a sober look in the mirror on their eighth studio album Pay Attention. And sometimes, they don’t like what they see. “I’ve got real issues I must wrestle with,” admits Barrett on Let Me Be, summing up the tone of introspective, soul-searching tracks like The Skeleton Song, So Sad to Say and I Know More, which delve into topics like family, parenthood, tolerance and regret. Musically, the band aims for similar growth, amending the herky-jerky skank, barking hardcore vocals and metallic guitars with richer, more textured vibes and melodic, poppy arrangements. Sometimes, it’s a bit of a downer — you wish the band would ditch the 12-step self-indulgence and return to the 2-Tone crunch of oldies like Rascal King and Royal Oil. But ultimately, you’ve gotta applaud them for wising up and growing up. After all, it’s better to leave the party than get thrown out.
