Keasbey Nights was released in 1998 on Victory records by a little-known band from New Jersey. But since then, the CD has grown to represent the entire third-wave ska movement. After giving it a listen, I’d say its reputation is definitely justified. While the band has made several lineup changes and style changes since then, this album lives on.
This CD was a high-energy, high-volume, super-fast joyride from the moment I turned it on to the moment the last track ended. The whole time, I kept waiting to see what would happen next. If nothing else, it always kept me on my toes.
Filled with manic guitar rhythms and bouncy horn melodies, this CD is nonstop action. It’s no wonder many call it the best third-wave ska album ever made. It’s not the best in my opinion, but it’s in the top three. The best way to describe it is a musical sugar high without the bad aftereffects. I have no trouble saying that I have played this CD alone in my room and simply jumped around because it was so full of energy.
While the tone of the CD is always upbeat, there are moments where the band does change styles. While frontman Tomas Kalnoky is known for his fast vocals and manic writing style, a few songs go off on different tangents. “Walking Away” is a departure from typical third-wave ska songs in that it has a swing feel to it. I think it hints at jazz and swing while maintaining Catch-22’s ska-punk style. Similarly, “Kristina” is not a radical departure from Kalnoky’s style, but it definitely slows things down a bit. I got a hint of his softer side, but the song still maintained his personality.
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