Send Comments to the Editors The Rice Thresher MS-524 PO Box 1892 Houston, TX 77005-1892 Phone: (713) 348-4801 Fax: (713) 348-5238

ONLINE 09-FEB-01 CD Reviews: the stingers/the stingers Robert Reichle The Stingers, an up-and-coming group from Austin, prove that taking musical styles back to their roots doesn't need to be a somber endeavor. Their guitar-driven approach to traditional ska, soul and rocksteady displays an air of authenticity and love for the music, and their fun lyrics and rhythms keep their self-titled album accessible to the average listener. Unlike many modern bands that try to recreate these genres using large horn sections, the Stingers' songs are carried almost exclusively by their twin guitars and harmonizing vocalists. Guitarists Walter Dunn and Jonny Meyers keep the rhythm going in a style reminiscent of the Specials' two-tone approach to ska. Dunn also contributes amazing, soulful vocals in an Otis Redding-esque style, and when vocalist Miguel Harvey jumps in with the harmony, the band takes on a doo-wop feel. The highlights of their album are the three soul tracks, "This Time Around," "For the Taking" and "Wouldn't You Do . ?" Dunn's vocals are powerful, and the instrumentation comes together to make the songs perfect for slow dancing. "Pretty" and "Fucked," two moody reggae songs, build around funky guitar work and groovy bass lines, resulting in two surprisingly good reggae songs for a band that focuses mostly on soul and ska. "Your Face," co-written by Dunn and New York ska scene staple Victor Rice, is a bittersweet rocksteady song that displays the band's noteworthy ability to sing in harmony. The rest of the album is rounded out by faster-paced ska songs, many of which use acoustic guitars to great effect. "Sex Between Friends" and "Punk at 15" showcase amusing and witty lyrics that never cross the line into the realm of corny and annoying carnival schlock, unlike the lyrics of many other recent ska bands. The Stingers may have an old-fashioned approach to soul and Jamaican music, but their energetic guitars and spirited vocals could have come only from Texas. The Stingers (with a slightly different lineup than on their album) open for Los Skarnales at the Continental Club (3700 Main St.) tomorrow night. - Robert Reichle - back - Search the Thresher pages: Enter your search terms: Copyright © 2000 The Rice Thresher. All Rights Reserved. This document may be distributed electronically, provided that it is distributed in its entirety and includes this notice. However, it cannot be reprinted without the express written permission of: The Rice Thresher, Rice University MS-524, PO Box 1892, Houston, TX 77251-1892, USA. The Thresher Online Project -- ethresh@listserv.rice.edu