Albums by this artist

Let's Face It (1997)

Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Let's Face It

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» GREG PEREZ | NATN ART DIRECTOR

Mighty Mighty Bosstones Let's Face It Mercury, 1997 RiYL: Doktor Kosmos, Ween, Money Mark, 5ive Style, Blink 182

Let's Face It is the fifth album from wily Boston octet the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The Bosstones helped kick-start the ska-core movement in America a decade ago, giving newer, faster groups like Less Than Jake and the Suicide Machines a reason to live. On Let's Face It, singer Dicky Barrett and the crew take a shot at rootsier ska, as in the catchy "Royal Oil" and "The Rascal King" and pull it off reasonably well.

"The Impression That I Get" and "1-2-8" merrily mash up ska, punk and metal in typical Bosstones fashion, and they still hit the usual songstuff: Violence is bad, making big noise is good and intolerance sucks. But for anyone used to the rip-roaring joy of their earlier releases, Let's Face It is tidy and overproduced, missing the bite that made those indie records so great.

Every song seems just a little too sparkly and the messages, while well-intended, tend to come off a bit stiff. Add Barrett's preachy lyrics, and you've got the makings of a pretty danceable public service message. Let's face it, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are all grown up.

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