Albums by this artist

It Means Everything (1997)

Save Ferris

It Means Everything

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» DAVID THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

Save Ferris It Means Everything Epic, 1997 RiYL: Goldfinger, Smash Mouth, Sublime, Sugar Ray

Ska's resurgence in America during the late-'90s brought a huge crop of new bands with horn sections to alternative radio. Many of them feature a blend of punk and ska, garnering the cutesy name of ska-core. But Save Ferris' It Means Everything is short on punk, sticking to an elemental version of ska.

Singer Monique Powell carries the swing-style melodies with her powerful voice, thankfully absent of any accent or slurring. The vocals are sultry at times, but more often pleasantly sweet. "Nobody But Me" shows Powell exploring her full range.

Powell often harmonizes with guitarist Brian Mashburn. The two work well together, especially on "Superspy" and "Little Differences," while the music swirls around cymbals and dancing horns.

Mashburn's strictly ska guitar work makes It Means Everything stand out with its own style, not that of some cheesy ska-core band. The horn section itself doesn't try to imitate guitars, as those in bands such as Less Than Jake often do. Instead, Eric Zamora on saxophone, T-Bone Will on trombone and Jose Castellanos on trumpet style themselves after big bands from the swing age of the '20s and '30s.

Save Ferris released It Means Everything at an awkward time, when the band's sound could be lumped in with the ska-core bands and be criticized for filling a niche now on top of alternative radio charts. But standing alone, the album embodies what '90s ska should be.

DAVID THOMAS |