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Band: Mad Caddies
Album: Rock The Plank
Reviewer: Dr. Bagster

This is the latest release from crazy pirate/core septet The Mad Caddies. I have been looking forward to this CD for quite sometime, their two previous releases Quality Softcore and Duck and Cover were fantastic and have earned their place in my CD collection.
The artwork on this CD is totally cool, having an awesome 'swash-buckling' vibe to it. I only wish the CD lived up to my expectations that I had worked up waiting for it.
But more of this later, let me go through something first.
One thing that I've always loved about the Mad Caddies is their illusion of a huge horn section through their talented horn players Keith and Ed. The horns on this CD are basically non-existent. No anthemic horn lines, no technical trumpet wizardry… Its as if they've written these songs without giving the horns a second thought.

Being the ska/punk glutton that I am, and using their previous CDs as a comparison, I'd have to say that this CD does not measure up as a ska/punk, ska/core, whatever you wanna call it, CD. The rhythm section and Chuck on vocals steal the limelight as punk tune after punk tune is played with a few different sounding tunes added to keep the listener interested. Not to say that this is not a fantastic punk album, it is without doubt! Chuck's vocals are amazing and the guitar work is phenomenal along with the drums, but the great horn sound you usually associate with the 'Caddies just isn't there, and for me, it took something away from the album.

Basically, I feel sorry for Keith and Ed. The two have little to do on the album and it just doesn't seem natural for permanent members of a band to have such little input into a major release like Rock The Plank.

Dr Bagster's Verdict: If your into horns, you won't like this album. If your into the 'Caddies more punkier stuff without the horns, then this CD is perfect for you!

Picks of the CD: Mary Melody, B-Side, Hound Bound, Weird Beard.