Hepcat - Push 'N Shove
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Artist: Hepcat Title: Push 'N Shove Label: Hellcat Records UPC: 045778041923 Price: $11.98 |
Hepcat - Push 'N Shove Track Listing
1 - Push 'N Shove
2 - Tek Dat
3 - 'Lude 1
4 - Prison of Love
5 - Ronnie
6 - Daydreamin'
7 - Comin' on Strong
8 - You and I
9 - Beautiful
10 - Region
11 - Gimme Little Sign
12 - 'Lude 2
13 - Spins
14 - Live On
About Hepcat - Push 'N Shove
Though Push 'n' Shove emerged from the Hepcat hepsters in the summer of 2000, it sounds like a long-lost ska classic. They nail the old-school sound with dead-eye precision, but still, somehow, it never sounds derivative. The laid back, low-key groove of "Daydreamin'" and "Gimme Little Sign" are a refreshing reminder of ska's original power in days of frenetic ska poseurs. What a treat. --Tod Nelson
Hepcat - Push 'N Shove Reviews
Average Rating: 4.5
Rating: 1
Gosselin dude's review is spot-on. I discovered Hepcat through "Right On Time" and then "Out of Nowhere." I really liked those records. A lot. I'm no expert on ska. I used to really like English Beat and Madness back in the day. But I hated "Push and Shove." Hate it hate it hate it. Not a single song I like. Every song reallllly slow. There's no accounting for taste.
Rating: 4
If you're a fan of the more traditional ska sound you won't find too many bands out there today that can compete with Hepcat. New York City's The Slackers are the closest in terms of putting a modern spin on the classic "Skatalites Sound".
Although "Push N Shove" is a good album; I still prefer their previous three albums. This record is slower; and although it's got a fun groove on it - it lacks the rollicking dance songs like "No Worries" from Right on Time or "Bobby & Joe" from Scientific that made those records great. The closest song on this album that would fit that mold would be "The Region"; which also appeared on the Hellcat Compilation "Give 'Em The Boot Vol. 2".
Here's how I would break it down:
If you're new to Hepcat's music and want to try one of their CDs to see if you like them - I would recommend you buy their 1997 album "Right On Time" first.
If you like that - then get their 1995 debut album "Out of Nowhere" (now back in print).
Next would be the 1996 album "Scientific".
Then pick up this one last.
If you're already a Hepcat fan then you know what you're getting when you buy this CD... another batch of soulful ska from one of the best bands of the last decade.
Rating: 5
OK. So this probably ISN'T Hepcat's best. But so what? It's still amazing, and a fitting final chapter in this band's all-too-short career. The glaring weakness is, of course, the departure of Alex Desert, one of the best vocalists in ska today. However, he does appear as a "guest" lead on "Tek Dat" and "You and I", and for a verse or so on "Comin on Strong" and in the background on "Gimme Little Sign." This is not to say Greg and Deston aren't also very good; it's just the sound is incomplete. Raul Talavera (alto sax)'s departure is less noticeable, as the equally excellent Kincaid Smith and Efren Santana can carry the album horns-wise. To the songs:
1. Push n' Shove 4/5 Weakest song on the album.
2. Tek Dat 5/5 Lord Funny cover. Great, but can't understand a word of it.
3. Lude 1 2/5 Too-short dub track #1.
4. Prison of Love 5/5 Karina Denike of the DanceHall Crashers sings this one. Almost as good as the original, but very different.
5. The Ronnie 5/5 Solid instrumental. Some good guitar work.
6. Daydreamin' 5/5 Very doo-wop influenced.
7. Comin on Strong 6/5 My favorite. Sounds like a Temptations song. Everyone sings lead on this.
8. You and I 5/5 Beautiful slow reggae ballad. No horns, though.
9. Beautiful 5/5 Great fast jazz-samba. Rhythm section shines.
10. The Region 5/5 EXTREMELY catchy. Just try to not sing along.
11. Gimme Little Sign 4.5/5 Brenton Wood cover. Good, but not the best here.
12. Lude 2 2/5 Again, too short.
13. The Spins 4/5 Alright instrumental.
14. Live On 5/5 Fitting last song from the band. Very relaxing, positive lyrics.
This is the most available Hepcat album, but my suggestion is to get them in chronological order, to best represent the band's evolution.
Highly recommended.
Rating: 5
This is the latest, and in my opinion the greatest release from Hepcat to date. The tracks flow flawlessley through, in a perfect arrangment. Each song is a wonderful thing in its own way, this album should not be missed by any person. Even is you are a true fan of ska, or just looking for something different, I assure you, this album will not be a disapointment.
Rating: 5
Put this CD on and close your eyes and you'd think it was Jamaica circa 1965. Truth is these guys are contemporary rude boys who sing and play in the tradition of such ska old schoolers as Toots and the Maytals. There are no sweet voices to accentuate the backbeat, like Culture from back in the day, nothing but gravely voiced rootsy vocals coming from the pipes of Deston Berry for the most part. The exception is the sweet stylings on "Live On" that sounds like something that the Mighty Diamonds might have recorded. For the most part this sounds like vintage ska, with the exception being the obligatory dub thrown in and a curiously latin sounding number. The strength of this CD is the simplicity of lyrics, strong vocals all backed by a tight horn section that compliments the back beat to near perfection. The influence of do-wop is evident in a manner chacteristic of the R&B influences that energized and influenced early ska bands. These rude boys now their musical roots. The sound is true to the original rock steady influences, unlike the pop flavored endeavors of some recent bands. Can something that sounds old sound refreshing? The answer is a resounding yes, when the ordinary sounds like all the rest, the exception sounds extraordinary. These guys rock, well not rock, they rock steady. My personal favorite from this cool set is "Gimme Little Sign," with it's sound like it is straight from the shanty towns of Kingston. Other faves include, "Live On," guest vocalist's Karina Denike's version of "Prison of Love" and the soulfull "You and I." This is pure ska, to be appreciated by those that like their music as it was intended to be, without gimmicks or posing. This is pure soul for your listening pleasure, grab a Red Stripe or something refreshing and sit under the shade of a palm tree and you'll swear you're in Jamiaca, yeah mon! If you like true ska you'll love this 2000 incarnation.
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