Buster Shuffle’s new album hits the spot!

Take Piano driven offbeat ‘Madnessesque’ ska-pop-punk, add a smattering of Chas n Dave and a pinch of Blur and basically you have Buster Shuffle. A band that doesn’t take itself too seriously and is all the better for it. But there’s more to it than that, and this album, entitled ‘Together’, serves up some top notch danceable tunes, addresses a few serious issues but at the same time, leaves you feeling happy!

Kicking off with ‘Shows How Little You Know’, the pace and scene is set nicely for what is to come. With the signature Buster Shuffle sound, it’s a great start!

An absolute blinder follows in the form of ‘Masterplan’. The early Madness influence really comes across on this track but it is by no means a carbon copy of the Camden boys and holds it’s own.

The band then seem to address depression and the rocky road to recovery with ‘Take a Pill’ (at least that’s my interpretation!) but they still manage to keep it upbeat and positive, quite an accomplishment and a track you can play on repeat without getting bored.

‘Waiting For You’ is another track that could quite easily have been included on a Madness album somewhere in their very long career. And I make no apologies for mentioning the Nutty Boys again. I’m sure Buster Shuffle have heard the comparisons many times and doubt they are particularly offended by them, how could you be? And in any case, they still manage to be sufficiently different to be unique in their own way.

Speaking of which, the next track ‘Together’ introduces us to a variation on the theme, with some heavy guitars and a slower more chilled out sound.

‘I Don’t Mind What I See’ is another track that leans into a bit more Ska-Punk a they pull it off perfectly, all the time keeping that piano driven sound front and centre. “If Cock Sparrer played ska” might be a stretch, but I’m certain you’ll get what I mean when you listen to it…maybe…

‘Knocking at 112’ slows it down again, and echos childhood memories of going round your mates house as a kid and asking them if they’re ‘coming out to play’, with all the carefree fun that came with it.

‘If I Were Wise’ is next up and throws more guitar based ska-punk you’re way.

Opening with the lines “Do you mind if I give you a call…coz I’m in trouble and I’m about to fall”, ‘One In Ten’ paints a picture of someone feeling overwhelmed in this crazy world, needing support and reaching out. An important message and again delivered in a blinding Buster Shuffle way. A cracking track.

Bringing up the rear, as it were are ‘Thanks’ and ‘View For Your Fool’. The former pays tribute to an unnamed person (an ex perhaps?) for sharing life and life lessons and the latter seems to somehow harness the sound of 50’s rock n roll without actually sounding like 50’s rock n roll! Makes no sense I know! 😄

All in all, this is a great album and it comes in all sorts of limited edition vinyl variations, which is ALWAYS a good thing! And it’s good enough for me to dip into my pocket and order the Yellow Submarine Pop Art Sleeve Variation so it must be good!

If vinyl isn’t your thing, apart from being completely insane, it’s also available on CD and digital download at their online store here:

Merchandise – Buster Shuffle Shop

Failing that, it is of course available on all the usual streaming sites.