The Prizefighters – Punch Up

Judge Knott

American Boss Reggae and Ska may not sound like a good thing to those whose taste runs to the early days of the skinhead scene but like so many things, you may well be surprised.

Coming across as a more authentic version of The Aggrolites, this twelve track album has everything you’d expect from a release from the glory years of Jamaican music, although with higher production values.

Very much led by keyboards and rhythm section, they call back to the roots to a degree that I suspect that you’d not notice if a track was slipped in alongside something by Harry J or Tommy McCook in a session of authentic ska. They’ve captured the rhythms and style of that musical era to perfection.

If I was to have one small criticism, it’s that the vocals don’t really seem to quite fit. I’m not a fan of the fakin’ Jamaican (to coin a phrase…) singing style, and I’m not going to suggest that it’s needed here, but there’s perhaps a little passion missing from the presentation of the well written lyrics.

Whilst not perfect, it’s bloody good and well worth tracking down. I think I picked my copy of the cd up from Kev at Do The Dog fanzine, and he may still have copies here in the UK, but it’s definitely available from the band’s Bandcamp site in all formats .

Speaking of the lyrics, they’re again very much in the social consciousness style of the rude boy era, with a couple of love songs and instrumentals thrown in. I feel this adds to the authenticity of the album.

The Prizefighters web site
The Prizefighters on Facebook
The Prizefighters on YouTube
The Prizefighters on Bandcamp

• Judge Knott