Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

Squad Five-0

Late News Breaking (2004)
EMI Group

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

Contributed by: Adam
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 9th 2004

Late News Breaking is a remarkably satisfying listen. Over the years Squad Five-O has honed their disparate garage, glam and ska influences in a tight sound and under Matt Wallace's well-suited and stripped-down production really get to show it off here.

First and foremost Late News Breaking is an incredibly consistent record. The band's written quite a batch of soulful guitar rock, falling closer to The Replacements and maybe Ride than it does the pop-punk of their own generation. The album opening "Always Talkin', Never on the Run" is an example of this, along with the infectious sing-along "Bye American." Squad Five-O's hit a vein of very archetypical songwriting in tunes like "Don't Hesitate" or "Left Alone" that's both energetic and modern yet holds a stylistic reverence for what came before.

Particularly satisfying is how the band's ska and dancehall side is integrated into the album. Tracks like "Secret Society" and "All We Have" have the bite and nervousness of 2-Tone. The former in particular employs a very eerie organ line that would make The Specials proud. While Late News Breaking is certainly not a "ska-punk" album as we typically recognize them, the band's ska songs are remarkably well done. Interesting too are songs like "Keep Me Up At Night" and "No Heroes," rock songs in which the rhythmic influences of ska very subtlety emerge under the surface.

Of course we have no shortage of bands attending the Rancid-school of songwriting and leaning heavily on the Clash and the Specials, however Squad Five-O balances it out with a love for 80s guitar rock and a sensibility that's far more roots American than it is 70s British. There's something very earnest and amiable about this album, it has a distinctive style and attitude that runs throughout and a recording style that (for once on a major label debut) doesn't betray the band's potential. Late News Breaking really might just be the feel-good record of the summer.

Squad Five-O - Always Talkin', Never on the Run (Windows Media Stream)

Squad Five-O - Lay It Down (Windows Media Stream)

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Anonymous (March 26, 2006)

man i've been listening to these guys since i was a kid(not saying much)they ROCK

shindo (November 11, 2004)

Something or other on here gave me a Ride feel when I was reviewing it. I can't quite remember now :) I'm sure it's not the best analogy.

-adam

Anonymous (September 22, 2004)

Ride? The shoegazer band? How do they sound like ride?

Anonymous (August 1, 2004)

the guys in the band a christians but are not a christian band they dont sell the cds at any christian books stores or places like that. i think the cd is their best to date they have been rockin for a long time and its about time they get the respect they deserve. they put on one of the best live shows i have ever seen. these guys are bringing the rock back into the music scene

FeatheredMullet (July 16, 2004)

that is the crappiest picture of a gun I have ever seen, those stars suck too. What I really want to know is "Does this shit rock?" You kind of make it sound like it does despite their love for this Jesus fellow, I hope they don't sound like DC Talk, they make me want to sacrifice a small animal while listening to Deicide. Don't let me down boys, if you can skank like the specials than your alright

Anonymous (July 13, 2004)

Their cover of 'Rockin In The Free World' destroys. I wish they would record it.

Anonymous (July 11, 2004)

The only thing I've ever heard from these guys was Bombs Over Broadway. I liked it at the time.

I do remember them being Christian. Lots of lyrics about Jesus.

gladimnotemo (July 11, 2004)

Heh, Kris Kline and Adam Garbinksi from One:21 are in SFO....wow. Well, that's great.

vocalyouth (July 11, 2004)

This album is suprisingly really good. Squad Five-O has been one of my favorite live bands for a very long time, but they have never really been able to back that proper with a solid album. Bombs Over Broadway was too slow paced, S/T was too 80's though better than B.O.B., and Late News Breaking is kind of like the better songs from the S/T had a baby with the better songs from their op ivy tribute band days. Really good stuff. As far as christianity, i think they are christian guys, but this album says "shit" more than a couple times, and there are a few other swears too, i think. So yeah, not preachy in the least... if anything, critical of Christian culture. Musicwise though, it's a great album. I can def. hear the "Life Won't Wait" Rancid in there, for sure. However Squad Five-O is a little bit more gritty rock n' roll, and it works. I like this album quite a bit.

Anonymous (July 10, 2004)

this band sucked when they were on tooth and nail. now... meh. i can live without 'em

pastepunk (July 10, 2004)

>>>>This band reminds me of Rancid for some reason, I can't put a finger on what it is though...

Maybe it's because they swipe a handful of licks from RANCID's hefty catalogue - nonetheless, they swipe better than just about everyone else.

shindo (July 10, 2004)

"Aren't these guys one of those "christian" bands?"

If they were in the past or are now, there's nothing about this record that indicates any religious slant one way or another, so I wouldn't worry about it.

-adam

Anonymous (July 10, 2004)

"Lay it Down" reminds me of a crunchier Plimsouls.

Aren't these guys one of those "christian" bands?

In any case, I'll probably check the CD since I usually like the same stuff Adam reviews.

princessdanarchy (July 10, 2004)

This band reminds me of Rancid for some reason, I can't put a finger on what it is though...

Anonymous (July 9, 2004)

I was nervous about this record but this makes me excited. I'm glad they've brought back at least a little bit of the ska.

darkstarm (July 9, 2004)

I love this band, they are increddddiiibbblleee live. I'm really happy that they brought the Ska back too, their last record was really polished glam-rock type stuff. I am really excited to pick this up, I hope they have all the success in the world.

shindo (July 9, 2004)

There's not a whole lot of ska on the record, only a few songs, but they're pretty choice. "Secret Society" is fucking awesome.

-adam

gladimnotemo (July 9, 2004)

I remember listening to Squad Five-O's first album, on cassette, back in the day. Crap, man.

I might pick this up, if only for the "nervousness of Two-Tone". Wow, that's a good description, Adam.

kirbypuckett (July 9, 2004)

Ya know, Pittpunk was gonna to send this to me for review, that was like two weeks ago and it hasn't 'arrived'... and now I really friggin' want it!

- Kirby