Lightyear

Lightyear: Chris Gentleman's HairdresserChris Gentleman's Hairdresser (2003)
Ska and Reggae

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: joeJoe
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Published on September 21st 2004For some reason or other, ska gets the most criticism out of all the different forms of punk. Some reasons include that it's too chirpy and the relentless brass becomes grating after a while, or that all ska bands pretty much sound the same. Well this isn't necessarily true (Less Than Jake sound not.

For some reason or other, ska gets the most criticism out of all the different forms of punk. Some reasons include that it's too chirpy and the relentless brass becomes grating after a while, or that all ska bands pretty much sound the same. Well this isn't necessarily true (Less Than Jake sound nothing like Voodoo Glow Skulls but both are classed as ska), and this album from now defunct Derby seven-peice Lightyear is one of the most diverse and consistently interesting ska albums you will ever hear.

Kicking off with "Twat Out Of Hell", which is a dig at George W, they squeeze about four different genres into almost three minutes with an anthemic chorus and funny, if somewhat juvenile lyrics such as "let's chop his balls off and make a pie, and over dinner we'll ask him why innocent people die" which are pretty much what Lightyear were all about. Over the course of these 11 songs the band range from pure ska on "Nuff Cuts", to a parody of the emo trend on "That's The Way It Goes, Big Nose" and also include scratching and rapping on "Trumpet Trousers" without sounding anything like Linkin Park. Their lyrics span a wide range of subjects, including a struggle to make ends meet ("...Cinnamon Rolls"), the pressures of constantly touring (the superb closer "200 Kebab Shops") and also the occasional political insight and they feature many pop-culture references which will mostly be familiar to British people but they are pretty hilarious.

I guess you could say they were intrinsically a skacore band but their invention and ideas rise them above the likes of Big D and the Kids Table or Mad Caddies (who are both great bands) in my estimation. They have since gone their seperate ways, which is a huge blow to the UK punk scene, but this was a terrific way to bow out. Those that have not yet heard them but have even a passing interest in ska should definitely try to check them out because you wouldn't regret it.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Gavin_and_that (June 20, 2006)

This band aren't ska.... they're Punk with a horn section....

Anonymous (June 13, 2005)

it is impossible to better lightyear. they make me want to marry a trumpet.

axx (October 9, 2004)

Well Soybomb, it turns out that if ONE band can fuck with (and I mean that litteraly) with Big D, it has to be Lightyear.

Also, this CD is amazing. Nothing like their first album, but equally good.

Anonymous (September 28, 2004)

"...white people stole it & fucked it up."

*giggles*

Yea, we do have a history of this.

Anonymous (September 24, 2004)

This band has split sorry dude

Anonymous (September 24, 2004)

they are live very cool funny (ok,they are hopless drunk... hehe) but the record sucks..

Anonymous (September 23, 2004)

Ya know, I was really into ska for awhile, but it does get a bit stale and tedious after awhile, but i still long for the sweet sounds of some nice big brass, i think thats why i like James Chance and Colossal so much. But, yeah the guy who said you touch Big D is right, they pretty rule the scene right now, even though they're lyrics are shite.

SOYBOMB (September 22, 2004)

You can't fuck with Big D.

I'm sorry, but you just cannot.

Peace,
-SOYBOMB-

Anonymous (September 22, 2004)

Yup, absolutely agree with you there. I only got to see the band live twice up here in Aberdeen but they were awesome and will probably forever remain in my top rated British bands. Both albums are top quality with so many different technical stuff going on. Two CD's I'll never get bored of. I so hope they do some reunion shows. :)

Anonymous (September 22, 2004)

"ska gets the most criticism out of all the different forms of punk"

ska isnt a form of punk. it predates punk by quite some time, but then white people stole it and fucked it up.

Anonymous (September 22, 2004)

Too bad they split up. One of the best live bands I've ever seen.

Anonymous (September 22, 2004)

This album is great.

Crookedsuperhero (September 22, 2004)

Great album.

TheOnetrueBill (September 21, 2004)

metalcore deserves the most scorn

Anonymous (September 21, 2004)

I prefer Capdown.

tyroneshoelaces (September 21, 2004)

These guys are awesome, its crazy that they didnt get bigger over here in the States. Im not the biggest ska fan in the world but if these guys dont make u want to get up and dance like an idiot i dont know what will. To bad to hear they broke up.