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The Know How

Now In Technicolor (2005)
Union Label Group

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on March 4th 2005

It's been a while since a genuine ska-punk release dropped in my mailbox, so this one came in catching me quite cold for the style. Amidst all the current flow of slick produced power-punk, a good skanking CD should have pleased me, and Gainesville, Florida always has good soil for cultivating good bands.

The Know How has been around for about seven years (this being their third full-length) and has had a busy time touring with bands like the Planet Smashers, Mustard Plug, the Toasters and Streetlight Manifesto. Catchy horns and sci-fi moog licks should get you off your feet, but unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed about the level of energy that came from the release after the otherwise rather good first 3 songs. At times, I had the feeling that I sometimes have with some of Mad Caddies' more recent recordings, where there's too much attention paid to producing a slow-skanking, more heartfelt kind of sound, which pours a lot of the energy down the drain.

Nevertheless, there's quite some fun going on here, and I'm sure that fans of the genre will enjoy this much more than I did. Also, I'm pretty sure that a live performance by this band has more to offer than listening to this through my headphones. Fact is, the recordings sound a bit basic and the quite bland vocals are not really outstanding in my eyes. I think I just like my ska-punk a bit more guitarded and hefty than this gathering of songs. Thumbs up for the first couple songs and the fun moog inclusion though.

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Psychoos231 (March 9, 2005)

LoC sucks compared to a lot of the real ska bands out there

Anonymous (March 8, 2005)

Score is for them being decent guys. The genre is dead except for the good LOC and the Stoics.

Anonymous (March 7, 2005)

how do you know when you suck.

Anonymous (March 7, 2005)

bitch

PsychoOS231 (March 5, 2005)

Check out the HappyFunRobotKillTime, its a better album.

Anonymous (March 5, 2005)

I thought was the only one who loved ska...guess not

iheartadam (March 5, 2005)

Why am I the only one who likes ska, yet thinks the Mad Caddies were crap? And the Aquabats too. Wait...it's because I'm not from the OC....now I get it!

Anonymous (March 4, 2005)

"You lost me at "It's been a while since a genuine ska-punk". Yikes I hate ska

-Chris-"

This coming from a guy who likes Audio Learning Center..hahaha

bemused (March 4, 2005)

You lost me at "It's been a while since a genuine ska-punk". Yikes I hate ska

-Chris-

Anonymous (March 4, 2005)

best band ever

Anonymous (March 4, 2005)

It's "6" week.

-Chinatown

Anonymous (March 4, 2005)

I saw them like 2 or 3 years ago. Not bad.

Anonymous (March 4, 2005)

Definately one of the best upcoming ska/punk bands. Nice guys too. They gave me and my friends a bunch of free stickers because we were the only people at this show there to see them. Score is for free stickers.

Anonymous (March 4, 2005)

Good band.

Joe

Anonymous (March 4, 2005)

Annoying eh? You should have beat those other six people.

theundergroundscene (March 4, 2005)

i saw this band on a monday night with 6 other people

it was awkward

and they were kinda annoying

Anonymous (March 4, 2005)

I don't think we can trust a guy who gave the F-Ups a 41/2 star review.

Psychoos231 (March 4, 2005)

Nice review sir. I'll be sure to pick this baby up.

notfeelingcreative (March 4, 2005)

I don't care, this band has always been alot of fun live, i'm on my third copy of "happyfunrobotkilltime", I haven't heard the album yet, but the songs they've played live the last few times have sounded good!