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Rx Bandits

Progress
2001
Drive-Thru

Rx Bandits - Progress (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Painaxl
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Published on July 31st 2001

While I was a bit skeptical about a ska "concept album" having to do with the progression of technology, I must say that Progress is a truly excellent CD. Matt Embree takes his mix of punk, ska, and reggae to a new level with 13 powerful songs (Track 1 is 28 seconds of sounds). The first music track, "Consequential Apathy," is a lot different than what you'd expect to hear from the Bandits. It rocks just as hard, just without ska. "Analog Boy" was the first song released to fans on the website, and is a killer song to boot. "Progress," "Status," and "Get" are other highlights of this effort. The RxBandits have proven themselves better than just another Sublime-influenced Ska meets Punk meets Reggae band. This is, in my opinion, one of the best album's of the year so far.

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Posted by HillHillJJ on 2006-07-08 22:17:01

This album was pretty good but ive heard better ska/punk. The album is good though.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 2:02 PM (EST)
My Score:

really cool record. some intelligent skapunk with cool and easy members

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 3, 2004 at 5:57 PM (EST)
My Score:

To the person below me, you are a complete idiot. I do believe you are the deaf one on this site. Great fucking album.

The review sucked. Only 1 paragraph for this? And there was no mention at all of VCG3, an awesome song. Shitty review man.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 31, 2004 at 6:09 PM (EST)
My Score:

if you like this band you might as well be deaf, they suck more then sucking could ever suck

Posted by DevilsDeathWish on 2004-02-23 19:48:30
My Score:

a-fucking-mazing is all i have to say. VCG3 is un-fucking-believable. And i don't usually drop the f-bomb. Thats how good this album is.

Great album. Love VCG3, Infection, and Analog Boy.

10. im speachless. thank god i bought this and the resignation with my friends recommendation. Excellent albums.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 at 9:23 PM (EST)
My Score:

this album is amazing. i like it far more than 'The Resignation'. "Nothing Sacred" is one of the best songs they've done.

Posted by rxbandito24 on 2003-10-26 14:39:57
My Score:

this cd is brilliant, totally underrated cd. this is an EASY five star maybe 4 and a half but just because of the filler on it. ALL the tracks are killer, especially WHO wouldve thoguht, the best rxbandits live song

Posted by ihateadam on 2003-10-26 14:29:40
My Score:

doubtful

Posted by ihateadam on 2003-10-26 14:29:26
My Score:

best album EVER?

Posted by InaGreendase on 2003-08-22 14:58:56
My Score:

best album ever

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 1, 2003 at 5:42 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Sublime rip-off goddamnit. HWBHAT was good, but this just really sucks. "Get" is a horrible song.

Posted by funkisdead on 2003-07-21 19:50:11
My Score:

wow, analog boy agrees with the review! what a fucking joke..
that review sucks, man... this is lame. we need to find a way to restore the top ten. this is unjust.

Posted by Analog_Boy on 2003-07-09 00:02:02
My Score:

Meh, the review aint to bad anyway. I agree with everything in it. My favourite song is probably Consequential Apathy. I like Matt's voice a lot. I also like Infection and Who Would've thought a lot too. Solid alblum, good live band.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 7, 2003 at 1:08 AM (EDT)
My Score:

One of the better records.....ever

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 26, 2003 at 12:55 PM (EDT)
My Score:

ska and punk will never meet

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 20, 2003 at 8:53 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Good question... When did this review get on the top ten list. I kinda wish I could review it again and expand it. It was my first or second one and I never realized how short it was when I finished. Oh well, this sucks :)

-Painaxl

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 12, 2003 at 2:20 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Yo Scott, Adam, Aubin....

Can something be done to put an end to the secret hitter's reign of this once respectable top ten list. Is there even any point in there being a top ten list if it only reflects one persons crappy veiws????

although i do think opivy deserves to be there...

Posted by thriceequalsgod on 2003-06-06 19:58:04
My Score:

agreed. (the last comment was me btw)

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 4, 2003 at 9:12 PM (EDT)
My Score:

despite the fact that this album really really kicks major ass, this review doesn't deserve to be a top 10 one. i mean, the thing is barely a hundred words long.

-pwfanatic

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 4, 2003 at 2:04 PM (EDT)
My Score:

how long has this cd been on the top 10 viewed reviews??? i just saw it at #3 with like 15,000 hits and got confused....

anyway, this album is amazing. the bandits are easily one of (if not,)the most innovative band(s) around now. this cd has an awesome blend of mostly punk and reggae, with some ska. the production for this is great and the trombone and keyboard add something really good to the album. the bandits are also a really good live band, even though the only time ive seen them is 2 or 3 songs off the end of their set at last years warped. i wanna see them really badly at irving plaza on the 10 with no motiv, fairweather and some other bands.... i also cant wait for 'the resignation' on july 15...

ill end with saying that drive thru doesn't deserve such a band as this.... actually i dont know who does.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 10:38 PM (EDT)
My Score:

i love this album, but the review was so/so. i mean, not even ONE mention of Chris T just RIPPING the skins up. this band poured their heart and soul into this album and shutup anyone shouting "preppie pop ska" and such. this album was a masterpiece, noncomparable to any other cd in any category. matt's voice is absolutely beautiful, and those damn bass lines! (re: progress)

one think i would like to say is i cannot stand "in all rwanda's glory." i consider myself open in my opinions, but damn, this song just doesnt do anything for me. (besides the intro, which is infectious) i know its got a message, all that, but SHIT.

other than that, A . i'd kill to say "yeah, i wrote those songs"

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, March 31, 2002 at 11:45 PM (EST)
My Score:

don't forget infection. Music has never sounded so good as in the last minutes of that incredible song.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 19, 2001 at 7:08 PM (EDT)
My Score:

I've been a huge Rx fan ever since I heard S.A.M. on a compilation cd. But I agree that this is their best yet. Amazing. Matt Embree with his vocals just takes me to a whole different world than the one I normally sit in. Support the guys and buy it.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 24, 2001 at 1:11 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Hey RxJEWgazi, Rxbandits bass player just left the band. Maybe there's an opening.

Posted by RxJEWgazi on 2001-08-20 21:01:37
My Score:

Best album this year. Its only competition is the new JEW. This album completely blew my mind. So much damn better than any of their past releases. There hasnt been a ska band this good since the fucking specials.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 17, 2001 at 10:58 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Any real fan of music should go buy this CD immediately. It's brilliant.

Posted by whatiwishidsaid on 2001-08-04 15:55:41
My Score:

"Progress" is such an excellent album...the more i listen to it, the more layers of meaning i find...it hasn't left my cd player since i bought it...by far the rx bandits best album to date...and one of the best albums of the year at that...."statis" and "consequential apathy" are reason enough to buy the cd....purchase this and see how ska music can still be new and inventive...but still, this is so much more than a ska album....just great music....