Duff Review: The Lions "The Loser"

Names You Can Trust
7" vinyl single/digital
2020

(Review by Steve Shafer)

It's hard to believe that it's been five years since The Lions released their magnificent Soul Riot (here's some of what I wrote about it back then: "I am in awe of this record. Like Fishbone's Truth and Soul or Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, The Lions' absolutely phenomenal Soul Riot is full of songs of defiance, despair, anger, and pure joy (where love and lust are concerned) that reflect the Black American experience--as the nation's horrific legacy of slavery continues to play out in so many devastating ways (in particular, see "When It Rains," "At a Loss," and "Going Nowhere")). Fortunately, they're finally back with a superb new single, a cover of Derrick Harriott's perfect 1967 rocksteady hit "The Loser." The Lions' take on it at first seems pretty faithful, but when you hear the Impressions-like harmonies in the chorus and other responses, Alex Désert's silky lead vocals, and Black Shakespeare's deft deejay commentary, it all ascends to the next level.

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The Ska Music Yearbook 2014 from Reggae, Steady, Ska!

The amazing ska fans at Reggae, Steady, Ska (lead by The Braces' Joachim Uerschels) have issued The Ska Music Yearbook 2014--an impressive and comprehensive look back at what took place in the ska scene worldwide last year. This 107-page (!) digital yearbook includes an extensive list of ska releases in 2014; a detailed calendar of events and ska festivals; interviews with Derrick Harriott, The Aggrolites, Toulouse Skanking Foundation, Buster Shuffle, Rhoda Dakar, ska author Heather Augustyn, Monty Alexander, The Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Alpha Boys School Radio, Style Scott, Rude Boy George, and The Pannonia Allstars Ska Orchestra; a feature on the Coventry Music Museum/2 Tone Trail; lots of ska "best of" lists for 2014; and more, all for a little under 3 euros!

The Ska Music Yearbook 2014 is a fantastic resource for the casual ska fan who wants to catch up on what he/she missed in 2014, as well as the ska obsessives amongst us who need to know everything!  Support the ska scene--and this labor of love-like coverage of it--by picking up this yearbook now!