Naked N' Happy

Strange as it may seem, Stomp Records - Canada's premiere ska label - has "strongly failed" in producing a decent ska CD. Instead of the usual easy-skanking Stomp fare, We Strongly Failed is a cacophony of punk rock and hardcore sounds, topped off with a two-piece horn section that doesn't stand out in any particular way. Naked N' Happy seem to be trying to play ska-core à la Voodoo Glow Skulls, but it doesn't come across nearly as well. There are a few half-decent ska songs, such as "At The Red Light" and "Desperate," which are livened up by guest trombonist Kurt Rusciensky from the Planet Smashers, but the album's overall sound is fast, heavy punk rock. This is a very angry young band with politically motivated lyrics, but the hardcore-style vocals are nearly impossible to pick up without the aid of the lyric sheet. An added bonus to We Strongly Failed is "Ch'Pus Capable," a song written in French, peppered with Quebec slang. Unfortunately, this song also falls victim to the unintelligible vocals. There's no denying that Naked N' Happy have far more energy than most Stomp bands, which would make them much more appealing in a live setting than on CD.