The Toasters - One More Bullet (2007) {Stomp} **[RE-UP]**

First off, I'm still impressed that Buck & Co. keep on truckin'. They're continually releasing music and touring, spreading the good word of ska across the land. So kudos to them.

Onto the album. As Bryan pointed out, there's yet a new lineup. Forget "original members" - there's only two members from two albums ago - Larry "Ace" Snell and the ever-present third-wave legend Rob "Bucket" Hingley. The band suffers similarly with Enemy of the System in having a flatter-than-usual sound and uninspired horns that seem to exist for the sake of existing and not to carry the melody. But new toaster Jason Nwagbaraocha adds new life to this old dog with his rapid-fire chatting that's more Coolie Ranx than Jack Ruby.

Of the 11 tracks, one's a standard instrumental, two are covers of oldies (Everly Bros and Dave Clark), and one follows the tradition of redoing a Toaster classic (this one, Run Rudy Run, one of my favorite songs of all time). The rest fall between mediocre-and-good-I-guess, and Buck's voice is sounding more tired than ever. Nwagbaraocha, more than the music, gives the songs energy - this is especially true for "What A Gwan" and "Where's the Freedom?" Of the original new songs, "You're Gonna Pay" is the most upbeat, fun, and full-sounding, and continues Buck's theme of dishing out karma. Disappointingly, for such a cool title, the title track is a downtempo and boringly simple blues-style tune.

One More Bullet continues the Toasters' trademark sound but lacks a real hit. At their best, they sound derivative of themselves. There's nothing outright bad here, but nothing I would put on a greatest hits set.

I periodically get sick of ska, but can always listen to the Toasters - I wish they'd give me more reason to do so. Perhaps I hold them at too high a standard, but when you're a band that's put out such great music over 25 years, a high standard is something you should shoot for. Mediocrity works for many ska bands, but not the Toasters.

Celebrating the band's 25th anniversary, The Toasters' new album, One More Bullet, is testimony that they remain the standard-bearers of the ska scene. Led by British-born frontman/guitarist Rob "Buck" Hingley, the band has written a 12-song round as energetic as it is mellow, but danceable as ever.

"What a Gwan" is a fun track, with bassist Jason Nwagbaraocha handling the choruses and Hingley the verses. With the ska equivalent of breakdowns trumpeting through your ears, you too will be hooked from the very first song. "Night Train to Moscow" is a song that Hingley penned when The Toasters played in Siberia last year. The band has always been known for playing exotic locales that most other bands don't venture to, and have a large following in some of the less-visited parts of Europe as a result. "Where's the Freedom" and "Life in a Bubble" continue the dance party. The former, an outspoken political statement sung completely by Nwagbaraocha, the latter split vocally. Both singers are at the top of their game, infusing different styles and genres into the music, which helps One More Bullet tickle your eardrums with a tangy dose of diversity.

Following the scorching four leads, "Run Rudy Run Redux" features heavy use of the organ and harmonica, slowing down the tempo of the album. For the skankers in here, never fear; arguably the most entertaining, tongue-in-cheek song of the album is right on its heels. "You're Gonna Pay" is a fiery retaliation at all of the people in the industry who have wronged the band over the years. The keys will dance through your ears, and it is unlikely that the infectious chorus will stop flailing through your brain in a black-and-white checked suit. "When Will I Be Loved?" is a slow-jam, woe-is-me song, which drags on a bit, proving itself one of the weaker contributions. It seems sarcastic, but it doesn't back up the satire as well as "You're Gonna Pay." "One More Bullet," as a title track brings some great organ/keyboard parts, which shimmer like gold behind Hingley's smoothly delivered vocals. Instrumental fans, never fear—The Toasters are here. "Step Up" runs a shade under three minutes, but stands proud near the top of the pile, and is sure to captivate even the most ADD of listeners with its lively sound.

One More Bullet, long-awaited by Toasters fans, certainly does not disappoint. It feels like there is little filler on the album, partly because of the amount of time the band spent in their studio in Valencia, Spain. Expect a couple of slower songs on this album and some mid-tempo ones, but overall, they're all well-written, which results in a complete, compelling collection of music. Until a worthy challenger comes along to dethrone the kings of ska, One More Bullet is the best ska album of 2007. The Toasters' empire will continue to reign supreme for another year.