How often do we hear that ska is dead.
The concerts featuring ska bands are becoming rarer and smaller, and a real party has only been happening at festivals for years.
It may be true that ska is not the hot thing everyone is rushing to right now. The people who still listen to ska, and they are by no means just those over 40, live not only the music but especially the attitude behind it.
So what happens when Jordan Cardy (Rat Boy), Preston (The Ordinary Boys), and Antonee First Class (The Beat or The English Beat or The British Beat) meet in the studio in Los Angeles and collaborate with Tim Armstrong (Rancid, Transplants, and former Operation Ivy) and Jesse Michaels (former Operation Ivy) along with The Calmatix?
Then THE FAMILY BUSINESS LTD is born!
Finest 2-tone ska with the energy of punk rock!
The ten songs manage to convey the energy of this sound without forgetting the tradition of the style. On the contrary, the sound is so wonderfully old school that not everyone would notice that these are new songs being unleashed to the world on September 25, 2026.
All the songs are consistently danceable, bringing a smile to your face and energy to your dancing feet.
Songs like “Floor Burner” or “Shakedown” are under two minutes and for me are some of the best songs on the album. “No Vacancy” is also worth mentioning. For those who prefer it more traditional, “Still a Jamaican” is highly recommended.
This small but very fine all-star project has captured something that shows that ska, in this case 2-tone, is far from dead. Music lives in the hearts, and what THE FAMILY BUSINESS LTD is releasing comes straight from the heart!
Let’s hope that the project can also get some concerts off the ground.
