Age of Insects

Album number three from this third-wave ska supergroup (which includes members of Mephiskapheles, the Stubborn Allstars and Agent 99 and is led by Slackers frontman Vic Ruggiero) departs from their previous two in that it consists of original material, rather than cover versions. Of the 13 songs in the program, 11 are by Ruggiero, whose work with the Slackers has been some of the best and most mature ska songcraft of recent years; the other two are by bassist Victor Rice. Ska purists may balk at some of Ruggiero's compositions — "Love Ya Mama" is a chugging R&B number that flirts with rockabilly, while "Age of Insects" combines a highly sophisticated chord progression and lyrical structure with a claustrophobic, rockish sound. But what matters isn't whether it's really ska; what matters is whether it's great music, and most of these songs fit that description perfectly. For the purists there are the Rice compositions, the very trad instrumentals "Brother" and "F.C.C.," both of which manage to be both great music and great ska. Best couplet, from the title track: "Our last kiss was purely circumstantial/Your reasons for leaving, valid and financial."