Chase Long Beach

Guest guitars by Reel Big Fish's Aaron Barrett? Guest trumpets by Catch 22's Kevin Gunther? Can you say, "ska-super-album"? Chase Long Beach have returned with a sophomore album that takes their original party-frenzy ska music and attempts to develop it into an even bigger co-ed concoction of guitars-meets-brass-meets-guitars, which actually isn't always so dandy. "We've Got Pockets Like Nobody's Business" starts off with a guitar riff eerily similar to Sum 41's "Makes No Difference To Me," a bizarre riff to rip off considering the stylistic differences. The alternating vocals between Karen Roberts and Patrick Fitzgerald add an atypical but fresh and appreciated dynamic to their skank-worthy songs. "The Beginning" is a bit of a jam track but shows Chase Long Beach aren't afraid to try new things, thus setting them apart from their competitors. While it's overall a solid release that shows a great amount of skill and development, it is simply not enough to market them as the "new kings and queens of ska" like Victory is attempting.