Dirty Rice

After seven years away from the recording studio, Santa Barbara-based ska-punk band the Mad Caddies return with their sixth full-length album, Dirty Rice. The album finds the group in an eclectic mood, ranging from the boozy boogie of "Brand New Scar," the straight-ahead punk of "Love Myself," and the old-school reggae of "Shoot Out the Lights" to the easy skanking ska of "Dangerous," the blues-leaning acoustic melodies of "Drinking the Night Away," and the thoughtful pop sounds of "Airplane." As usual, the Mad Caddies give the material a rich, well-textured sound on Dirty Rice, with horns and keyboards filling out the arrangements, and the songs display an understated wit while talking a serious look at life, love, and the world around them. After nearly 20 years together, the Mad Caddies still sound fresh, committed, and engaged on Dirty Rice, confirming their status as one of the enduring bands on the SoCal punk scene. ~ Mark Deming