Deal's Gone Bad: Overboard
Label: Jump Up
Release Date: 1999
Review Date: 2001
Sadly, as I write this, they may have already folded or undergone a massive line up change. DGB typically has close to ten people on stage in keeping with the standards of the genre. "Finest Quality Reggae and Ska" is their tagline, but I'd say roots reggae or rocksteady is closer to the truth. Nowadays, Ska can carry a negative connotation, what with the scores of white-bread "ska" bands with super fast tempo songs and no soul. DGB has avoided this pitfall by concentrating on the old style (and Old Style, being from Chicago…) of the music. Think pre-specials, sometimes along the lines of Hepcat. "Overboard" is pretty straight forward. What makes this different from the loads of crappy ska out there is the talent of the multi-ethnic musicians and their appreciation of their forefathers. They've been around since 1995 and have weathered the ska mini-craze of the 90's. If I had to complain, I'd say that DGB went a little too traditional with "Overboard." I would have liked to see some dub action in effect, if only on a "secret track" or somewhere. Other than that, "Overboard" is a solid record both musically and lyrically. If you like the old style jamacian roots music, you'll probably like Deal's Gone Bad and Overboard.
Jump Up Records
P.O. box 13189
Chicago Il, 60613
Hey Corporate Types: Why not send in your skateboard gear for review. We promise to review it promptly (unless it is raining or we are busy or lazy). If we think it sucks, we'll get a second opinion. We even pass stuff on to a lucky reader. We love product.