Description
Fight of my Life is a studio album by the American skacore band The Insyderz, released on KMG Records in 1998. The album was recorded May 1998 by Barrett Jones assisted by Steve Slavich at Streeterville in Chicago, Illinois; with Jones producing (except track 3 recorded July 1998 by Jim Hahn at The Record Factory in Costa Mesa, California; with Paul Hampton producing). Additional recording July 1998 by Gene Eugene of Adam Again fame at The Green Room in Huntington Beach, California. Mixed August 1998 by Gene Eugene at Front Page in Glendal, California (except track 8 mixed by Paul Hampton and Jim Hahn at Front Page, as well as track 11 mixed by Barrett Jones at Streeterville). All songs written by the band with lyrics by lead vocalist Joe Yerke (except track 10, a song written by Ric Ocasek).
The Insyderz features Joe Yerke on vocals, Kyle Wasil on guitar, Beau McCarthy on bass, and Nate Sjogren on drums, with Bram Roberts and Sang Kim on trumpet and trombone respectively. The album also features producer Barrett Jones on keyboards and backing vocals.
The Insyderz describe their music as ska core – it is hard to pin point one genre of music from listening to this. It is mainly ska, punk, hardcore, metal and funk. This album has got less horns but is a giant leap forward from ‘Skalleluia‘. The punchy opener «Jigsaw» is a good ska punk track with good choppy punk guitar riffs. «Paradise» has a more laid back with a reggae feel to it. «The Hunted» has a metal-style intro and then kicks into growling rap core. Most of the tracks on ‘Fight Of My Life’ have catchy choruses and hooks in them and this album is a joyful, surging celebration. [Daniel Cole, Cross Rhythms, June 1999]
The Insyderz, a ska band from the Detroit area, has released its third in a series of impressive records. While Skalleluia treated ska like the novelty it is in some parts of the culture – dressing up familiar worship choruses with third-wave street credibility – here the Motor City boys get down and dirty with some aggressive originals. Gritty rhythm guitars, fast-paced shuffle rhythms and a full horn section set up the songs’ quirky hooks. Considering that this music always sounds best in the live medium, where the sweat and energy are most palpable, this recording delivers the goods with compelling realism.
Still, The Insyderz seldom connects with the kind of strong melodic hooks that took Reel Big Fish’s «Sell Out» and Mighty, Mighty Bosstones «Impression That I Get» to the top of the pop charts. Thus, Fight of My Life will work best for ska aficionados. «Forgive and Forget» flexes some metal muscle before the verse returns us to home-base. «The Hunted» gets convoluted in apocalyptic imagery and a rap section that’s fun musically but postures in ways that distract from any sensible understanding (“What was that?” you’ll finally ask). And don’t let the zoot suits fool you; the bossa nova instrumental, «Trinidad», saunters but never really swings. The cover of The Cars’ 1978 hit «Just What I Needed» reveals the band’s versatility without detracting from the band’s strengths.
Finally, it’s «Rat Race», with its prayer for peace, hope, grace and strength that delivers the kind of straight-forward, positive message that suits the fun sound. Next time, the band might not want to fight so hard. The best things come naturally. [Brian Quincy Newcomb, CCM, January 1999]
> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/fight-of-my-life/418186619)
CD tracklist:
01. Jigsaw
02. What Happened To Joe?
03. Paradise
04. The Hunted
05. Game Day
06. Forgive And Forget
07. Trinidad (Instrumental)
08. Rat Race
09. Just What I Needed
10. Fight Of My Life
11.1. Paradise (Barrett’s Version)
11.2. Untitled
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by KMG Records. The hidden track at the end of track 11 is given no title here, however, upon release of The Greatest And Rarest, it was revealed that the name of the track is “Manual Transmission.”
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[youtube_sc url=”_qC5hRt0bcI” title=”The Insyderz – Jigsaw (Video)” autohide=”1″ rel=”0″]
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