The Pietasters are back! The 8 piece band from the DC/Maryland/Virginia area have re-invaded the ska scene with the release of their new cd, “Turbo.” I just recently bought this album, and I would just like to say that I didn’t even have to listen to this whole cd to know it kicks ass! I listened to the first minute of each song and drove around town, very pleased to know the Pietasters still had their mojo, or whatever it is that makes them so awesome...

This cd is great for many reasons. I’m excited about “Turbo” after having sat through 2 un-Pietasters like albums, the first being “Willis.” It wasn’t bad, but you could tell they’d been through some professional recording. The next album, “Awesome Mix Tape #6,” was a disgrace to the band because it seemed way too manufactured and proper. I was disappointed with this release because it just didn’t seem like it was fun for the band anymore. It lacked the enthusiasm and experimentation their previous albums were full of! All I am saying is that the Pietasters suck at conforming to the music that they think people want to hear.

However, “Turbo” is unlike their other albums. It’s versatile and upbeat, and each song is different. They get soulful and funky with every track, and they even cover Bob Marley’s “Mellow Mood.” You can tell they’re having a good time, and they want you to also. I think the change in their sound is due to their switch from Hellcat Records to newly-formed Fueled by Ramen Records. FBR gives them the space they need to experiment and expand their sound. The cd is full of two-tone ska influence with a touch of reggae, soul, and funk.

The Pietasters are good at what they do, but they do it best with their sloppy, careless, beer-drinkin’ style. In fact, beer is what got them where they are today! They started in college and realized that they got free beer whenever and wherever they played. The help of some good brew, some good friends, and some good college parties brought the birth of the greatest ska band ever to hit the DC/Maryland/Virginia circuit!