Supertones serve up ska with a message

If you’re into Christian rock, then this is an album for you. From the distinctive ska sound of “Just A Man,” to the soulful ballad “Hold on to Jesus,” the album is a musical treat.

For its fifth album, Hi-Fi Revival, the Orange County Supertones use a punk/ska rhythm to convey their message. The added horn element plays to their advantage. Songs like “Go Go Go” are certain to get your toes tapping.

“Birth of Uncool” gives the listener a taste of the traditional ska sound, as well as meaningful lyrics. The Supertones explain that in the current era of rock, “they only like the cynical bands.”

Most of the songs on this album are very catchy. The ballad “Hold on to Jesus” is the only song that doesn’t seem to fit on this CD. The song is too slow to add to the overall sound of the record. The lyrics are deep though, as the band tells the listeners that “nothing worth anything is cheap.”

In the fast-paced “Go Go Go,” the band sings about how they “don’t wanna see the dance floor vacant.”

The best part of the band is its ability to sound normal. There’s nothing particularly distinctive about the singer, and what sets the band apart from other ska bands is its religious lyrics.

The message of the album is clearly religious, and like all kinds of music, has a specialized fan base, but the music itself is great. Bump this album in the background at a party and you might not even notice the religious-themed lyrics.