***Over 30+ years, The Slackers have remained one of the most prolific musical combos in the game. In the course of drawing from a seemingly endless well of songwriting creativity, the band has released music on some of the biggest labels in independent music, as well as on much smaller boutique ska & reggae labels across the entire world, including NYC’s Special Potato, which has served as home to many of the band’s home-brew releases over the decades. 2008’s Self Medication LP was one of the latter releases, initially released on CD through Indication Records, and a single pressing on black vinyl from Special Potato/Indication. The record has been out of print for the ensuing 15 years and a tragically overlooked chapter in the band’s history. The sound of this record, then, is that of a band who have the talent and the confidence to chart their course, experimenting with a diverse sonic palette including elements of ska, reggae, swing, rock, and a lot of psychedelia, that nevertheless feels distinctly and unmistakably like them. And, of course, the band’s combination of earnest humanity and wry humor shines through in the lyrics, right from the opening line, “Every day is Sunday when you’re unemployed...” Indeed, this is the sound of The Slackers as dictated by The Slackers. Includes a bonus 7-inch of unreleased material.
LP+7 $26.95
10/20/2023
***These New Yorkers have been skillfully crafting their signature gospel of roots-reggae-ska fusion for over 30 years, and in doing so rightfully earning a reputation as one of the most engaging live bands in the world. Back in 1996, the NY Times declared the Slackers to be part of “the sound of New York”, a mantle they haven’t given up since. Originally released on Hellcat in 2006, Peculiar has remained timeless, continuously heralded as a true testament to their energy on stage and what makes them such a treasured band by fans across the globe. Alternative Nation called it “protest music made for dim, sweaty basements—The Slackers would sound at home supporting Rancid just as well as some grizzled New Orleans electric blues trio.” While Peculiar isn't a proper live album, the band managed to turn a club into their studio and truly strike a balance between their incredible live show and their equally impassioned studio work. The rhythm parts of the album were laid down during a live performance at renowned Dutch ska club Ernesto’s (in Sittard, Holland), with vocal overdubs added later in the studio. The setlist also includes tracks from their previous War Criminal EP, reinterpreted, reframed, and played quite differently from their original release. Peculiar ranks right up there with Redlight and The Question as one of the Slackers' best - certainly one of the most played and cherished albums in their arsenal. Pirates Press Records is proud to have teamed up with the band to...
LP+7 $25.35
05/05/2023
***The Question is a crucial cornerstone in the history of NYC ska/reggae legends, The Slackers, and an essential album in the collection of any fan of the band or the multiple genres they effortlessly fuse together. Originally released in 1998, The Question marked the third LP in three years for the band, and the immediate follow-up to their breakthrough album, Redlight, from the previous year. The album was written and recorded amidst a nonstop schedule of touring and live performances, as well as frontman Vic Ruggiero's major creative hand in Rancid's album Life Won't Wait, released earlier that same year, on which he played organ, piano, percussion, and guitar, receiving co-writing credits on much of the record. All of the above contributed to cementing The Slackers' place at the forefront of the 90s ska revival in the US & worldwide, as well as their reputation for being one of the most authentic bands paying respect to the roots of the genre (one of the album's dedications is to the late Skatalites founding member, Tommy McCook). With so many more eyes and ears tuned in, the band rose to the occasion and delivered on the high expectations. Selections from this record, including "Have the Time," "Keep Him Away," and "Face in My Crowd," became staples in the band's live set and fan-favorites, with "Have the Time" still often receiving honored placement as a set-closer or encore nearly 25 years later.
2X12 $26.50
03/24/2023
***Pirates Press Records is unbelievably proud to announce the release of the first new Slackers full length album in seven years, and the first on Pirates! Filled front to back with true hits that could each stand alone as a single, this full length takes you on a real (musical) journey with this legendary band that so many have followed religiously for decades. The New York Times dubbed the Slackers part of 'the sound of New York,’ and the Slackers just keep at it, only getting better with age and experience—writing better and better songs, and continuing to build and strengthen that global Slackers family. This album is a testament to that age and experience.
LP $20.95
03/24/2023
***Pirates Press Records are happy to announce the long overdue reissue of one of The Slackers most acclaimed albums, Wasted Days. Their fourth studio double album, originally released in 2000, hasn’t been available since 2013, and is an essential component to any Slackers collection! It showcases The Slackers' innovative incorporation of diverse influences to create a sound that is truly their own - from ska, reggae, rocksteady, and dub to soul, R&B, calypso, jazz, and rock ’n roll. Led by Vic Ruggerio's unmistakably Bronx accented vocal stylings, the band never lose touch with the scrappy energy of where they call home, New York City.
LP $26.50
03/24/2023