Area-7 - No Logic

No Logic is Area-7's second EP. It was released in 1998, one year after Road Rage.

It is probably blasphemy for any supposed ska fan to say this, but I prefer the later, more commercial releases to this EP. The songs are mainly simple ditties, like a superficial caricature. For example, Green Eggs and Ham sounds to me like the theme song from a cheesy soap opera. Sorry! And No Logic (the title track) to me sounds like a few okay-ish musical ideas drawn out to fill a song.

While I'm being critical, the recording quality is a letdown. It might have been a deliberate stylistic choice, but the sound is really thin and often lacks punch. There's just no sense of scale, i.e. it's often hard to imagine that there's 7 members in the band, especially when the organ isn't playing. On the positive side, the keyboard parts are a highlight for me, providing wonderful hammond-ish goodness at times.

The cover of I Want to Break Free is an interesting take on the song. Not so good is the slower Schizo, an example of things getting awkward when Area-7 attempt a more reggae style, in this case shoehorned next to a disappointing "oi-punk" chorus. This style of chorus also lets down On and Off. Luckily, the good lyrics make some amends for both of these songs.

Bear Boy is so silly that I like it, in a similar way to a say an old Leisuresuit Larry computer game. But the best is saved for (almost) last: Stormin'. This song is the reason I bought the EP and remains the highlight for me, largely due to the energetic groove of the verses.

Favourite Songs

Tale of Bear Boy, Stormin'

Worthwhile?

*stares at feet* ... *awkwardly shuffles feet around*... ummm... no. It might have been refreshingly simple and whimsical at the time, but these days it just sounds twee.