The Family Business Ltd

Michael Venn, contributor

I'll admit right up front that I might be more than a little biased when it comes to this record. Rancid has been one of my favorite bands for as long as I can remember, Hellcat Records has consistently been one of my favorite labels, and I've jokingly referred to Tim Armstrong as my spirit animal on more than one occasion. So when I heard about The Family Business Ltd., a collaboration bringing together musicians from different generations of ska and punk, with Armstrong and former Operation Ivy bandmate Jesse Michaels involved, I was more than excited to hear what they'd come up with. Thankfully, the record delivers everything I was hoping for, and then some.  
 

The excitement over their record had a lot to do with the aforementioned love of anything that Tim Armstrong writes, records, produces, performs, etc… If you're unfamiliar with him, I’d say go do a deep dive on him as soon as you finish reading this review.  But IYKYK… Tim Armstrong is a Legend, and one of the godfathers of punk rock royalty, in my opinion, but more on Tim later in this review.
 

The self-titled debut is ten tracks of infectious two-tone ska, clocking in at just over 23 minutes, and there's not a wasted moment on the entire album. Featuring Jordan Cardy (RAT BOY), Preston (The Ordinary Boys), Jesse Michaels (Operation Ivy) and Antonee First Class (The English Beat), the band brings together musicians who clearly have an appreciation for the music that inspired them. It is truly refreshing hearing a record that is at its core designed to get people moving and dancing at a show, with a live band, performing for the mutual love of a Jamaican/London/So-Cal derived musical style. The Family Business, Ltd embraces everything that made this style of music so appealing in the first place. The bouncing bass lines, off-beat guitar rhythms, catchy horn arrangements, and punk attitude are all here, and the result is a record that's nearly impossible to sit still while listening to. Seriously, try it, I dare you.
 

The opening track “Floor Burner” wastes absolutely no time setting the tone for what's to come. It's got all the ingredients that make great ska so enjoyable, with an infectious rhythm and enough energy to get things moving immediately. There's a definite nod to the glory days of The Specials and The English Beat, but the band manages to make it feel like something more than a nostalgic trip down memory lane. “Shakedown” and “Detonator” keep that momentum going, and one of the things I really appreciate about this record is how naturally everything flows together. Considering the album reportedly came together in just two weeks, there's a spontaneity to the music that's hard not to love.
 

“Still a Jamaican” is another standout for me, bringing the genre's Jamaican roots to the forefront while giving Antonee First Class an opportunity to shine. It's a reminder that long before ska became associated with British two-tone and American punk, it was a uniquely Jamaican musical movement. 
 

Then there's “Bambi,” which is easily one of my favorite tracks on the record. Between its infectious groove, horn arrangements, and ridiculously catchy chorus, it's one of those songs that gets stuck in your head in the best way possible. Along with “Floor Burner” and “Still a Jamaican,” these three songs represent some of the strongest moments on an album where, quite frankly, I love each and every track.
 

The rest of the record is equally enjoyable. “Armageddon,” “No Vacancy,” “Transistor,” and “Dead Boy” all bring something to the table, before the album wraps up with “A.S.B.O.” There's not a single song I'd skip, which is something I can't say about many records these days. What makes the album so appealing to me is that it never feels overly calculated or polished to the point of losing its personality. The arrangements are tight, the rhythms are infectious, and there's a genuine sense of enthusiasm running throughout. Beneath all that upbeat music is the same sense of attitude and social commentary that's always made ska and punk such a natural pairing. And reuniting Tim (aka Lint) and Jesse from Operation Ivy, is nostalgic for all of us who grew up loving the band from the Gilman Street scene in the late 1980’s.
 

One of the things I've always appreciated about Tim Armstrong and the artists associated with Hellcat Records is their ability to keep the spirit of punk, ska, and reggae alive without making it feel like they're simply rehashing the past. There's a respect for the history of the music, but also an understanding that it needs to feel new and alive again. The Family Business Ltd. captures that spirit beautifully. There may not be any groundbreaking musical discoveries here, and I don't think that's the point. Sometimes it's enough to bring together a bunch of talented musicians who love what they're doing and let the music speak for itself.
 

My only complaint about The Family Business Ltd. is that at just over 23 minutes, it's over far too quickly. Then again, it's also one of those albums that makes you want to start it over again the moment it finishes. Ten songs, no filler, and an infectious energy that never lets up. For anyone who grew up listening to The Specials, The English Beat, Madness, Operation Ivy, or Rancid, there's an awful lot here to love. And for someone discovering this style of music for the first time, it's a pretty fantastic introduction. I went into this record with high expectations, and somehow it managed to exceed them. It's easily one of my favorite releases of the year, and one I suspect will be getting plenty of spins for a long time to come… especially now that the vinyl has finally been released!
 

Ok, as promised a brief history lesson on Tim Armstrong.

Tim Armstrong, (aka, Lint, Tim Timebomb), has been one of the most influential figures in punk rock for four decades. From his early days with the groundbreaking ska-punk band Operation Ivy to founding Rancid in 1991, Armstrong has helped shape the sound of modern punk, ska, folk, americana, and reggae. Beyond Rancid, he's released music with the Transplants, pursued solo projects under his own name and the Tim Timebomb moniker (where he released a song a day for a year on youtube), collaborated with members of Blink 182, Green Day, and founded Hellcat Records. His talents extend well beyond music, with an extensive body of paintings, drawings, and mixed-media artwork that's been exhibited internationally, along with signature guitars from both Fender (the Tim Armstrong Hellcat acoustic) and Gretsch (the Electromatic hollow-body series). He's also an accomplished songwriter and producer, having collaborated with artists ranging from Pink to reggae legend Jimmy Cliff, and even Joe Walsh of the Eagles. Those collaborations earned him Grammy wins for Pink's “Trouble,” which won Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 2004, and a Grammy credited directly to Armstrong for producing, writing and recording, Jimmy Cliff's Rebirth, which won Best Reggae Album in 2013. With his unmistakable voice, DIY attitude, and seemingly endless creative output, Armstrong has built a career that extends far beyond his reputation as Rancid's frontman, establishing himself as one of punk rock's most enduring and respected creative forces. Oh yeah, and he’s even directed movies, music videos, acted in an episode of the X-files, and directed, written and recorded a musical “Rock n’ Roll Theater”. His artistic output is legendary, and it continues with this new collaboration with the Family Business Ltd.  
 

Not to shabby for a left handed punk rocker from California’s East Bay.