Reviews – Pray For Mojo

Photo 1999 by Anna Clive

CMJ NEW MUSIC REPORT
by Amy Sciarretto

Think the late-’90s wave of American ska has finally fully entered the mainstream? Well, think again. Michigan’s Mustard Plug has been doing its punk-with-horns thing since 1991, so the band can’t really be considered mainstream bandwagon jumpers. Pray For Mojo, the group’s third long player, projects a youthful aura with energetic instrumental passages and singer Dave Kirchgessner’s vibrant, adolescent vocals. If you listen closely, you’ll even be able to detect subtle traces of early-80’s new wave. Overall, the songs sound like good ol’fashioned pop-punk, jacked up a notch by peppy trombone and trumpet lines that prime you to kick off your shoes and start skanking ‘till rivulets of sweat pour down your face. Don’t miss the closing “We’re Gunna Take On The World,” a full-on anthem complete with the ear-pleasing sound of smashing plates.

CHICAGO FLAME / INFERNO
by Angela Nelson
Rating: 9/10

Anyone who calls themselves a ska-punk fan gets 30 lashes for not having this CD yet. Mustard Plug does it again with their newest full-length release.

This is one of those albums that even those less than enthusiastic about ska as a genre (we’ll forgive them) will have to admit just really rocks. Best of all, there is a little something for everyone, or at least every mood.

“Not Giving In” speaks to those forced by the harsh reality of this rat race of a world we live in. “Everything Girl” and “Lolita” pull at the heart strings of those in love or infatuated. “Throw a Bomb” provides the perfect outlet for the really angry, reminding us all it’s OK to go a bit psycho after a crappy day. And long-time MP fans will love “We’re Gunna Take on the World” in all its praise-for-staying-true-to-the-music glory.

28TH STREET
by Rory Rogers

Pray For Mojo is Mustard Plug’s third full length to date and so far so good. They are, by far, one of the best ska-core bands out right now. With bands like Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, and No Doubt leading the latest trend in Ska, it’s hard to find the real McCoy out there, but here it is. In the tradition of the Bosstones, Mustard Plug is keeping the true spirit of ska-core alive. The most important part of a qualilty ska band is definitely their horn section, and these guys have a horn section that won’t stop. Solid, in tune, and innovative. Strong drums, upbeat guitars, flowing bass and good, clean vocals. I am not a fan of ska music at all but in the few cases that a good ska band comes along, they deserve to be noticed. Mustard Plug put out a great record and everybody should check it out, in addition to the CD they truly shine on stage. Their integrity and absolute love for what they are doing is an obvious presence during their live set. If you like ska music, than you would be a fool to not check this record out.

MUSIC CRITIC.COM
by smoke

An Album for the Plug Faithful

The recently released third effort of Michigan’s very own Mustard Plug follows right in the footsteps of the two previous. What was once a lesser-known member of the midwest’s sprouting third wave ska scene has gained nationwide recognition through extensive touring and major compilation appearances. Easily one of the most consistently impressive ska acts to see live releases its newest, Pray For Mojo.

Over the course of Big Daddy Multitude and Evildoer’s Beware, the "Plug" has built a reputation of songs with catchy enough rhythms that you swear you’ve heard the song before, even though you just bought the album. With lyrics which playfully mock life’s experiences, it’s not hard to understand how a loyal following has been built.

Pray For Mojo follows suit with another 12 upbeat tracks which show how Mustard Plug likes to dabble back and forth between Third Wave and punk guitar riffs. "Not Giving In" brings in a newer flavor for the band which is both one of the most original and interesting tracks on the album. The next three move through trademark strong songwriting by the band until someone decided to stick Mustard Plug in a room with Murphy’s Law to come up with "Throw a Bomb." "Lolita" plays around with the movie everyone loves to hate and will definitely be a big request at shows.

Overall, it’s a great follow-up to the previous two albums and shows how an original ska song can be written without falling into the cookbook recipes for ska songs as of late. Unfortunately, with the exeption of "Yesterday," Pray For Mojo fails to find a way to incorporate the incredible live energy that really makes the band jump. Buy the album, learn the words, see them live to get the REAL Mustard Plug!

GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
by John Serba
Rating: 3.5/4

Mustard Plug, it seems, is looking for luck in all the wrong places. Grand Rapids’ own international ska sensations have named their new opus “Pray For Mojo,” the CD cover featuring a goofy figurine surrounded by fruit and candles – as if the band really needs magic at this point.

My point is, the Pluggers aren’t going to need any external or otherworldly devices to achieve success if they keep putting out quality material like “Mojo.”

First of all, the production – courtesy of punk legends Bill Stevenson and Stephen Egerton of the Descendants and All – is top-notch, the bass is put right up front with the vocals and horns for that charged-up, caffeinated sound that marks all good punk and ska records.

The songs are also well-written, poppy as all get out and more hyper than a 6-year-old on Skittles. My current faves include album opener “Send You Back,” which is fueled by vocalist Dave Kirchgessner’s quirky lyrics, the barre chord overdrive of “So Far to Go,” and “Throw a Bomb,” a sarcastic ode to the p.o.’d that strips things down to hand claps during the bridge. Spiffy!

I also be diggin’ the proud-to-be-a-Plugger ditty “We’re Gunna Take on the World,” the catchier-than-the-plague “Lolita” and the more traditionally Jamaican “Time Will Come,” which actually slows things back down to the speed limit.

Regardless, any tune on “Mojo” will have ‘em sweaty and stinky in the aisles at the shows, where Mustard Plug thrives. This disc isn’t worlds away from previous ditty “Evildoers Beware!” but both are, without a doubt, highly listenable, energetic and enthusiastic – something I wish I could say about every album that crosses my desk.

ALL MUSIC GUIDE
by Jo-Ann Greene

For anyone who wished the new-school punks would play more ska (yes NOFX, Rancid, et al.; that means you), Mustard Plug is the answer to their prayers. Marrying the melody drenched sound sweeping out of the current crop of spiky haired bands with the razor-edged riffing of reggae, and strewing it all with brass, this Grand Rapids, Michigan band fall firmly between the genre cracks. They’re much faster and more musically upbeat than Two-Tone, far punkier than their fellow skankers, but lyrically less angsty than the punks. In fact, what first hits one about Pray for Mojo is the sheer exuberance of the set’s sound and the pure enthusiasm of the band. But for all its uniqueness, one can still hear the antecedents, a melting pot of influences. "So Far to Go"’s dynamics are reminiscent of Simple Minds’ "Street Life," as played by U.K. Subs, assuming, of course, they had a brass section as ferocious as their guitarist. It’s easy to forget that Simple Minds began as a punk band, but Mustard haven’t; however they’re closer in sound to the hardcore scene, past and present, as "Throw a Bomb" makes clear, while "Someday, Right Now" is just one of a number of tracks that nod to NOFX. With their sharp melodies and hefty hooks, anthemic singalongs are the band’s specialty, but they’re agile enough to occasionally slow down the pace with powerful results as on "Time Will Come," or slip into purer pop-punk-ska as they do on "Yesterday" and the exhilarating "Send You Back." Of course, plenty of punk bands have delved into ska, and vice-versa, but few with such panache and exuberance as Mustard Plug. But what makes this ska-core group special is the fabulous horn section of trumpeter Brandon Jenison and trombonist Jim Hofer. The pair plump up the band’s sound, give further kick to the rhythm, but crucially carry the rousing melodies on their own or in collusion with their bandmates. Without them, Mustard would still be a magnificently tight and melodic unit, but with them, the band move onto an entirely new plane. Who knew that brass could blaze away with as much punk fire as guitars, bass, and drums?

RUDE INTERNATIONAL
by Lisa Napoles

Mustard Plug has been around since the first time ska was supposed to be the next big thing. They were skacore before skacore was on MTV, and by today’s standards, Pray For Mojo could almost be called midtempo. This record shows more of an emphasis on melody as well as production. The guitar and horns don’t take turns overwhelming the songs like they used to, and the band sounds much more cohesive. They’re still cracking up and not taking too much of anything seriously, but for Mustard Plug, that’s just maintaining their artistic integrity.

ETCH MAGAZINE
by D. Wood

Didn’t think it was possible. Never thought it would happen. But Jesus, Mary and JoJo if local hero’s Mustard Plug haven’t gone out and topped themselves with their new release, Pray For Mojo. Mustard Plug’s last record, Evildoers Beware, was one of the most listened to CD’s of the year. I’m not kidding, I literally wore out my first copy and hadda get a 2nd. This, their 4th full-length, shows that Mustard Plug has grown both musically and lyrically. Track 5, “Away From Here,” is one of the most important songs they’ve ever written. “When I see you / And I know that you don’t see me / I try to remember how it must be / To walk this world alone / To walk this world alone / To carry on and do it on your own / With everybody working and everybody trying / Put your hands in the air while they’re lying / Everybody doing their best at realizing / As we watch we see you falling further / The world’s in custody for your murder / Is there any hope for you / Is there anything we can do?” Without going into too much detail, let’s just say that the lyrics to this song mean a lot to me and have helped me get through a rough period lately. When music can touch you in that way, inspire you to move forward and keep up the struggle, it transcends all boundaries and becomes so much more. Lest you think “Away From Here” is the only song on the CD, “Not Giving In” also contains some very inspirational lyrics that again show a side of Mustard Plug that I’m not sure that everybody picks up on. “I’m giving up / But I’m not giving in / I’ll make a stand / Not to stand in line.” Although their brand of punk-ska is as upbeat as the genre might suggest, lyrically they’ve grown more comfortable with expressing deeper emotions and ideas than in previous releases. “Can’t punch that clock / Can’t walk that walk / Abhor that rut / It never stops / It’s time you gotta see.” I think all of us who bang away at a job of any variety can relate to those sentiments. If you’re already a fan of Mustard Plug then I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, but “Pray For Mojo” is one of those rare finds in music today. This is a CD that keeps on going the extra mile, this CD works hard for your undivided attention and earns it in spades, this is a 5-star release from one of the best bands in the world and this is one of the best CD’s of ‘99. What a way to close out the century, who cares about Y2K when you have material like this to ponder.

THE TRINITONIAN
by Joy Fajardo

In a genre that is full of crap and capitalistic music, Mustard Plug is a refreshing breath of air in the ska-punk world.

Mustard Plug has captured people’s hearts by selling over 150,000 of their CDs here and abroad.

Not bad.

What’s all the hype you want to know? In their latest CD, “Pray For Mojo,” Mustard Plug plays with authenticity and abandon. Their ska is infused with just the right amount of punk to keep you skankin’ all night long.

The band has a mature brass section that experiments a bit with ska. In addition, the bass has lines of brilliance that I only wish were accentuated more.

Otherwise, the album shows variety that goes from hard core ska to swaying palm trees on a beach.

This six-man gig not only plays with harmony, but they are educated as well. Their lyrics show their insight into world politics and human relations in general. Their songs leave you not only wanting to skank more but a new view on things. Like they say in “So Far To Go,” “Gotta turn the flow/Must reach down, inside myself,/and find your hate and cast it out.”

The band has lyrics anyone can easily relate to. Feeling like no one understands? Mustard Plug can sing it for you in their song “Away From Here,” “It’s not your fault that/nobody understands/the pains you feel/They are for real/they slow you down/and reappear/just as soon as you walk away from here.”