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Touting their music as “imaginary Jamaican rock and roll,” New York’s Slackers give classic Trojan-era reggae a decidedly American and British feel that flirts with both punk and ska. They’ve been at it long enough that their subtle boundary-pushing has become admirably refined.
While that might throw purists for a loop, their longevity attests to their reverence for the music. On their 11th studio album in just over a decade, the genre synthesis continues with an impressively seamless thread that jumps from horn-laced uptempo ska to the lazy, soulful drawl of the Stones’ Goats Head Soup on the song Stars. The production steers clear of gloss, opting instead for a rich, organic feel that captures the vintage vibe.
The Slackers play Lee’s Palace Wednesday (April 16).
