by Katherine Raz

Not since the Mighty Mighty Bosstones exploded out of Boston in the early nineties has the east-coast fusion of ska, punk and metal sounded so brilliant. Catch 22 is surprisingly – well, maybe not surprisingly as they’re the first ska band to be added to the Victory label – good. Jeff Davidson’s well-timed, stylish vocal harmonies are a spot-on match for the upbeat horn section. The New Jersey seven-piece weave their sound so tightly, there’s not a dull moment on their newest album, Alone in a Crowd.

“It Takes Some Time” showcases Catch 22’s big band influences. “Guilty Pleasures” is the unexpected highlight of the album; it starts out with punk rock guitar like The Specials, the horns are twisted, interweaving, the vocals are fast-paced, racing with the background horns & guitar, the harmonies build, and that’s just the first thirty seconds of the song. Even “Bloomfield Ave.” the token slow, about-a-girl ballad tells a sensitive story (for a hardcore punk band). And while it may seem like a backwards feat to tackle a Beach Boys song, Catch 22 cover “Wreck of the Sloop John B” with such intensity it nearly eclipses every other song on the album. But the entire experience is a powerhouse of trumpet, trombone, sax and sophisticated, driving bass lines that establish Catch 22 as a new threat to the pop-heavy punk music scene.