Open Season - Rocksteady (Self-published)

Open Season started out as a ska and rocksteady formation, but gradually started incorporating reggae and dancehall into their sound. For 2015s 'Boombay', the Swiss even drew inspiration from Indian rhythms, and with 'Stand Together (Tous Ensemble)', for which they teamed up with Guillaume Hoarau (attacker for BSC Young Boys, Open Season's favorite football team), they also created a football anthem for the 2016 European Football Championships.

For the band, 'Rocksteady' symbolizes a bit of a return to their roots. In the track list, 10 light-hearted party songs, kicking off with opener 'Hey You', which was already released as a single last year. In title track 'Rocksteady' the band expresses their love for the genre of the same name that started the whole Open Season journey: "Rocksteady, soundtrack of my life, every time I hear it everything is alright!". Another recommendation is breakup tune 'Goodbye Paranoia', and in up-tempo ska song 'Rudy Spoon' and the rocksteady lovers rock of 'Gangster Girl', it's all about rudeboys and -gyals! Slightly darker in tone is 'Last Drop', about wither or not to stop drinking; which "last drop" will it be? Tongue-in-cheek is 'Days Like These', about loving a girl who really doesn't get you, and in closing track 'Not A Rebel', front man Santosh Aerthott admits that when it comes down to it, you should certainly not take him for a hero.

Unpretentious but solidly cheerful Swiss ska, rocksteady and reggae and actually the kind of album we absolutely needed at this present moment in time.