Ballyhoo! is ready to fight for what’s theirs on Shellshock
Ballyhoo! is ready to fight for what’s theirs on Shellshock
What do The Elovaters, Kyle Smith, Iya Terra, HIRIE, Tropidelic and Bumpin Uglies have in common? If you guessed that they’ve all got a spot on Ballyhoo!’s fiery new album, Shellshock, you’re entirely correct.
The Maryland based rockin’ reggae veterans have completed their latest collection of powerful songs with the help of some well-known friends. I can’t help but feel a bit of an F-you theme throughout the album that may have sprung up from a recent situation with a former band member trying to rock the boat. In any case, hard times make great songs, and that can often turn a curse into a blessing… (I hope that’s the case!).
Shellshock tallies up fourteen explosive tracks, aimed straight at your face with a lit fuse. If you’ve ever been screwed over in any way, shape or form, Howi and the boys have you covered with a handful of new, motivating anthems that speak to that very situation. Taking the high road, reinforcing your stance and exuding confidence in the face of your wrongdoer has never sounded so good!
The second released single (and first song on the tracklist), “Clip My Wings'' tells the story of standing tall in the face of spiteful pettiness, taking your life’s direction back regardless of the actions of others that would like nothing more than to steal your happiness and cut you down by any means (it’s a great sing-along too, talk about a catchy-ass hook!). Slowing the tempo down, “Make Believe” has a floaty, dreamlike atmosphere filled with echoey lyrics focused on letting you know there’s no room for bottomfeeders here; take your bullshit somewhere else, sucka.
Despite the obvious motif of the album, there’s plenty of styles to explore within. “Irene” is a sensually stripped down acoustic recording depicting gloomy the aftermath of a relationship expired. We’ve all been there and this tune will help you embrace the suck for sure. Switching gears and picking up the pace, “The Great Blackout of 2007” featuring Bumpin Uglies exemplifies that party-down Ballyhoo! sound we all love, and who better to have a verse in there other than Brandon Hardesty himself. Apparently, 2007 was a year to remember (or try to remember…) for these guys during their early years of touring living that rockstar lifestyle, and it sounds like they had a great time doing it.
Time to throw on your checkered pants and start kicking those feet! Kyle Smith hops on the ska-heavy jam “Just Business” for a quick cut that has a huge message of being hungry for that goal, so hungry there’s no chance of failing. I absolutely love this song, and it warms me up knowing that Smith – one of the hungriest, hardest working dudes in the biz – made it on the album. He’s very open about his favorite bands, and Ballyhoo! is way up on the list. I can’t imagine how fun it was to create this little ditty with Howi!
There is so much more in store for your listening pleasure aboard this album. Shellshock is a solid addition to their already extensive and illustrious discography. Give it a listen today and see for yourself! You can catch them live coming to a city near you on the Shellshock Fall Tour 2023, kicking off September 19th in Nashville, Tennessee. See you out there!
In run up to the midnight release, check out Ballyhoo!’s live play though of SHELLSHOCK tonight on Youtube at 8pm!.
