THE DUCKY BOYS “Chasing The Ghost” 17-song CD
Ain’t it funny how it all works out/ How we’re all just a moment in time/ And I have a moment I’d like to share with you
The Ducky boys are a band that goes back to 1995 in Boston and now seem to have an on and off existence. They were, and probably still are, one of the more popular local punk bands. I always link them with Darkbuster, in my mind, as they were both popular punk bands that people thought might follow in the commercial success of the Dropkicks Murphy’s. I wouldn’t say the Ducky Boys sound like Darkbuster but I see similarities in Mark Lind, songwriter of the Ducky Boys (not to be confused with Mark Lindsey of Paul Revere and The Raiders) and Lenny Lashley, songwriter of Darkbuster. Like Lenny, Mark is a songwriter first and a punk rocker second. Both know, as writers, how to shape a lyric into a song and are unafraid to be melodic or throw a pop hook into a tune without forgetting the grit, passion and aggression of the music from whence they came.
So how does this relate to the new CD? Well, what you get is a bunch of well written songs with energetic music, insightful lyrics and tunes you’ll sure to be humming in your head after a few listens. Great playing throughout and all inspired by a romantic break-up gone into detail with their interview here– Let’s check out a few of my favorite ones.
“New Chapter” is the first song on the CD and a rip roarin’ one it is. It’s the fastest song on the album and moves along, gracefully like a cheetah, at almost hardcore speed.
With it’s rousing shout along Boston unison Irish punk chorus, “You Sing The Chorus” is another good one,“You sing the chorus, I’ll sing the verse.””C’mon drink to tomorrow, there’s no tomorrow/ let the music take us away.’ Great drumming by Jay Messina on this one.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall/ Can you tell me where she’s sleeping tonight?/ And is she in the arms of someone so much fairer than me?
“I Lied” is a break-up song with the lyrics, “When I told you I loved you, I lied,” that I think finds the perfect spot to fall in between honest and mean. He tones it down with, “That was just something I thought at the time.” But when he follows it with, “Do you remember when I used to sing you to sleep/ Well that was to get rid of you so I could get some relief.” Ouch!
“I Guess I’m Broken,” is probably my second favorite on the album. “ I know there’s nothing sure in life/ But nothing surer than the sharpest knife.” With a riff that reminds me of Bachman-Turner Overdrive!!! this is really an old school pop tune with a gorgeous melodic chorus.
A shot of whiskey it can take me away/ And brought a little piece of mind
“An Angel Like You,” could have been a hit song in a different era, reminds me a little of Mink DeVille if anyone remembers who that is. It’s a ballad but starts with the lyrics, “I was walking so blind/ And I was drunk right out of my mind,” and moves into an angelic chorus and nice guitar lead by Doug Sullivan.
“That Which Doesn’t Kill Me,” (only makes me stronger). Another tune that’s a killer with the great line, “I’m like a beekeeper who’s been stung so much that I don’t even feel it no more.”
Just one more night/ One more year/ One more drink and I’ll be “I don’t care”/
One more night and one more year
We all fall down sometime
We all fall down sometime
But getting up takes- some time
The lyrics placed throughout this review, separate from the songs, are from “Feeling Alive,” my favorite song on the album. With it’s loping beat, walking fifties bass line and snarling vocal it’s reminiscent of a Replacements song. I think the whole song has great lyrics, that’s why I quote them. But the little part that comes in before the last chorus, the preceding words written here, the “one more drink and I don’t care,” that leads to “we all fall down sometime, but getting up takes some time,” tares at my heart, pretty strong tonight and maybe it’s because I’m going through a rough patch about now. And maybe because Lind was going through one as well and conveys that convincingly. I say so, but what do I know, I’m not fuckin’ Nostradamus. All I know is- though I might be shedding a tear, about now, listening to this song, this album- tonight….. I’m feeling alive.
I don’t need a lot of words to sing/ All I need is a couple of chords
I can tell you how I’ll wake up tomorrow
But tonight- I’m feeling alive
(Slimedog)
