Choking Victim
Crack Rock Steady EP/Squatta’s Paradise Split CD
Tent City
Squatter ska-punk? Such is Choking Victim’s calling card. You either love ‘em or hate ‘em, and to my knowledge, a lot of people love ‘em • or, more accurately, that handful who does love ‘em, like, really loves ‘em. Me? Anything presently related to ska is enough to make my stomach churn, so take that how you will. Anyway, Crack Rock Steady EP/Squatta’s Paradise Split CD collects onto digital format four tracks apiece from the presumably out-of-print Crack Rock Steady EP and the Squatta’s Paradise one, all recorded/written between 1993 and ‘96. Speedy, sloppy, scrappy, and surprisingly ska-free (mostly) and melodic, Choking Victim’s formula was hardly changed back then, except it was barely “produced,” altogether sounding strikingly close to Operation Ivy minus the character and, um, songs. One for the completists, skank on to nowhere.
Tent City, 101 W. 23rd St., Box 2341, New York, NY 10011
