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Boston’s Pressure Cooker has been performing and recording for over 10 years now, and has five albums under its belt, quite an accomplishment for just about any band, let alone one that focuses on old-school reggae and ska.

From the opening notes of just about any of their songs, the listener is immediately tipped that this band delivers excellent musicianship. Songs like “Burning Fence” showcase the power of the horn section, with rich harmonies and strong solo pieces. “Nuthin’ Better” opens with a surprising piano line that draws you into the song. The understated yet punchy horn accents provide a nice counterpart to the piano.

Presure Cooker performs primarily in the New England area, but has branched out as far west as Chicago. In addition, the band has supported such notable reggae acts as Toots & The Maytals, The Skatalites, Gregory Isaacs, and Culture.

Check out the band’s website by clicking here and you can listen to streams of their mp3’s. You can also click here to access their discography page, which features links for purchasing albums via CDBaby.com and iTunes. Definitely worth adding to your collection if you appreciate well-crafted old-school ska and reggae!

Band website: http://www.pressurecooker.net/

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At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss We Are The Union’s sound as derivative of the ska-pop-punk sound that predominated ska’s 1990’s surge. However, once you start listening to the album a bit more in depth, you realize that these guys have some serious musical chops, and with “Who We Are” the band has managed to put together a cohesive piece of work, with songs that flow nicely between the various musical styles these guys fuse together. On the surface, musical comparisons to Less Than Jake are inevitable, yet the band manages to take the ”fast-punk-with-horns” sound and sprinkle in a more hardcore feel. When they do play ska, as in the song “War on Everything,” they play it blazingly fast, and with the skill and style that make it a nice compliment to other songs on the album. If you’re looking for an album that is predominantly ska, this may disappoint you, but if you like your ska alongside catchy, fast music with lots of horns, you’ll enjoy this; even more so after a couple of listens.

According to the band’s PureVolume page, We Are The Union originate from Ann Arbor, Michigan. In my opinion, the mid-west is responsible for giving us many of the ska-punk movement’s better, if sometime underrated, bands over the past 10-20 years. Bands such as Gangster Fun, Suicide Machines, Slapstick, Blue Meanies, Mustard Plug and MU330 immediately come to mind when I think of the mid-west, and if “Who We Are” is a sign of things to come, We Are The Union should be able to carry on a legacy of well-respected ska/ska-punk/ska-core bands to sprout up from America’s heartland.

There is a definite youthful feel in the tone and emotions of this album, and this is a positive thing, because the band comes across as drawing from older punk, hardcore and ska sounds, as well as bringing in some more modern production value and musical styles. Even though they sound young, they sound seasoned, and it is this combination that perhaps what makes the album work.

Download We Are The Union’s album, “Who We Are” for free at PureVolume.com/wearetheunion

The band is currently playing the hell out of the mid-west and east coast. Tour Dates: www.myspace.com/wearetheunion

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