Although it is only available at their live shows and through their website www.pilfers.com,
the Pilfers' debut album pushed them to the forefront of the independent third wave ska movement in 1998. It is an intense hybrid of ska, hardcore, and hip-hop that comes out sounding drastically different from many of the groups contemporaries. As a result the group was dubbed founders of ska's fourth wave. At the helm is lead vocalist Coolie Ranx (formerly of
the Toasters) with his spiritually conscious lyrics. Musically it contains hard pounding songs like "Yakuza," "Climbing," and "Up in the Air," as well as the mellow politically savvy "Generation." Mixed in with this is a cover of
Devo's "Jerkin' Back 'N ' Forth." Because it is a ground-breaking album in a typically uninventive genre, ska enthusiasts and fans of the band should make it a point obtain a copy of this CD. ~ Curtis Zimmermann