I’m not that familiar with Mad Caddies; prior to Dirty Rice, I would only listen to the Caddies in the car of my band’s saxophone player as we drove to band practice. I was most impressed by the brass lines and the smoothness of Chuck Robertson’s voice. But after listening to Dirty Rice, I become convinced that it is probably the best ska album I’ve heard in years.

The album is packed with variety: you’ve got ska, punk, dub, swing, dance songs, sing-along songs, fast songs, slow songs — there’s something for everybody. This led me to buy tickets to their most recent show in Montreal, and I was blown away by their insane amount of talent and stage presence. “This song is about dead hookers!” Robertson exclaimed before launching into “Down and Out,” track three on Dirty Rice.

Check out this album for yourself. I dare you to find a ska/pop-punk record that comes close.

(Fat Wreck Chords, 2196 Palou Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124)