Fourth From the Last
Mirroring secular counterparts, Christian ska and swing bands continue to infuse the contemporary-Christian-music market. The W's made quite a splash with their debut,Fourth from the Last, winning a 1999 Dove Award for best modern rock/alternative album. While there's an irony about retro-swingers like the W's winning a "modern rock" award, you can't deny that these six young men from Corvallis, Oregon, spin up a spirited and punchy set of horn-driven swing-ska. Singer-guitarist Andrew Schar introduces us to a safe, but colorful array of slackers, skaters, and surfers that populate his world. Bassist Todd Gruener and drummer Brian Morris lay a solid rhythm track throughout and provide a foundation for the jumpin' jive from Valentine Hellman (tenor sax, clarinet), Bret Barker (trumpet), and James Carter (alto sax).--Michael Lyttle