Album lore

The Question, issued in October 1998 on Hellcat/Epitaph, captures The Slackers at a pivotal moment in their oeuvre, blending ska, rocksteady, and ska punk with a distinctly traditional bent. Across 19 tracks, the band channels the genre’s classic rhythms and warm horn arrangements, anchored by a steady groove that nods to reggae’s enduring influence. Standout cuts such as "Have the Time" and "Manuel" reveal a band comfortable in its lineage yet eager to impart a modern urgency.Recorded during a period when third-wave ska had already begun to splinter, this album eschews overt flashiness in favor of measured musicianship and a casual, almost conversational vocal delivery. The Slackers’ work here resonates with the sun-soaked mood of summer afternoons and the relaxed pulse of rocksteady, securing its place as a reliable artifact for those tracing the genre’s late-1990s contours.

Album lore

The Question, issued in October 1998 on Hellcat/Epitaph, captures The Slackers at a pivotal moment in their oeuvre, blending ska, rocksteady, and ska punk with a distinctly traditional bent. Across 19 tracks, the band channels the genre’s classic rhythms and warm horn arrangements, anchored by a steady groove that nods to reggae’s enduring influence. Standout cuts such as "Have the Time" and "Manuel" reveal a band comfortable in its lineage yet eager to impart a modern urgency.Recorded during a period when third-wave ska had already begun to splinter, this album eschews overt flashiness in favor of measured musicianship and a casual, almost conversational vocal delivery. The Slackers’ work here resonates with the sun-soaked mood of summer afternoons and the relaxed pulse of rocksteady, securing its place as a reliable artifact for those tracing the genre’s late-1990s contours.