illScarlett - All Day With It: Ultimate Collector's Edition

Artist: illScarlett

Album: All Day With It: Ultimate Collector's Edition

Label: Sony BMG Music (Canada) Inc.

Make no mistake about it, when illScarlett released their debut EP, EPdemic, back in 2006 I absolutely loved the disc. I hadn't heard such a lively mix of Reggae, ska, punk and dub since the 90's and I pushed the band on my friends as the "next Sublime." But then the band signed to Sony Music Canada, and promptly butchered their stripped down sound with wildly out of control, excessive overproduction (for this I blame the addition of producer Matt Wilder). So upon their 2007 full length release, All Day With It, I promptly hung my head in shame and hoped the same friends I had pushed the band on never heard the abomination. But then, one December 2008 morning I found myself walking up and down the isles at HMV and stumbled on a pleasant surprise: illScarlett had re-released All Day With It and bundled it with a complimentary bonus disc, all for HMV's low price of an even $10. Having a gift card in my wallet I took the bait and indulged.

I should reinforce that the package's core remains unchanged, and that All Day With It still sounds as disappointing as the day it was released. For starters, the album only has eight new tracks, a disappointing reality since the original EP only had eight songs in the first place. The other two tracks include butchered rerecordings of past favourites "Pacino" and "NTF." While I will concede that the album starts and ends strong, with "Who's Got It" sounding as strong as anything off of EPdemic, and "Danse Macabre" finding the band experimenting with their Dub side, what follows sounds predictable and contrived. "Life of a Soldier" resembles a bad pop song, "The Fashion (Do or Die)" sounds like paint-by-numbers radio punk, and "Paradise Burning" has backing vocals that wouldn't sound out of place in any Boy Band. In a way I feel bad bashing these tracks though, since the production quality, rather than the band's song writing ability, hurts the final product the most. Most songs have needless layers of novelty sounds, from exotic violin strokes to lingering guitar distortion - it just sounds too busy and takes away from each song's core.

But enough dwelling on 2007's disappointment. The new bonus content packaged with All Day With It's restores my faith in the band. The disc boasts five live tracks, four acoustic tracks, and two B-Sides, but the live tracks really steal the show. While seven of the nine tracks are from EPdemic, the two biggest surprises are All Day With It's "Nothing Special" and "Who's Got It." While the studio versions suffer from the aforementioned overproduction, the live versions strip the tracks down just enough to fully appreciate the core. It's also refreshing hearing Alex Norman's voice outside of the studio. He's a gifted vocalist who sounds just right with a few expressive, natural imperfections. The acoustic tracks are must haves for anyone who enjoyed their previous EP. Stripped down versions of Heaters, One-A, Mary Jane, and First Shot are a real treat. They even add a few tasteful tambourine hits for good measure.

The two unreleased tracks are as can be expected: promising, but as overproduced as the rest of All Day With It. The cheerful "Her and I" sounds like stock illScarlett, heavily influenced by reggae, ska, and punk. But "Babylon" switches things up a bit, showcasing the band's more creative side. The track starts out with the distant sound of traditional female Punjabi vocals, framing the track with an "Eastern" influence. Fortunately the track escapes novelty, and Norman even gives his lengthiest rap-inspired verse to date. While definitely a standout track, given the album's conservative nature I'm not surprised "Babylon" didn't make the final track listing.

Overall I strongly recommend obtaining All Day With It's collector's bonus disc. The band's willingness to showcase their raw and unplugged side pays off in a companion disc that easily eclipses the central product. And in a world where live/acoustic/unreleased tracks go for premiums on overpriced EPs and live albums (Jimmy Eat World and Billy Talent, I'm looking at you), the opportunity to get both CDs for a flat $10 shouldn't be overlooked. There's only 5000 of these floating around Canada, so be sure to snatch one up - Oh, and did I mention it comes with a personally signed fold out poster? Yet another great reason to invest.