Warsaw Poland Brothers seem like your typical party band. After all, they're sponsored by Jägermeister, occasionally sing about boobs, and have a song named "Stoney Boady," which sounds like a rejected
Pauly Shore catch phrase. Now, it'd be fine if the group wanted nothing more than to liven up the backyards and sports bars of its native Phoenix with some sarcastic lyrics and ska-inflected grooves. Thing is, for all its goofiness,
Pimpin on Crutches shines in the songwriting and musicianship departments, suggesting there's more to
Warsaw than the rep suggests. "Spanish Calypso" is a rousing take on exactly that, "Pay the Rent" blends horns into mildly punk-influenced rock, and "Hoover" is solid third wave ska. Meanwhile, "Tuscon" is a cynical tribute to their home state and "Seismic Dub" is decked out predictably in reverb and cut 'n' paste dynamics. The stylistic wanderlust gets tiresome over 19 tracks, but
Pimpin on Crutches' best moments point to a promising future of parties and prowess for this entertaining combo. ~ Johnny Loftus