Better Late than Never

When the third wave of ska broke on the shores of Manhattan island, the Slackers were there. Founded by keyboardist/singer/songwriter Vic Ruggiero and his friends, the band soon became both torchbearers of traditional ska and contributors to its stylistic expansion within the fertile New York scene. This is their first album, and it opens in a time-honored way: with a jazz cover. But the bulk of the program is original material, though it harks back faithfully to the Jamaican sounds of early ska and rock steady. Highlights include “Runaway,” the slow-skanking “Cuban Cigar,” and “Our Day Will Come” (featuring legendary reggae singer Doreen Shaefer).