Begged, Borrowed & Stole (Red Eyed, 2008)

Bootleg is a boisterous Bradenton, Florida trio who frequent the bar scene in that coastal town. Their surroundings are apparent in their music, a fun, freewheeling hybrid of rock 'n reggae/punk 'n ska that's as carefree as the beach bums roaming the shore. This style is a double-edged sword, though. While their tremendous energy probably makes for a great live show, the devil-may-care attitude in their lyrics sometimes makes them come off as Spring Break douchebags who want nothing more than to get drunk and blare music and whose idea of social commentary is railing against cops who prevent them from doing so. For instance, from "Holmes Beach":

Back here again, good to see all of them friends
And the bitches up along Gulf Boulevard.
Trouble in sight, yes beer bottles and fights.
Step out of line, motherfucker, we pull your card.

And from "Damn Near November": "All of you complaining neighbors, I say 'Fuck you'." Granted, there's a place in the world for shallow party music, but the attitude on Begged, Borrowed & Stole can be off-putting. Not every song is so repellent, thankfully; "All I Need" is a downright sweet love song, and "Dangerous" is a nice throwback to old school dancehall. I'm not a big fan of the reggae-rock hybrid in general, but Bootleg pulls it off ably -- although lead singer Mark Pelham's vocals at times struggle to rise to the power of the music. Fans of Sublime and Bad Brains should find something on Begged, Borrowed & Stole to enjoy. Hear for yourself at www.myspace.com/musicofroots.