Keepin' 6 keeps it Uncensored

Keepin' 6 isn't just slang for ‘being on the lookout for cops,' it's also the name of an up-and-coming ska band out of Mississauga, Ontario.

Formed in 2003, Keepin' 6 has been making a name for themselves at live shows, while building a loyal following in the ska-punk scene. The band consists of four members; Matt “Phatty” Wilkinson on the drums, Jason Wilford playing guitar, Den Renwick on bass and Bryan Hotchkiss doing vocals, and together they deliver high-energy songs that get people skankin' in the pit.

I first experienced Keepin' 6 this past May at the Global Marijuana March in Toronto where they delivered the best performance of the day for the tens of thousands of potheads that crowded Queen's Park. Without even releasing a CD, Keepin' 6 has been playing, and often stealing, shows with bands such as The Johnstones, iIlScarlet, The Creepshow, The Flatliners and others. So once they finally released their debut album; Uncensored, I had to check it out.

Uncensored picks up where their live shows left off; with a bang. Wasting no time on introductions or skits, Keepin' 6 opens their debut album with an upbeat, yet edgy, anthem titled “Illusion.” The song features lead vocalist Hotchkiss, who decries the fakeness of people who follow and attempt to fit into trends with lines such as; “Flashin' fashion like you're part of the scene/ But you're nobody you're just caught in between whatever's cool/ You're just a fool and obscene.”

The third cut on this album has the catchiest hook in my opinion. “LT (Stop Tellin' Me Lies)” has a simple yet meaningful hook that demands to be sang-a-long to. The highly contagious chorus is sure to get caught in your head, so don't listen to this song in the morning, unless you want to be singing “stop tellin' me lies” all day.

Keepin' 6 does have a consistent and unique sound throughout the album, but this does not mean that every song sounds exactly the same. While staying true to their particular style, Keepin' 6 does change up their tempo and instrumentation on many tracks. On one song titled “EndZone V.II,” the ska element is barely present, the vocals are mostly sung, not screamed, and the tempo is significantly slower than Keepin' 6' usual fare. Although I'm sure that they weren't going for it, “EndZone V.II” almost sounds like a radio-ready AFI song.

The most important and genuine-sounding song that Keepin' 6 offers fans on Uncensored is “Look @ Whatcha Got.” With lyrics like “Us motherfuckers in our automobiles”, “Look at third world countries, look at how they live…/ just stand up and give”, and “Fuck you if you're a spoiled little brat/ throwing around your money with your head up your ass”, Keepin' 6 reminds listeners not to be greedy, and to not take their privilege for granted.

The only disappointment I had after listening to this album was with its length. Just over 27 minutes long, Keepin' 6 might not have been censored on this album, but they were cut short.

To be fair, it contains no filler songs or skits, and the eleven solid tracks will make the skip button collect dust. Forget the cops; be on the lookout for this album.