The Family Business LTD are a ska collective put together in 2023 by Rat Boy frontman Jordan Cardy and Preston from The Ordinary Boys. The duo headed across the pond and joined Rancid legend Tim Armstrong in LA to write material. Tim roped in Antonee First Class of The English Beat for some authentic ‘two-tone toast’ and Operation Ivy man Jesse Michaels as creative collaborator, and The Family Business LTD were born.

With the rhythm section of fellow Hellcat label mates The Calamatix providing the groove, Tim producing and adding guitars, the debut album was written and recorded over a two-week period.

With the two-tone-inspired cover art depicting Walt Jabsco captured in a Tim Timebomb-style leap, and the main man producing, it does sorta give the game away as to what to expect from this unusual collaboration, With less emphasis on punk and more on mixing up the roots of ska with modern street level punk of the 2000’s, it’s a refreshing listen from beginning to end.

If their intention was to make you move, then opener and lead single ‘Floor Burner’ delivers in spades. 1 minute and 33 seconds of pure energy, it’s a song designed to make you dance like no one’s watching. Imagine if Operation Ivy were on a two-tone label, and you’ll be close; with Tim’s guidance, it’s a perfect mix of British 70s two-tone with a 90s punked-up delivery. It could be the best song of the year.

And so it continues; Antonee First Class adds Jamaican sauce to the likes of ‘Detonator’ and especially ‘Still A Jamaican’, songs that bring to mind the heady days of The Specials and The Selector, with added Hammond and horns, and those essential ska grooves laid down by the tight rhythm section of Clarence Kid III on drums and Matty Taylor on bass.

Lyrically, they dip from party hard escapism (‘Floor Burner’ & ‘Detonator’) to deeper social commentary like on closer ‘A.S.B.O.’, highlighting the fact that the same political and social issues are still around some 40-odd years down the road. Elsewhere, ‘Armageddon’ builds to an earworm of a chorus. A street-level anthem with its heart deeply rooted in classic ska. ‘Bambi’ is very up the Rat Boy street of scuzzy, anthemic punk infused with added ska bite, coming on like The King Blues in full on Clash mode.

‘No Vacancy’ skanks along nicely, giving Antonee more freedom to give added toast to proceedings. Then, album closer ‘A.S.B.O.’ rounds things off nicely with a killer refrain and enough rude boy references to keep any long-time lover of sharp suits and pork pie hats happy.

The songs are short and sharp, with familiar melodies you’ll swear you’ve heard before and you’ll want to hear again. The Family Business LTD is another fine example that everything Tim Armstrong touches turns to gold. But let’s not give him all the credit, as this is Jordan and Preston’s baby, where two unlikely mates from Essex get a chance to step out from their other bands and share their influences with legends along the way.

Whether this is just a one-off studio project or a fully-fledged touring band remains to be seen, but I, for one, am sold on the idea of The Family Business LTD, I’ll buy the record and go to a show if it happens. Just let me know, and I’ll get my dancing shoes ready.

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Author: Ben Hughes