FOOD FOR FEET – Rhythm (1989)

This rather short-lived band was a side project for bassist John Avila and drummer Johnny “Vatos” Hernandez (both members of Oingo Boingo), who teamed up with guitarist Michael Tovar to make a sort of rock-blues-ska hybrid that was always appealingly virtuosic and lyrically good-hearted, but that never quite caught fire.

The EP starts off on a weak note (the rather pointless “Rhythm”), but it picks up speed with the positive and mildly punky “Faith Hope.” “Retire” is more laid-back and tuneful as a midtempo ska groove with Latin-tinged percussion and Avila’s beautiful tenor voice front and center. The two other vocal tracks aren’t really worth mentioning (though Avila’s bass work on “Cross Culture” is nothing short of astounding). Sad to say, the album’s real pièce de résistance turns out to be a hilarious ska version of “Tequila.” Food for Feet were an amazing live band, but their studio debut was nothing to write home about.