Robert Bailey, Springfield Famous

Springfield Famous is 13 tracks of ska-punk revelry from former Springfield songsmith Robert Bailey. The album contains clever wordplay and storytelling. It covers topics of social change, poor luck and being a musician while dancing across styles. “Lucky Break,” the opener, toes the line of crunchy punk. Cue the swing of and wailing horns for “Hardluck” and “R.W.I.” akin to the Reel Big Fish playbook. Bailey, a transplant to Arizona, recorded the entire album short of a few horn and key parts by Chris Vanderpool. Springfield Famous was officially released in the summer of 2015, but re-released recently for free download by Zero Youth Records August 25.