by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Hepcat's third album, Right on Time, was released at the peak of ska-core's popularity. Consequently, it received more attention than their previous albums, but it would have deserved that attention anyway, since it's their best record to date. Unlike their ska-core peers, Hepcat keep fairly close to the sound of original ska, spiking it with some reggae, soul, rocksteady, and jazz. It's an energetic, welcoming sound that's quite entertaining, even if the group occasionally has trouble writing distinctive material. That doesn't matter, because Hepcat keep the good times going throughout the entire album, which is easily their most consistent and best thus far.