New Jersey’s most intriguing carnival-esque orchestra has been honing their vaudevillian circus swing extravaganza into a stunning stage show since the mid-’90s, and throughout that effort they’ve managed to put out their fair share of recordings. With Just the Best Party, the act’s third full-length, they may have finally hit their stride. Horns, accordions, a rock band, a bevy of vocalists, and a knack for unexpected melodies and smart lyrics fuel the fire beneath their most triumphant and polished offering. There are whacked-out dirges straight out of a Broadway show alongside thrashy ska tributes to old-time actors, and for some reason it all seems fairly logical. The World/Inferno Friendship Society have taken the initiative to do just about whatever they like without worrying about how silly it might sound. The downside of this is that some of it sounds a bit ridiculous, but it’s still undeniably original from start to finish. Odes to drinking repeatedly and Jersey permeate the record, and the music jumps from style to style without missing a beat or ever making all that much sense. These nine hooligans have perfected a style that most bands wouldn’t even dare to attempt, and for that they deserve major credit, but it’s still more than a little difficult to pinpoint who an act like this might see as their target audience.
