After beginning their career in 1991 playing rocksteady and ska in the 2-Tone vein, the Slackers moved toward a more traditional style, even adding a horn section in 1994. They issued their debut LP, Better Late Than Never, in 1996, followed a year later by Redlight. The group resurfaced in 1998 with The Question; Live at Ernesto's appeared two years later; Wasted Days, which featured a cover of Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive," surfaced in early 2001. Two years later, the Slackers released Close My Eyes, the band's harsh reaction to the events of 9/11 and a reflection of what followed. With that and the band's own personal responsibilities to their families, Close My Eyes highlighted a more mature approach from the Slackers. The International War Criminal EP and the Japan-only Slack in Japan preceded the 2006 release of Peculiar. ~ Jason Ankeny