A Call to Arms (EP)
| A Call to Arms | |
|---|---|
 | |
| EP by | |
| Released | 21 December 2001 |
| Genre | Acoustic, folk, alternative rock |
| Length | 18:19 |
| Label |
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| Alternative cover | |
A Call to Arms is the 2001 debut EP by Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution, a musical collective headed by Tomas Kalnoky (of Streetlight Manifesto and early Catch 22). It was released by The R.I.S.C. Group in 2001 to little fanfare but has been positively reviewed retrospectively. "Dear Sergio" is a cover of the first song on Kalnoky's former band Catch 22's debut album Keasbey Nights, while the tracks "Here's to Life" and "They Provide the Paint for the Picture-Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint on the Insides of Your Eyelids" would later appear with new versions on the Streetlight Manifesto albums Everything Goes Numb and 99 Songs of Revolution: Vol. 1, respectively.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro: This is a Call to Arms" | 1:22 |
| 2. | "Here's to Life" | 5:18 |
| 3. | "Dear Sergio" | 3:04 |
| 4. | "It's a Wonderful Life" | 4:56 |
| 5. | "They Provide the Paint for the Picture-Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint on the Insides of Your Eyelids" | 3:39 |
| Total length: | 18:19 | |
Reception
A Call to Arms did not receive many reviews at the time of its initial release but has been positively reviewed in the wake of Kalnoky's other band Streelight Manifesto's popularity. In a 2003 review, Brian Shultz of Punknews.org called the EP "a fun, laid-back approach to the horn-indulged genre which proves there are still bands that couldn't care less what the flavor of the week is."[1] Substream Magazine referred to it as a "cult favorite" in the ska scene.[2] Terry Eagan of Ink 19 described A Call to Arms as "Eclectic and high energy, with enough attitude to sway even the most cynical observer."[3] BrooklynVegan's Gordon Phillips said that the EP "showcased instrumentation beyond typical third-wave [ska] fare".[4]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Punknews.org |    [1] |
Personnel
- Tomas Kalnoky - guitar, vocals, songwriting, artwork
- Jamie Egan - trombone
- Nick Afflitto - trumpet
- Marcy Ciuffreda - cello
- Rachel Goldstein - viola, vocals
- Matt Dannenberg - vocals
- Layton Hayes - piano
- John Paul Jones - trumpet
- Achilles Kalnoky - violin
- Paul Lowndes - drums
- Chris Paszik - double bass
- Mark Rendeiro - horn
- Dan Ross - baritone saxophone, alto saxophone
- Pete Sibilia - tenor saxophone
- Shane Thompson - congas, timbales
- Natalia Ushak - vocals
- Dan Potthast - guitar
Additional personnel
- Josh Ansley - gang vocals
- Greg Davidson - gang vocals
- Jeff Davidson - gang vocals
- Rebecca Mozo - gang vocals
- Dave Piava - gang vocals
- Mike Struening - gang vocals
- John Noll - mastering
References
- ^ a b Shultz, Brian (8 July 2003). "Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution A Call to Arms (2002)". Punknews.org. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
- ^ Scott, Kate (17 May 2019). "Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution say goodbye on their final tour". Substack Magazine. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
- ^ Eagan, Terry (7 May 2002). "Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution A Call to Arms". Ink 19. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
- ^ Phillips, Gordon (25 August 2023). "Streetlight Manifesto's 'Everything Goes Numb' turns 20". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 29 December 2025.