Over 30+ years, The Slackers have remained one of the most prolific musical combos in the game. In the course of drawing from a seemingly endless well of songwriting creativity, the band has released music on some of the biggest labels in independent music, as well as on much smaller boutique ska & reggae labels across the entire world. 2008's Self Medication LP was one of the latter releases, initially released on CD through Indication Records, and a single pressing on black vinyl from Special Potato/Indication. The record has been out of print for the ensuing 15 years and a tragically overlooked chapter in the band's history. In the spirit of the title, Self Medication, this record reflects the band's DIY roots. Recorded by a longtime friend of the band, King Django (Skinnerbox, Stubborn All-Stars), at New Brunswick, NJ's Version City Studio, with overdubs overseen by singer/multi-instrumentalist Vic Ruggiero & guitarist Agent Jay Nugent at their own Studio Slack & Crazy Baldhead Studios, respectively. The sound of this record, then, is that of a band who have the talent and the confidence to chart their course, experimenting with a diverse sonic palette including elements of ska, reggae, swing, rock, and a lot of psychedelia, that nevertheless feels distinctly and unmistakably like them. And, of course, the band's combination of earnest humanity and wry humor shines through in the lyrics, right from the opening line, Every day is Sunday when you're unemployed... Indeed, this is the sound of The Slackers as dictated by The Slackers. Pirates Press Records is thrilled to put Self Medication back in print - with worldwide distribution on colored vinyl for the first time - to be discovered or re-discovered by their countless fans worldwide. This definitive remastered version of the LP also features a bonus 7 with four additional songs from these productive and experimental sessions, which have only seen previous releases as digital rarities.
Release date:
October 20, 2023
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Turntables - Top Picks
A selection of reliable record players you can buy today, for every budget
-
Ortofon 2M Blue Premounted
Mounted on the SH-4 Black Headshell, this setup delivers exceptional clarity, dynamic range, and accurate sound reproduction.
-
Technics SL-1500C Turntable
Features a direct-drive motor, a high-precision tonearm, and a premium MM cartridge, delivering exceptional sound quality
-
Cartridges - Top Picks
A selection of turnatble cartridges that provide great performance and sound quality
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
The Lunar Effect Fortune's Always Hiding
Svart Records
November 14, 2025 -
Greywind Severed Heart City
Frontiers New Recordings Physical Only
September 19, 2025 -
Vince Guaraldi You're A Good Sport, Charlie Brown
Lee Mendelson Film Productions
September 12, 2025 -
Rage A New World Rising [25xLP]
Steamhammer
September 26, 2025 -
Daughtry SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM PART TWO (Translucent Orange EP)
Big Machine Rock
September 12, 2025 -
Thrice Horizons / West
Epitaph
October 3, 2025 -
Orianthi Some Kind of Feeling
WOODWARD AVENUE RECORDS
September 19, 2025 -
Tombs Feral Darkness
Redefining Darkness
October 24, 2025 -
Rainbow Kitten Surprise bones
Atlantic
September 26, 2025 -
Prize In The Red
Goner Records
September 19, 2025 -
Bitchin Bajas Inland See
Drag City
September 26, 2025 -
Say She She Cut & Rewind
Drink Sum Wtr
October 3, 2025 -
Alan Parsons Symphonic Project I Robot (Half-Speed; Clear)
Cooking Vinyl
October 17, 2025 -
Dazzling Killmen Dig Out the Switch (Serpentarium Green)
Skin Graft Records
September 12, 2025