The Pietasters

There’s no need to make a mixtape of classic Motown, reggae and ska for your next throwdown, since the Pietasters have already done the work. The Washington, D.C.-based eight-piece charges through 14 slices of retro-soaked party rave-ups – 13 of them self-composed – with a fervor and joy that at least matches the sources. But with contagiously cheerful rhythms, it’s impossible not to skank, shimmy or shake to the Pietasters’ delicious delights. Co-produced by the 17-year-old band, the disc swings with a compressed yet charmingly accurate aural reproduction of the vibe from the ’60s and early ’70s. While even the best tunes here are no match for the classics of the era, enthusiasm exudes from every track, especially a rousing reggae cover of Tom Petty’s “Listen to Her Heart,” which you’ll swear was a Bob Marley composition. 3 stars

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The Pietasters perform Sat., Sept. 22, at the Masquerade.