Album Description

The highly anticipated third volume in Hellcat's 'Give 'Emthe Boot' sampler series. This time around you get punk,hardcore, reggae, and psychobilly sounds from DropkickMurphys, U.S. Bombs, Rancid, Lars Frederiksen & TheBastards, F-Minus, Agnostic Front, Duane Peters & TheHunns, Leftover Crack, Tiger Army, Slackers, Joe Strummer,King Django, Pietasters, Mouthwash, Gadjits, and Hepcat,plus unreleased material from Distillers, Roger Miret & The Disasters, And Devils Brigade (featuring Matt Freeman ofRancid). Includes two bonus video clips from DropkickMurphys and Tiger Army. Digipak. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

best compilation i own
This cd is the best compilation i own. It has a devils brigade song called vampire girl. devils brigade is a psychobilly band which is everyone in rancid except for lars. it also has good tracks from tiger army, lars and the bastards, nekromantix, rancid, distillers,agnostic front, dropkick murphys and some other this compilation is awesome but at the end theres some ska i dont enjoy too much. this cd also contains 2 videos you can watch on your computer. one is dropkick murphys - spicy mchaggis jig and the other is tiger army - cupids victim. this is a very good compilation its well worth 5-6 bucks.i hope they come out with give em the boot 4.

good mix
give em the boot 2 had a lot of reggae & ska on it & this one is more punk rock, which is good. the bands on it were really good and i pretty much liked every song (the joe strummer one was kind of weird...not like the clash at all). i would recommend it especially since it's so cheap.

Another in a great series
Hellcat Records has turned out another great compilation. I must say that it sounds a little harder, the music a little less melodic and more hardcore. That's just fine by me. The music videos are a nice touch. "The Spicy McHaggis Jig" video is one of the funniest videos I've seen in a long time.

Good work, Tim!

Not as good as Give em the boot 2....
I was excited when I saw that their was a new Give em the boot compilation out, as Give em the boot 2, is one of my favorite cd's ever. Although when I played this cd I was sad to hear that the reggae and ska sounds that where on Give em the boot 2 have been substituted for a straight ahead punk compilation. Not to mention that the quality of songs on this album, are nowhere as good as the tracks selected for the two previous Give em the boot cd's. If you are going to get a Give em the Boot cd, buy the second installment, it is much better...

In a word: Disappointing.
Give 'Em The Boots I and II are punk-rock neccessities. Sprinkled with ska, reggae and rocksteady, they were truly palatable for those of us with eclectic tastes. Sadly, Give 'Em The Boot III purifies itself of most of the reggae and ska from it's two previous outings, leaving us with a punk rock wasteland. The songs here just simply aren't up to Hellcat's high standars. There are a few good moments (The Slackers' BRILLIANT "Information Error", the Tiger Army video) but that is outweighed by a parade of messy and talentless punk rock. Even the Rancid track is anemic.

Although, for [the money], "Give 'Em The Boot III" isn't much of a gamble. Still, it's been three years since Vol. II, and III frankly falls flat on it's body-pierced face. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

THE BEST SKA/PUNK SAMPLER OUT THERE (vol. 2)
OK, no one's done a track-by-track review yet, so here goes:

1. Intro- Just a couple seconds of snarling cats. Yeah. -/10

2. Gang's All Here- Anthemic, enjoyable drinking song: what else do you expect from DKM? 9/10

3. Riding the Region- Also known as 'The Region' off Push 'n Shove. Great trad-ska song that'll be stuck in your head for days. 10/10

4. If the Kids Are United- There's been a lot of complaining about this Sham 69 cover, but I think it's just as good as the original. Anthemic, but really bad lyrics. 9/10

5. Nocturnal- Not a huge fan of psychobilly. At least the country influence is muted here. Pretty good song. 8/10

6. Can't Stand It- As another reviewer said, the dancehall/dub thing isn't their best. Check out their earlier stuff. 8/10

7. Tell Me What You're Feeling- Dancehall artist Mad Lion teams up with Rancid. The result: not too good. 6/10

8. Goin' Out- Decent shout-along song. Don't like this band much. 7/10

9. Bad Gadjit- I LOVE THIS BAND! Their blend of ska, blues, 1950s rock n roll is amazing. 10/10

10. LA Girl- Pretty good song, but her voice is grating. 8/10

11. X-Ray Style- Not gonna rate this one. Too unique. World music influences shine on this mellow song. RIP Joe Strummer.

12. Misty Days- Reggae legend Banton and Rancid: should've been better. 6/10

13. The Fool- Solid trad-ska from Slackers side project. Hepcat's Greg Lee sings. 9/10

14. Bruk Out- The best dancehall/Rancid collaboration. A lot of people disagree, but I love it. 9/10

15. Have the Time- Anything by the Slackers is outstanding. 10/10

16. Crack Rock Steady- YESSSS! From the streets of New York comes that crack rocksteady beat. Funny song (just don't take it seriously). Best from CV (too bad they broke up). 10/10

17. Forget Yourself- Forget this track. Forget this band. 5/10

18. Crack City Rockers- Choking Victim with a new drummer and new name. Still keepin that crack rockstaedy beat. 9/10

19. Fools Gold- Solid. Great band, but sometimes sound like Clash wannabes. 9.5/10

20. Rent for Sale- By INDK. Skwert and Ezra of CV's new band. Check em out. 8.5/10

21. Flight of the Phoenicians- Take the vocals and horns out of Hepcat's sound and you get Vanity 5. Good instrumental, but sounds a little weak. 9.5/10

22. Life Won't Wait- Excellent ska song. Great way to close the album. Buju Banton guests. "The vision is the new world order..." 10/10

I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to find some good ska and punk. However, I would've liked tracks from Pressure Point (a great oi band on vol. 1) and SOMETHING from King Django. BUY IT NOW!

from a true skalar
well...i have to say...this cd is in many ways...better than the first compilation.....but anything done by both vic ruggiero of the slackers and rancid...is sheer genius....really though.....the only downpoint of this cd are the distillers contribution...all i can say for that one is.....dont quit your day job mrs.armstrong...actually..i can also say.....its a good thing your married to him...cuz youd be nowhere...hahahaaa....buju banton comes in with his throwdown..soundin as ras as ever........dropkick as always..delivers...and choking victim comes in with the crack rocksteady beats....and hepcat does their sh!t like no one else can....the slackers....aahhh the slackers....if you appreciate good old fashioned rocksteady/reggae/ska.....youll lovem...i cant tell you how....not only does the entire band have soul...but the singer...vic ruggiero..also writes for other bands on this compilation......and others on hellcat and other various labels.....his words are sung with truth and dignity.........these and many other bands unnamed make this compilation a splendid buy...i do recomend it to anyone who appreciates punk and ska and the wonderful way they blend.....

The Perfect Mix
This is my favorite out of the Give Em the Boot series. I think it's the perfect mix of punk and ska, and the track selections were excellent. It's one of my favorite compilations to listen to on the road. There isn't a song on it that a generally skip, which says a lot for a compilation cd. There is great variety, but every song is good.

Not Bad-And Not Good Either!
This comp in neither good nor bad.It starts off great but kinda slowed down in the middle and it gets great back at the end of the tracks.Great songs from Dropkick Murphys,Hepcat,Choking Victim and The Slackers.If you own any song from these band,then don't buy it-but if you don't,you can purchase it and listen it once it a while.

one of the best punk rock compilations around
Of the three give em the boot cd's, this one is the best. Almost every song is good, and with the variety of styles, such as punk, reggae, and ska, it makes a good party cd. A step above the first Give em the boot cd, and way better than give em the boot 3....a must have for any punk fan.....a classic compilation album! ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Punks Learn How To Loves Ska On This CD!
As we all know that Hellcat records is owned and runned by Lars from Rancid. Well being a punk, I know that right now, all that is considered 'punk' is either A)This main-stream crap which sucks badly or B)All these emo and hardcore/metal bands appearing in the underground right now. So being a dude waiting for some new punk band to change everything in the punk genre...they havent made it.
So for these past few weeks I have been I've been looking over some ska-punk and punk-ska bands. So I thought, I'll look into real ska bands....let me tell there are literally thousands of them out there waiting for some dude/dudette to be favored by. I had no clue where to start on picking out albums to buy. So most people look into comps for samples. And then I came across this little prize of joy.
Give 'Em The Boot Vol. 1 is probably the best ska comp that includes awesome punk bands too. Though the first track by Rancid wasn't their best. When the Slackers came on with 'Watch This' I felt so relaxed. When Hepcat's 'Dont Wait' came on I was already singing along. By the time The Pietasters 'New Breed' was playing I was up dancing. I won't list the other bands and songs, but most punks and people only hear about bands like Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Operation Ivy, and The Suicide Machines. Though, those bands are considered to be the only good ones, screw you! There are tons better ones. Plus, all those bands have sold out or lost almost all the orginal members.
But over-all kids, stop listeing to the things considered punk(as in sell-outs or emo/hardcore bands)get your soul out there and be a rude boy. So if wanna get to know good ska bands buy this CHEAP cd!

wow! the only compilation i've ever liked!
Tim and Brett have outdone themselves! I don't know how they did it but somehow they managed to round up the very best ska and punk bands out there for Hellcat Records (which has the same distribution as Epitaph so hopefully some of these deserving bands will start getting some international credit!) I don't like every song but I like the majority of them, which in and of itself is really rare for me - I usually don't like compilations at all. More importantly, some of these songs absolutely rock. Hepcat have got the sweet trad ska sound down pat; classic oi-sters The Business and Boston pub-punks Dropkick Murphys (I love that name) make fast and explosive contributions; Rancid of course gets things off to a spectacular beginning with the bleak but booming The Brothels. Also check out The Gadgits and the Swingin' Utters for some quality music that makes all that lame recycled alterna-pop-rock Matchbox 20 junk on the radio sound like the sewage that it is. Forget the punk-revival, forget the ska-revival, forget the music industry's fickle trends - this is where the music industry *should* be at, even if they're too stupid to realize it!

And at a mere 6 bucks.... you just don't have any excuse for not owning this.

Punks should steer clear, but SKA FANS LISTEN UP!!
(For those of you unfamiliar with the Give 'em the boot series, it is a sampler series of bands on the Hellcat Records label. The label has an eclectic mix of punk/hardcore bands and ska/reggae/dub bands)

Now that that's out of the way...

Here's the deal:

1. With the possible exception of Rancid and Choking Victim, the punk bands on Hellcat Records suck. It's boring, unoriginal, and not even that aggressive.
2. The ska/reggae/dub bands, however, are EXCELLENT and amazing. It's very mellow and relaxing, yet very exciting and catchy. It should have you dancing along in no time.
3. Of the 3 titles in the give 'em the boot series, the 1st one (this one) has the least punk and the most ska.
4. Therefore, this is the best Give 'em the boot by FAR and with its dirt cheap price, you have no excuse for not owning it if you consider yourself a fan of ska in any way, shape, or form.

Get 'em
This album and it's brethren are an excellent way to be introduced to a lot of cool bands. I've gone out and bought a number of albums based on what I heard here and on Vol. II + III. If you like punk and ska with a dash of psychobilly, then this is your teaser!

Intro: Mandatory
This comp set the ska/punk record straight in 97 and set the tone for the next several years... what a Loud Hard Fast tone it was. I ahve shared this common experience with many new friends from all parts of the country: getting this comp and having our minds blown back in the day. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Avoid! Don't be fooled by the cheap price
I unfortunately own this one (not much longer) and have analyzed it carefully. There are several reasons for why you shouldn't buy this, even though the price is very low.

1. They are not all ska tracks. 5 of them are Rock Steady, 4 are Early Reggae, 3 are UK Reggae (by the Pyramids) and 5 sounds very modern, from the 80's or newer. This could have been acceptable if they were sequenced in an intelligent manner. They are not.

2. The mastering is poor. I have several of these songs on better compilations and by comparison these sounds harsh, like they have tried to increase the treble too much.

3. Many songs are not so great. Half of the songs are instrumentals, mostly by the Skatalities under other names (like Tommy McCoook, Roland Alphonso or Don Drummond). These songs are not the best of The Skatalites, more like the worst of. A few exceptions of course, classics like Silver Dollar, Eastern Standard Time are included. But if you like The Skatalites there are compilations with better songs and better sound quality. 'Foundation Ska' on Heartbeat and 'Guns of Navarone: The Best of' on Trojan comes highly recommended.

4. Proper seems to be a shady record label with a business concept that means they are trying to circumvent the copyright laws. They claim they have "licenced" these tracks from Enzo Hamilton, and he's often accused of being a notorious bootlegger of reggae music.

5. There would be room for all the songs on only 3CD's.

A good place to start your ska collection would instead be this: Rough & Tough - The Story of Ska (2CD's, Trojan). Good songs, good sound, and it's rather inexpensive too!

Plan and Simple - Great 60s Ska at an incredible price.
Fan of third wave ska? Looking to explore ska's original roots? This is the perfect set to buy. Extensive, plentiful, Skatalite heavy and dirt cheap. This will open the doors to the wonderful world of 60s ska. You might even be surprised at how many songs you recognize considering how often third wave ska bands covered the originals. One thing, don't expect super high quality. Not that this set is 'poor.' It's that these songs were all originally produced on subpar recording equipment. Enjoy!

An absolute steal
If you want to hear an incredible amount of first-rate Jamaican ska at an incredibly reasonable price, this is the set for you.

This collection is grounded in a lot of first-rate work by the Skatalites, including a lots of songs listed under Tommy McCook, Don Drummond, and other individual members of the band. There's also an excellent sampling of early Toots and the Maytals as well, including the classics "Monkey Man" and "54-46 Was My Number", and John Holt's original version of "The Tide Is High", which was later a big hit for Blondie, of course) is also here. In addition, there are literally dozens of outstanding songs from bands I'd simply never heard of, including Blue Rivers & the Maroons doing the ska classic "Guns of Navarone" and Nora Dean doing "Oh Mama."

There's only one song by Desmond Dekker, one by Laurel Aitken, and none by Prince Buster, so this is by no means the last word in Jamaican Ska. However, there are CDs in print from each of these artists. A lot of the songs on this collection, you simply can't find anywhere else.

As box sets go, the packaging is pretty ordinary--just jewel cases in a box with liner notes. As far as I can tell, this is the only sacrifice you make buying this set. There is an excellent essay filling the 20-plus page liner notes, but unfortunately, no details on the recording, though this could well be because this information simply doesn't exist. Still, it would have been nice to know who played on what recordings, since the lineups seem to vary so much. The sound quality is very good in most cases, though none of this music was recorded under pristine conditions, so don't expect audiophile recordings. A few songs seem to show the limitations of the source material.

Though the price on this set is terrific, this would still be a first-rate collection at twice the price. Highly recommended to anyone interested in Jamaican ska, whether it's your first CD in the genre, or you have a substantial collection.

A great bargain
This box set holds 80 tracks of Jamaican music from the 1960s. A detailed booklet describes the history of the style and the musicians. The music is relaxed, charming, great fun to listen to. If you've never heard Ska, get this set and try it. The price is a bargain. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

mickameow!
i'm listening to this cd right now. it's absolutely amazing. one of the best ska comps ever. actually i think it is THE best ever. the best evah. it has an amazingly wide range of artists. it's beautiful.

byeee.

Pure Ska!
This album kicks! Pure ska from its roots! If you don't like it, you don't like ska.

bad
i didn't groove to it at all

It's Skarrriffic!
The mixture of artists in this album really sets this CD apart from other compilatons. Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken, Japan's The Determinations & The Ska Flames, Rico Rodriguez... plus the new ska artists such as Ocean 11, Fishbone, The Toasters. First wave meets third wave! Really worth listening to, mon... ... Read more

Album Description

72 minute budget-priced compilation showcases some of both the best '90s as well as veteran ska bands around, includingPocket Lent, The Hippos, Red Session, Jeffries Fan Club, Link 80, Low Pressure, Unsteady, Long Beach Dub Allstars, My Superhero, Bruce Lee Band, Home Grown, Cherry Poppin Daddies, Mudsharks & more! 24 tracks. 1997 Vegas release. The full title is 'Hey Brother... Can You Spare Some Ska?'. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good compalation
well this is a good cd, but the track listing is all wrong... maybe its from an old edition. If you are not sure you like ska or are trying to find out about some less heard of bands this is a good place to start as is the vagrant records compaltion discs.

here is the right listing off the vegas website

1. Pocket Lent - Fat Albert (Jimmy Smith Remix)
2. The Hippos - When Will I Learn
3. Red Session - Jungle
4. Jeffries Fan Club - I Want More
5. Link 80 - Turn It Around
6. Low Pressure - Child Of Distinction
7. Unsteady - Bad Attitude
8. Long Beach Dub Allstars - Marshall Loop Dub (Live)
9. My Superhero - Another Kind
10. The Mudsharks - Little Leash
11. Rx Bandits - Teen Idol (Remix)
12. The Allentons - Pyramid 5
13. Swingtones - Primaries
14. Undercover S.K.A. - March Slob
15. Bruce Lee Band - Gerry is Strong
16. Attaboy Skip - Twisted Lead-Hole
17. Cherry Poppin Daddies - Don Quixote
18. Home Grown - One Night Stand
19. Mad Caddies - Big Brother
20. Slightly Stoopid - Wake Up Late
21. SFD - Papa Shango
22. Cousin Oliver - Shot My Boss
23. Warsaw - Club Sex
24. Afrodisiac - Time

Good enough, not great
Hey, drop the 4 bucks on this album, great sample of not-too-famous ska bands, you'll be pleasently surprised. but there are better comps out.

All the bands on this CD rock, but the Hippos take it home
The Hippos are absolutely great on this CD!!!! All the bands rock, but the Hippos rocked my brain the most!

The hippos make this CD good
The Hippos and a few other bands make this Cd a good buy. The Hippos get 5 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Complete Track & Artist List
Correct Title: "The 2 Tone Collection: A Checkered Past" 2CD

CD1
1. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Gangsters" (2:44)
2. The Selecter - "The Selecter" (2:57)
3. Madness - "The Prince" (2:32)
4. The Selecter - "On My Radio" (3:16)
5. The Specials (featuring Rico) - "A Messge to You Rudy" (2:51)
6. The Specials (featuring Rico) - "Nite Klub" (3:09)
7. The Beat (The English Beat) - "Tears of a Clown" (2:39)
8. The Beat (The English Beat) - "Ranking Full Stop" (2:47)
9. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Too Much Too Young" (2:03)
10. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Guns of Navarone" (2:25)
11. The Selecter - "Three Minute Hero" (3:00)
12. The Bodysnatchers - "Let's Do Rock Steady" (2:54)
13. The Bodysnatchers - "Ruder Than You" (2:50)
14. The Selecter - "Missing Words" (3:20)
15. The Specials - "Rat Race" (3:07)
16. The Specials - "Rude Boys Outa Jail" (2:37)
17. The Bodysnatchers - "Easy Life" (3:12)
18. The Bodysnatchers - "Too Experienced" (2:33)
19. The Specials - "Stereotype" (3:50)
20. The Specials - "International Jet Set" (4:12)
21. The Swinging Cats - "Away" (3:13)
22. The Swinging Cats - "Mantovani" (3:14)
23. Rico - "Sea Cruise" (3:02)
24. The Specials (featuring Rico & the Ice Rink String Sounds) - "Do Nothing" (3:39)
25. The Specials - "Maggie's Farm" (3:31)

CD2
1. The Specials - "Ghost Town" (3:40)
2. The Special AKA (The Specials) with Rhoda - "The Boiler" (5:42)
3. The Special AKA (The Specials) with Rico - "Jungle Music" (4:00)
4. The Apollinaires - "The Feeling's Gone" (3:45)
5. The Higsons - "Tear the Whole Thing Down" (3:22)
6. The Higsons - "Ylang Ylang" (4:55)
7. The Apollinaires - "Envy the Love" (4:03)
8. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "War Crimes (The Crime Remains the Same)" (3:43)
9. The Higsons - "Run Me Down" (3:47)
10. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Racist Friend" (3:35)
11. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Bright Lights" (4:10)
12. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Nelson Mandela" (4:12)
13. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "Break Down the Door" (3:48)
14. The Special AKA (The Specials) - "What I Like Most About You is Your Girlfriend" (4:49)
15. The Friday Club - "Window Shopping" (3:58)
16. J.B.'s Allstars - "The Alphabet Army" (3:09)
17. The Specials - "Raquel" (1:56)
18. The Specials (with Roddy Radiation) - "Braggin' and Trying Not to Lie" (3:21)
19. Neville Staples (Judge Roughneck) - "Rude Boys Outa Jail" (4:04)

This is the best 2nd Wave Ska (UK) compilation out there, period. It contains all the singles from the 2 Tone imprint (except Elvis Costello because of copyright constaraints). Chances are, you've heard most of these on the radio at one time or another, back when radio was still ska-friendly (what happened?). Now if they'd just release a 1st Wave (Jamaica) and 3rd Wave (Orange County, California) true to this idea, we would all be in ska heaven. This is absolutely essential, and if you don't have it already, you need to buy it yesterday.

Stop Your Messin' Around
Like the Ska scene of the late 70s and early 80s this package is dominated by the Specials, and rightfully so. They had bounce, a great horn section and, like their contemporaries the Clash and the Sex Pistols they had brains in their heads. That's a wicked combo.

The first disc has the more earthy and rough-hewn records that were popular in nightclubs on both sides of the Atlantic; most of the great stuff from the first couple of Specials LPs, the Beat's excellent cover of Smokey Robinson's "Tears of A Clown"---too bad "Save It For Later" couldn't have been included--and a few tunes from The Selector help make it a classic side.

Despite some inspired selections, the second disc is too slick and decidedly less interesting. Again, the tunes from the Specials carry the day--"Ghost Town" may have been the best thing the Specials ever did--but the Apollinaires, Higsons, and the Friday Club sound like filler to me.

Overall, though, A CHECKERED PAST gives an accurate and lively insight into what I consider the Golden Age of British Ska. If nothing else, it's a great overview of the Specials under rated career.

A comprehensive primer for the unitiated
Now that ska has infiltrated modern alternative radio in every way shape and form, perhaps it is due time to return to the source. The 2 Tone Collection is a nearly flawless overview of Britain's initial ska craze of the eighties. From the archetypical white boy swagger of Madness ("The Prince" is included, though "One Step Beyond" is unfortunately absent), to the dynamic girl vocal bands like The Selector (wherein we can clearly hear where No Doubt's Gwen Stefani copped her vibrato inflected vocal style). And of course there is the timeless, "A Message To You Rudy" by The Specials. The Apollinaires, The Higsons, JB's Allstars, The Bodysnatchers, and on and on: all of the once vital ska acts are represented here. The recent ska revival (which has now seemingly morphed into the swing revival) owes a lot to these obscure acts of yesterday, who manage to combine elements of reggae, swing, latin, and motown into one rude stew. As The Bodysnatchers proclaim: "Let's Do Rock steady!"

Good collection of British Wave-2 Ska
This is an exiting collection of wave 2 Ska. There are some great incusions by The Selector, The Body Snatchers, and others. This is Ska as I remeber it in the early eighties. There are selections that lean a bit towards disco and could have been left out, but overall there are plenty of good Ska songs to select from and some greats Ska beats to dance to! ... Read more

Album Description

The followup to the highly successful 'Punk Sucks' comp. 30 tracks, many of them unreleased or hard to find from premierska bands, including Dance Hall Crashers, Less Than Jake, Let's Go Bowling, Pietasters, Mephiskapheles, Hepcats, Home Grown, MU330, Against All Authority, Mustard Plug, Ocean 11,Slapstick, The Hippos, Millencolin, Link 80 and Limp. 1998 Liberation Records release. Digipak. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

THIS IS SKA AT ITS BEST
This compilation is ska at its best. It has a huge variety of ska; from punk influenced(MU330) to traditional(Hepcat), along with bands in between.This is a truly amazin CD...go out and buy it.

Ska Sucks- An Instant Skankin Classic
With about as vast a variety you can get, this cd covers all forms of ska, tinging on punk, reggae and rock. Some of my favorite tracks are the Dance Hall Crashers, Pietaster's with their classic drinking song, Less than Jake with and awesome remake of an annoying grease song, and the great song "Dream Girl" by Jeffries Fan Club, though unheard of to me, I loved this song the first time with it's original lyrics and extremely talented musicians. This cd is the best, buy it.

Good album
This is a really good album, one of the best compilations I own. Almost all the songs on the cd are great.. Some of the best ska bands are on here!!

One of the best
I have to give this one a four because I feel that the songs in the middle of the disc kind of drag, and are not the best choices, but the first 10 and the last 6 or so are some of the best punk/ska songs I've heard. They have assembled recordings from some of the best small name bands, and gotten a few real small bands best recordings. This is a disc I think all ska fans will enjoy, since there is a wide variety of styles represented, some more than others. I recommend this cd to all fans of ska music.

an all around great cd
this cd is awesome. everysong on it gets you in the mood to skank the night away. the ltj remix of we go together sounds totally cool. props to them for taking a generic 50's song and making it into their own thing. everything else sounds good too. im just getting into third wave ska and this cd rox my world. a must buy for skankers and rudies. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Sweet CD
This CD is just one of those CDs that if you like SKA and classic cover songs you'll love it. I saw Reel Big Fish in concert recently and they played the cover "Kiss Me Deadly" and everyone went crazy. I'd buy it just for the RBF song and the Johnny Socko song.

Could Be Better
People who are thinking of buying this album should relly check out "Jump-Swing from Hell" by Lee Press-On and the Nails, and listen to their live cover of Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher" to hear a swing/Ska genera cover of 80's metal done right... The Mighty Mighty Bosstones did their song as if they were trying to be an 80's metal band, not the Mighty Mighty Bosstones covering the song... All the horns of Lee Press-On and the Nails, copying Eddie's (Van Halen) riffs made their cover great, but the horns are strangely absent from "Ain't Talking 'Bout Love", except in that quiet part in the middle, where they only provide a counterpoint to the lyrics... "Big Balls" by The Pietasters is good, you can't screw that song up, I think, and "The Final Countdown" by Furillo and "Kickstart My Heart" by The Porkers are hilarious, more parody than cover... Some of the songs (Like "Wanted Dead or Alive" by The Slackers) are almost unrecocnizable, but thats okay... It's kinda worth having as an unusual album nobody's ever heard of before, but it's a big disappointment after good ol' Lee and his Nails...

Metal is cool again!!!
This album is great fun. It is a compilation of 80's metal tracks covered by contemporary ska and punk bands, like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Pietasters, Reel Big Fish. My personal favourites are Less Than Jake's punky rendition of Twisted Sisters 'We're not going to take it', Furillo's version of the 'The final countdown', Nicotine's cover of the cheesy Warrant song 'Cherry Pie' and the Slackers super smooth ska version of Bon Jovi's 'Wanted dead or alive'. The best thing about this compilation is that the covers do justice to the originals, and rather than poke fun of these songs, they highlight the good points, and, if anything, it makes you want to check out the originals that you would have been too embarrassed to buy. The only problem with this album is that the production is quite minimal on some tracks, and like all covers albums there's bound to be a couple of tracks which you've never heard of. That aside, this is a fun and happy album which won't appeal to everyone (I'm sure traditional metalheads and those in need of a humour bypass will hate it) but if you are in the right mood this is the best thing ever.

A fun album, but still needs work
Overall I'd say it is a good album, but a few songs don't keep up with the rest of the album. Wanted Dead or Alive done by the Slackers, and Talk Dirty to Me done by Regatta69 slow down the origional songs so much that they are hard to decipher, whereas We're not gonna take it by Less than Jake, Big Balls by the Pietasters, Kickstart my Heart by the Porkers, and You Give Love a bad name by Skif Dank are absolutely amazing cuts. Iron Maiden by Big D and the Kids Table is also an entertaining cover, though a little rough around the edges. It's a fun album if you like cover songs, and or ska, and I'd say its good investment.

excellent cd
i kinda new this cd would be awesome with some awesome bands (MU330, johnny socko, big d and the kids table, reel big fish, LTJ), but their tracks plus really good covers(hell, theyre all covers) by Furillo, Porkers, Skif Dank, and Thumper make this cd worth it. i've never liked mmbosstones much, so i dont like em here either. The slackers tune is really cool with its reggae ska stuff. the peacocks song is just so-so, and the regatta 69 song is really cool. The pietasters song is funny, and sounds funnier as a ska song too. so with the exception of a couple, all the songs really kicks ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Wow this is actually all Ska
Unlike volume two this CD is all Ska. I love volume two but this one is ten times as good. All the songs area good and pure ska. Except for the last song wich is rap. but still this CD is worth it. I am in love with this CD. BUY IT if you like Ska music.

I feel this CD is one of the best compilation CD's out there
This CD has old skasters and a variety of new bands on the ska scene. From Unsteady to Undercover SKA this CD gets you moving. Real ska fans only though, some may not appreciate some of the o.g. ska beats. ... Read more

Album Description

Budget-priced 1995 release on Castle featuring 210 minutesof ska from the '60s, '70s & '80s. Each of the four CDs have16 tracks. The first three are studio recordings; the lastis a live compilation. Features Bad Manners, Judge Dread,The Selecter, Pauline Black, Special Beat, The Loafers andmany others. Comes packaged as four CDs in standardjewel cases within a slipcase. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A large quantity of quality ska.
This really is a great deal. It's 4 16-track discs of killer ska from some classic bands, and at a good price. This is the real deal too, it's not what passes for ska today (Reel Big Fish), but the good stuff from the 70's and 80's. It's the best collection I've seen since the "Max The Dog Says, Do The Ska" album. If you're into groups like "Judge Dread", "The Hotknives", "The Riffs", "Natural Rhythm", and "Bad Manners", then this set was made for you. Also, one of the discs is all live.

Good Value
This is the best collection I've seen too lock in a strong collection of 2nd Wave Ska. It's all strong stuff. The draw back is if you alreadly own a lot of varity Ska CD's your going to get a LOT of duplication. I figure I alreadly have 1/3 to 1/2 the tracks on this collection in other Ska CD such as Ska-ville UK, SKAndalous, Dance Craze, Ska Down with Her and Runin Naked thru the Cornfield. Not to mention the orginal albums. But at the price who can knock 64 tracks and close to 4 hours of skanking Ska. This is your best buy if your new to Ska and not a bad buy if your a serious collector. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good place to start loving ska.
So you heard some weird music coming out of that rudy's car. What's that??Ska,you say??I want to get introduced to this wonderful world of happy,bouncy music. Look no further than Skarmageddon,Vol. 1. It's got it all. Traditional, "dink a dink" style ska, punk ska,weird two tone (Gal's Panic),and everything inbetween. The first disc rates a solid five stars,the second one drags it down a bit with geeky stuff like "Scootering" and "Monkey in the White House" but overall this two disc set stays in my player at all times. "Mr.Smiley", "Stuff" and "#1 on the hit list" are catchy and should've been on top 40 radio. Someday when I put out a movie I will use at least three or four ska tracks from this comp on my soundtrack. Spread the word and let's hope for a fourth and a fifth wave of ska!!!

No surprise
As always, Moon delivers. This is a great collection of bands that are popular even today, despite the 7 year difference and the fact that some are broken up. If you are a fan of any wave, you will enjoy this CD. It has classics that any ska fan knows, plus a different version of Spring Heeled Jack's Addicted compared to their CD. I was psyched! Best track that I hadn't heard of? Insatiable's Walkin' Shangbootie.

covers all the bases
The surprise of this disc is that A LOT of it is good. Where most compilations suffer from the one hit wonder disease, there are a ton of killer tracks. Mr. Smiley (by Mustard Plug) is my favorite ska track of all time. Another surprise is that the songs didn't all come out within 6 months of each other; there's actually some variety to it. If I were rating only disc 1, I'd give it 4 stars, but the second disc is a bit weak. Other hilights include Hoosier Love, with such timeless lyrics as "...gettin laid at Dairy Queen", and Big Haired Girl.

damn spiffy!
if you like ska, this CD is a must buy. it is a great mix of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd wave ska. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Eh, it's ok
Tracks 4, 5, 6, and 10 are ok, but the album's nothing to write home about.

Very Good but not Great
This CD is just pure ska....i love most of it...but it gets borin after a month or twoo...a few of the songs arent up to par with my ska standards ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great!
This is the best Skarmageddon of the whole series,though there is always a special place in my heart for the first one,after all it introduced me to other forms of ska than Ska-core,that I had only previously known through the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.(And Fishbone).
The best song is on disc two, Sgt. Scagnetti's "Sideshow" it is almost like what Fatboy Slim would do if he did Ska,at least in my humble opinion. It bears repeat listening. Some of the bands have albums out on Asian Man Records and whatnot,check 'em out.

Buy it now!
Out of the many of ska comilations I have, the Skarmageddon series have always been one of the best in there. In this 3rd one of the series, they have seperated the oldskool, 2 tone on one cd. The rest on the other. 45 songs and they all rock! Why are you reading this! Buy it!

perfect mix of two-tone and third-wave ska from moon records
The set is broken up into 2 discs: the first dedicated to the classic two-tone sound, the second to more on-the-edge third-wave ska acts. The separation isn't entirely clean, but I definitely feel that it was worth it. I've been listening to this CD fairly consistently for past 2 years, which is a pretty good standard of quality for myself.

This set has led me to purchase CDs from bands featured in the collection. I find it fairly rare that a single song on any collection would drive me to further explore the artists within.

The production quality and style of each individual song varies a bit, but you can't really tell unless you're on a high-end hi-fi system, cranked up. But it's all fairly indie ska, so it's part of the music. Most definitely the top choice of all the Skarmageddon CDs so-far, especially for entry-level ska fans.

Skarmageddon 3 is a terrific intro into 90s ska.
It contains many great songs, and has one 2-Tone/Traditional CD and one Third-Wave/Ska-Punk CD. With 45 bands, its the largest and most well-defined CD in the Skarmageddon series. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good
Good tunes, especially for a Sunday/Saturday morning scorching hangover with a hot cup of crappy coffee. Good tunes. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Disappointing
After I discovered 1995's Skarmageddon,lost it,rebought it,I was slobbering in anticipation with my newfound ability to buy any ska I wanted without running my poor little 1993 Nissan Sentra into the ground,driving all around the midwest.(Yup,I stopped being chicken of buying online)
After you pop this cd in you will be filled with a resounding, "Oh this is just okay" feeling that you get when you buy a full album of somebody you only like two songs of,like,say..The Exceptions. A few standouts that have that magical weirdness I crave in ska,like "The Irish Singer of Albee Square" come to mind,but overall this is a letdown. Skip right from Skarmageddon one and buy number Three,which is totally,magically awesome.

This is a great CD!!!!!!
The Skarmageddon series is a great series to listen to if you are into underground ska, and if you are intrested into hearing the up and comming ska bands. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Chuck Wren is a gift to music
What can I say? He can pick the bands. This is a great album.

its cool..........
it sounds different from any other ska i've herd. woulden mind hearing more of it. put more albums out.they know how to do that ska thing. ... Read more