Reviews (56)

Stars good, and keeps getting better.
When I first got the first Aquabats CD, it was my favorite. Then I got the second CD, and it was even better. Now this one is better than the other two put together. When I first heard it, I was kinda disappointed, but then I listened to it again, and I fell in love. So give it more than one chance. I got it for my b-day and I can't stop listening to it. It's not exactly ska, it's more of a mix between ska and punk. The best songs are Giant Robot-Birdhead, Lovers Of Loving Love,Monster's Wedding, The Ballad Of Mr. Bonkers, and Canis Lupis. I promis you that this is not only the best Aquabats CD, but the best CD ever. Buy it, and you'll be glad you did.

A great CD, even if they did change their style
This is the third CD that has come out of the Aquabats and the first thing you might notice is that the style is way different than the last two. The last two had a ska feel, but this is different. This isn't a bad thing. The title's and lyrics are the same wacky creativity that can only come out of the Aquabats. Some songs are slow and somewhat depressing(Chemical Bomb, Lovers of Loving Love, Hello Goodnight) while others have high energy that makes you want to do a karate chop(Giant Robot Birdhead, Amino Man, Sequence Erase, AntiMatter) while others are plain wacky (Tiny Pants, the Man with Glooey Hands). This has been a very welcome addition to my Aquabats collection and I am listening to it almost non-stop as of right now. Don't let the change from ska keep you from buying this.

Best CD ever!
The Aquabats are my favorite band ever and although I've always been a huge fan of ska I have to say that even without the ska sound this cd is in my opinion the best Aquabat CD to date. The lyrics are amazing and the music sounds much more professional and organized then some of their earlier work. Not only is the best Aquabats cd but is quite possibly my favorite cd ever. A must buy for any Aquabats fan or just for anyone who wants something entertaining to listen to.

Awesome
I got this CD along time ago. And while it is a bit different form the return cd. I would say this cd is even better. The sound is so much more professional and amazing than their other cds. With party anthems like Canus Lupus and Giant Robot Birdhead, and slower songs like Mr. Bonkers and hello, good night, love song slike lovers of loving love, and even some odd yet awesome songs like tiny pants...This CD has it all. It proves that the Aquabats arent just stuck in one genre, and they can not be merely labeled as a ska band. They are an awesome band!! Its as simple as that. It wmay take a few listens to get used to, but you will love this cd.

My least favorite Aquabat CD
This is my least favorite Aquabats cd. The band's style seemed to change on this cd and instead of singing about upbeat comedy, this cd is more about singing about depressing stuff. I wouldn't reccomend this cd because of this, but then there are other songs that are so great they almost redeem the cd totally. These are Lotto Fever, Canis Lupis, and Tiny Pants. One other problem that I found with this cd is that many of the songs sounded like the same songs off of older aquabats cds with new lyrics.

If you've never listened to the Aquabats before, don't start out with this CD. Listen to "The Fury of the Aquabats" first, and if you like it, get all of the other Aquabats cds and save this one for last. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the 1950s, guitarist Ernest Ranglin was one of the prime creators of Jamaican ska, which eventually led to reggae. Ranglin adapted the style of Wes Montgomery to his island's native musical forms. For years Ranglin was a well-kept secret in his homeland, and jazz-guitar legends Les Paul and George Benson were some of his early fans. But thanks to his recordings with Monty Alexander, Ranglin now has a legion of fans around the world. This CD highlights Ranglin's unique jazz and Carib style over some zesty ska and reggae beats. Backed by a Jamaican-American combo featuring saxophonist Antonio Hart and pianist Warren Bernhardt, Ranglin's percussive and soulful guitar lines form a strong hip-swinging link between America and the West Indies. From Ranglin's infectious original compositions such as the title track and the seductively syncopated "Soulful Moments" to his fresh versions of the reggae and pop hit "Pass the Dutchie" (a.k.a. "Pass the Louchie") to the Melodians classic, "Rock It with Me," Ernest Ranglin reigns supreme, from the jazz club to the dance hall. --Eugene Holley Jr. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Incredible!
This is the group of reggae/jazz incredibles right here. Guitar mastermind Ernest Ranglin dazzles me and will never stop. First he recruits Antonio Hart, who probably is one of the greatest saxophonists living today, and has him blow the house down. His solos on all the songs are great. Ernest himself does quite a job himself, and matches all his solos. I'd have to say this is one of the only reggae cds I like. Take a listen to all the songs, you'll never get bored.

P.S Please Check Out My Other Reviews!

Awesome!
This CD is worth getting. I got this CD for over 17.99, and Amazon sells it cheaper. I listened to the CD over and over, and have never gotten sick of it. I have memorized the solos which are incredible by both the saxophones and the guitar. It really is a nice mix, since the sounds of the saxophone and guitar really blend together nicely. It also helps that the players have nice flowing solos, so the songs are upbeat and never get boring. Track 3, The Bubbler has a good solo by the saxophone who sounds exactly like Michael Brecker. This is a good buy!

Very Nice Jazzy & Caribbean Mix!
Here we have a fine blend of sax, vibes, guitar, percussion, and some other varying instruments resulting in superb, rhythmic jazz flavored Jamaica sounds. Every piece is excellent, and there are some nifty guiter solos for the guitar buff! All in all, darn good. My only criticism is that the tunes and rhythmsdo get a bit repetitive, but still a 5-star piece!

Ranglin the master.
This is as good as music gets! Ranglin has again prooved himself as a guitarist without peer. This music is appropriate for any occasion and will be appreciated by everyone from 4 to 100 black, white or whatever. Ranglin needs to be heard to be believed.

wow wow
What appears to be a ska-lite or eazy listening reggae-jazz cd on first listening reveals itself as a deep groove! The deceptively simple melodies are a foil for exceptional solos and artistry. There is just good playing in abundance. It IS easy to listen to, and has a mature feel, but man, the more carefully I listen, the more I find that draws me in and back again. Moondance is exceptional stuff. A terrific little gem! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Dissapointing
When I bought this cd I was expecting something descent, not as good as the Slackers or Hepcat, but something different and decent. But instead I often got poorly arranged songs with stupit hyped lyrics more reminiscent of a pop albulm. They talk about living the 'rude boy life' but their instrumentals lacked the true spirit of ska. They had lots of horns but lacked the driving, honking, ring-a-ding feel of the back-beat and percusion of a good ska track.

Ska at it's finest
This is a great CD for any ska fan. I enjoy playing "man with the golden arm" in my car with the windows down.

Suberb ska classic
The first Scofflaws album, and in my opinion, the best. Every song is great. This CD has been a staple in my music collection for several years. I recently bought a copy for my friend and he can't stop groovin' on their great sound. If you don't have this CD yet, you're missing out. "It's a total culture shock/I'm the only Rude Boy on the block..."

the definitive instrumental ska of the 90's
This is bar none the best instrumental ska album released in this decade (and quite possibly any other). It's great party music, great dance music, just generally great music. Best tracks are Daniel Ortega, A Shot in the Dark, and Moanin'. The best Scofflaws album by far and one of the best ska albums ever. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

this cd is so great
2 years, 12 days, and a live album after loud and clear, the supertones release their 5th studio album hi-fi revival, and they let you know it in the first song superfly. let me tell you it is awesome i think it might be their greatest work ever. they can't make a bad album. if you like the supertones you will love this album unless your like that other reviewer who must have decided before they listened to this they wouldn't like it because any true supertone fan would love this cd. my favorite songs on this cd are: superfly, welcome home, let it go, perfect love,and basically tracks 10-15. but all are good. buy this album it is awesome.

what's this? no noise?
after many albums, the supertones finally seem to have found their calling. what started out as pure ska, then morphed it into something not really ska, not really anything else either, but definately not good to listen to, has finally turned into solid rock with brass highlights. think of a whole cd of wilderness and jury duty sounding songs. i've been a fan of them since the beginning, but this is the first cd of theirs that i will bestow my 'excellent' rating on, which is an extremely rare honor. most notable about the disc is that it doesn't fall into a predictable pattern. so many bands find a formula that works for them, and then write every song according to that, resulting in a disc that's ready for radio, but boring to listen to. that's not what happened here. hi-fi revival has variety. each track sounds different from the one before it, and, to me at least, that's a wonderful thing.

HI-Fi Revival
First off I would like to say that this CD is AWESOME!!! I have been a fan of the Supertones since "Supertones Strike Back", and my love for the group has only gotten stronger since then. This CD is similar to the previous CD's in that you can tell that it's the Supertones when you listen to it, but the experience is somewhat different. In "HI-Fi Revival" the Supertones deliver a more in-depth experience of what it is like to be a true Christian. This is a very encouraging CD that helps to strengthen your faith in Jesus and draw you nearer to God. The music style is different than the other CD's but it is a good change. The song "Hold On To Jesus" really grips your heart when you listen to it and just makes you want to cling to Him and Him alone. This CD is well worth buying if you are interested in furthuring your relationship with God!
!!!PRAISE JESUS MAN!!!

HI-FI WHAT?
Another great album by the Supertones but it lacks original O.C. Supertones quality. When i first listened to it, i was not at all impressed, it wasn't really fast, it wasn't hard/heavy, and it wasn't a normal ska album, but it still was a good ska album. But as most good cds do, this cd definitley grew on me. Then right before the See Spot Rock Tour of 2003 i started listening to it a whole lot because they were gonna be there, and i couldn't get enough of it. I highly reccomend this album to any ska/supertones fan but don't expect it to be that great of an album. This is a must have.

Another Hit!
Yeah! These guys rock! They bring Christian music to a whole new level! Yeah, their music is very *loud*, haha, but all the wonderful music and voices are put together into an awesome jammed pack CD. This Cd is a tiny bit different from the rest but it's always good to have a change, and it's a great change. ;) Turn up the volume guys, you'll love 'em. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

MUSIC TO BOWL BY
A FEW YEARS AGO I DISCOVERED THIS TAPE OR CD BY LETS GO BOWLING AND AS I LISTENED TO IT I THOUGHT I HEARD SOME BOWLING SOUND EFFECTS ON THE TAPE AND CD SO IF I CAN FIND MY COPY OF THIS ALBUM THEN IM GOING TO PRACTICE ON MY GAME OF BOWLING WHILE LISTENING TO THIS ALBUM AND THATS WHY I BELIEVE IT DESERVES A FIVE STAR RATING

excellent!
i bought their cd and i've been listening to them non-stop! if you like bands like the specials, the slackers, or the toasters i'd suggest you buy this disc.

BETTER THAN A STRIKE!!!!
Not as good as Mr. Twist, but its still pretty good, definetly worth buying just for Rude 69.

The best Freshman effort in a long time....
LGB's first cd out of three still proves to be their best. Music to Bowl By is LGB's best album. If your going to buy any of the three, buy this one!

Music To Live By
I first bought this CD about three months ago and I have listening to it ever since. With track number 1 you realize these guys have much more talent than expected. Even though it was recorded back in 1991,it is a ska masterpiece. "Rude 69" I s the best ska/bluse chart EVER, with a groove so deep it would make Isaac Hayes cry. The album is full of cleverly hidden influences such as classical ("Hare Tonic"), Swing ("Pin Stripe Suit"), and latin music ("Esta Noche".) Although All the songs are amazing I especially love the self-titled "L.G.B." with 3 words and the truth that they are one of the greatest bands to ever walk this earth. Remember, Let's Go Bowling sometime soon. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Don't buy!
This is an illegal bootleg release. Buy 'The Complete Bob Marley & the Wailers 1967-1972', parts 2 and 3 (from JAD Records) or Bob Marley & The Wailers albums from Trojan Records instead, if you want to have the songs on this album. JAD's and Trojan's releases are legal, and the sound quality is often much better on their albums. Also, if you buy the box sets from JAD, part of the money will go to the Bob Marley and Peter Tosh families and Bunny Wailer (the three original Wailers). ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Very cool ska/pop/rock band from Cali!
I think that My Superhero is one of the best ska bands out there today. They know how to get a crowd going with their catchy songs, and this album shows it. Buy it now.

PLEASE BUY THIS!!!!
This whole cd is awesome... from the begining to the very end! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll sing along! I would pick out the best songs but they're ALL good. Especially the cover song 'Groovy'! This band should be BIG! The drummer is a bad mo fo! I saw them live in San Francisco! Get it now!

This is one awesome CD!
Get this if you don't have it, you'll regret it if you don't have it

Amazing!
One of the best ska/pop/punk albums i've heard in a long time, they know how to rock and how to write damn fine songs, they should be huge!

From the lyrics to the chords, this album is full of talent
These Anaheim boys know how to rock my world. Their music is upbeat, fun and easy to dance to. I definitely recommend checking it out and while you're at it, check out their website (mysuperhero.com) If you like music with style you'll love My Superhero!!! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Formerly speechless, but now able to express my appreciation
This is perhaps the most incredible ska(core?) album ever produced. The song "Electric" shall forever remain my all time favorite. Concerning one of the previous reviews from 1999 where an ignorant fan said the same thing 16 times in a row, I would sharply disagree and have to say that this CD does NOT in fact need "Jolene." I found Songs From Suburbia to be a startling disappointment, followed by the band splitting up. Static World View is fantastic from start to finish, both musically and lyrically. I still find myself to be in a state of disbelief every time I hear it. It's just amazing, I bought it twice over the span of a few years, nothing else to say.

My Favorite CD of all time
This is by far my favorite album of all time. I bought it in 1996 and I still have it in my cd player almost every day. I am glad to see that the members of the band are having success with other groups, but nothing will ever compare to good times in CT with SHJ. If you can't buy it anywhere, download it. And spread the word.

the best ska CD ever
OK, this is the BEST ska CD ive ever heard, and their new one sucks. ive been listening to this band since this CD came out. theyre the best.

This cd needs Jolene.
This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene. This cd needs Jolene.

spring heeled jack- probably one of my favorite bands ever
this cd is awesome. i could listen to it over and over agian and not get bored, in fact i do. their new cd isn't bad, it's just not the same as the old one ... Read more

Amazon.com

On their fourth full-length release, San Diego's Buck-O-Nine continue to trace the ska-punk revolution from its '70s roots to its '90s incarnation. With a robust horn section bopping alongside their breakneck reggae rhythms, Buck-O-Nine's lead singer Jon Pebsworth struts his stuff in a voice that would make Joe Jackson proud. While the punk spirit on this CD is often eclipsed by the band's feel good melodies, Libido is still an extra-energetic foray into modern ska. Jonas Kleiner's guitar playing is both upbeat and tasteful on fun tunes such as "On a Sunny Day." With some tranquil moments and world music creeping into their overall sound, Buck-O-Nine show they aren't afraid to experiment with the ska-punk formula. --Mitch Meyers ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Buck-O-Nine's fourth full length album is dissapointing
I'm not the kind of guy who hates a ska band because they're sellouts.I like Reel Big Fish,MMBosstones,and Less Than Jake.All of which are sellout ska bands.So it's not my problem that Buck-O-Nine tried to reach the radio on this cd.But they didn't do a good job.Their is only one song that compares to their old stuff and that is Falling Back To Sleep.And their are a few really good songs.But in a whole,the album doesn't even come close to 28 teeth.Buck-O-Nine added this real light watery pop crap on this album that gets success on the radio but just doesn't work here.The album is worth buying for the few really good songs.But I suggest you go for 28 teeth before getting this one.If your not really a ska fan but like the radio friendly pop,then you might enjoy this.This is not really ska.It is more like reggae/pop.But it is still Buck-O-Nine with their great vocals.That will never leave.But take my word for it that this is not them at their best.

Is This The Same Buck O Nine?
BO9 has changed a lot since their earlier albums like Barfly and Songs In The Key Of Bree. In these albums, they sound like your average ska band, which attracted ska fanatics. However, many of them were turned off by this album. Why? Because the tunes in this recording has lost many of the key elements of ska, such as the chinky off-beat guitar which occurs only occasionally in this album, and also what happened to the horn solos? These and other factors have led me to believe that Buck O Nine is slowly edging towards pop rock and away from ska, somewhat comparable to No Doubt (Only they did it quicklier). I liked this album better than any other ska CD I have heard, and some pop rock minded listeners may enjoy it also, but die-hard ska fans are going to find something missing.

Buck o nines best to date.
Libido and songs in the key of bree are the only real albums by this band that matter to me, though this cd seems to have taken a more poppy approach to some of the songs such as swimming in sand and on a sunny day i feel these are the stand out tracks because of this it's just happy beach ska. There is only one throw away track on libido and thats the last one as it's just no where near as interesting as the previous tracks in the offering and by that time you've heard all the good points of libido anyway, buck o nine appear to be one of the good ska bands around but some of the rock they play just seems a bit effortless and needs that bit more flare but i would seriously recommened Libido even over songs in the key of Bree.

Great Great Great
All you have to do is listen to "Tell it like was" and "swimming in sand" and you will love this album. They sound like Reel Big Fish, Sublime, and CIV all rolled into one.

Not Quite as good...
Buck-O-Nine is one of my very favorite ska bands. The first ska CD I ever bought was 28 Teeth. After listening to that I got really into ska... The CD is good and all, but it does not match up with their others. I personally think you should but some of their other CDs instead of this one, but if you have those feel free to get this one... I just think they didnt do as good of a job with this one. ... Read more

Album Description

U.K. edition of the beloved English ska revivalist's 1999 comeback album, featuring the entire original line-up returning to the sound that brought them fame & fortune, as the singles 'Johnny The Horse' & 'Lovestruck' demonstrate. 11 tracks total. 1999 release. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful Madness
The title says it all!!! I waited two weeks for the CD and the wait was worth every second. Madness does it again bringing back their classic tunes and thrilling me once more. The is one CD you can play over and over again in you car and never get tired of it! A+++

Wonderfully nostalgic
We have waited a great deal of time for this release, a long wait. And, yes, it is a wonderful album. Madness' avid fans would surely recognize the Madness sound. Moreover, it seems that this album was composed with a nostalgic end, a hidden tribute to Madness' earlier albums. Johnny the Horse may remind you of Michael Caine; Elysium has the Give Me a Reason sound, 4am has something of Victoria Gardens and Turning Blue, and If I Didn't Care also joins the predominant Keep on Moving theme.
A tribute to Madness' Rise and Fall can be easily detected in Lovestruck and The Wizard. Fans would surely recognize Benny Bullfrog of Madness 7 in Going to the Top.
However, the one and only song that keeps to the real sound and beat of British two tone ska is The Communicator; a hit that could have been easily performed by, for instance, Bad Manners.

Bitter nostalgia is also the theme of Saturday night... that faces the death of the 80s when the world had less time for war and global terrorism and more time for great music, discos at the weekends and incredible video clips.

Madness is Wonderful
An aptly titled album, Madness's "Wonderful" is wonderful. The music style continues to be the fine quality of madness that all fans love and adore. If you love Madness, you'll love this album, that's all that's to it. If you don't love Madness, you soon will. It's upbeat music with catchy lyrics, but without being canned drivel of too many bands. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The worst singer on earth
This band's tight, solid, well rehearsed, technically good, and write great songs. Some of the best and most interesting arrangements of horns that you'll find. The instrumental work on this album is what makes it great. The singer's horrible. It seems the Achile's Heel of ska for the last decade or so has been singers. Lots of great ska bands with crap singers. I'd say more than half of the Moon Ska world falls into this catagory with Dr RingDing and the Senior Allstars as the best example.

Skavoovie, fire that guy, get someone better.
Even though No Doubt isn't, of course strickly speaking, ska people like them because Stafani's one hell of a great singer, and the band is mediocre to say the least. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones is another example of a mediocre band with a great singer...
So in the bazzilion to one chance that someone in that band reads this review, please give that guy the boot.

A sophisticated form of SKA
These guys aren't your average trad ska band. Their approach on SKA is unique and the quality of the musicians in the band certainly compliment their style. Check this one out.

Part ska, part swing
Skavoovie is here in top form with Ripe, ska with dash of swing. When you hear it you just want to get up and dance. I recomend it to ska and swing fans, as long as you don't mind all the instrumentals.

Skavoovie -- Simply Magnificent!
Without a doubt, Skavoovie is one of the finest bands on the contemporary Ska circuit. In Ripe, Skavoovie blends intoxicating rhythms, melodies, riffs, and vocals with unparalleled musical precision. Jon Natchez's performance on baritone will knock you out. And the vocals and lyrics on Frog Spirit could transform your life. Powerful stuff! I endorse this album 100%! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

...
recently had an opportunity to see the Slackers live, and for some reason I passed it up. I am now kicking myself repeatedly for missing that chance. "Live at Ernesto's" takes everything good about a ska band [a solid rhythm section, a variety of styles, catchy tunes, and a bitchin' horn section] and mixes it with everything good about a live CD [AWESOME sound quality, extended jams {in Work Song, Pedophilia and You Don't Know I}, and CROWD INTERACTION]. This CD is just over an hour of this band at it's finest, playing in one of the weirdest settings in the world: a Mexican restaurant in southern Holland. They take selections from all 3 of their studio albums [none of which I've heard before, so this was all new to me] and just rock 'em out. You can feel the crowd's energy, as well as the band's. Live albums take a lot to win me over, and this one has it all. I'm not even that big of a ska fan, and I still dug this. The only problem I have now is not being able to buy any of their studio albums. This live album has so much electricity that I just can't see their studio albums doing them justice. Go see the Slackers live and buy this CD, you'll thank me.

Superb Slackers Ska
Forget the ska-punk junk... Dance all night to the tunes of the Slackers. I must say that this CD is excellent. Keep in mind, this is a live CD (hence the title) - so you won't find any new tracks on it (except for this 1 minute dub type song). They did an excellent job of picking their best songs from their studio CDs... Work Song, Sarah, Soldier - Certainly some of my favs!

This CD does capture the intensity that they pour into live shows. I've seen them a few times in AZ (one time I drove half way across the state to see them) and this album will make you wanna drive across the state as well. If you ever get the chance, see them live. In the mean time, dance to the CD.

The only reason why it didn't get 5 stars is because they didn't put any new songs on it. C'mon - every band has some songs that arent released yet. If there were 1 or 2 unrecorded songs on it, it would have gotten 5.

The real deal....
Don't be scared off by the "ska" tag. This is the real deal. Real music by real musicians. A Mardi-Gras/Kingston/Stax/52nd Street/East Village melange of style and fun. Maybe the best live act you will ever see and if you're lucky you can actually see them in a bar somewhere. This is the only band I've ever seen that could be embraced by both Rancid fans and Phish fans.

better live...
the slackers are the best live performers i've ever seen.
this was the first slackers cd i got, and the best. the songs have so much more energy in them that it feels as though you are at the show. i want to get up and dance when i here this album. this is a must buy cd. don't leave amizon without it.

Well...
Being from the UK really doesn't help when you want to listen to Ska music because it is so hard to find. That's where Amazon comes in. Without it, I'd be skaless!!

But anyway, onto this album... Another fault with living in the Uk is that The Slackers tour here once every 5 years max, which doesn't give much opportunity to see them. However, I reckon this album makes up for it. You get the whole atmosphere of the place, you get the improvisational horns from everyone and you get the fantastic sound of pure unadulterated ska, Slacker style. Which is fine by me. This excels itself as an album. I have The Question and Better late Than Never, and the live versions of tracks off both these albums are remarkable. I just can't wait until they tour again and hopefully come to this country, because I'll call them and offer to be a roadie... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Classic
I think this cd is the best Planet Smashers cd out there. Their first cd was great, but since then they have progressed musicly while preserving the sarcastic and funny themes to produce a classic ska cd. This is classic ska, amd I find the Planet Smashers to be the best current "retro ska" sounding band. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

BOP (harvey) rules
I have had the distinct pleasure of seeing BOP (harvey) perform live on several occasions, including a friends' wedding in 1992. I almost cried when they disbanded in that same year(?) This was unfortunate because in the World Music theatre the band was only a few years ahead of their time. Had they continued for just a few years, they would have made the big time. Anyway, it is a great disc. I am actually searchng for some of the discs that I don't possess.

insightful lyrics set to progressive world-beat rythm
BOP(harvey) provides an acute social commentary on the world around us. To combine that with a uniquely eclectic combination of musical styles is an incredible feat for a group that hailed from the very homogenous suburbs of the midwest. If this doesn't get you moving and thinking, nothing will. ... Read more

Album Description

UK reissue of 1980 debut of mod revival act reminiscent of the Jam. Includes the classic single 'Maybe Tomorrow'. 23 tracks in all including 11 bonus tracks, 'Now It's Gone', 'Don't Look Back', 'Now It's Gone' (Extended Version), 'Things We Said', 'I Don't Wanna Know', 'Hey Girl', 'This Is What They Want', 'The British Way Of Life', 'The Way It's Got To Be', 'In My Street' and 'I'll Keep Holding On'. 1999 release. Standard jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

second best to the jam
The "mod" movement of the late 70's in England was bound to die as are all fads. Most of the "mod" music that came out of that period stunk (secret affair, lambrettas, etc). The Chords were different. Even though they wore the mod uniform, musically they held a lot in common with some of the more punk bands. I think that they are the closest I've heard to the Damned. Anyway, the album is fantastic. It's full of teenage anthems that carry with you all day long. For those of you just beginning to explore the mod scene, this is a must to your collection.

mod revival leaders
Well, if you were around in 1979 then 'the Chords' must mean something to you.I recently bought this album (after years of trying to find it in dusty record shops).Tracks like 'Maybe Tomorrow' blast me right back to those mod times with a burning nostalgia.Being in England ,only two bands mattered..the kings of em all,The Jam and the Chords.Their version of Sam and Dave's 'Hold on I'm coming',has a raw edge and a certain uniqueness.I'm not too sure about 'she said,she said' though!A lot of these songs hold a real insight into the minds of 19 year old British youth culture,all love and angst.Keep listening...it grows on you! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Since reforming 20 years ago, the founders of ska have toured internationally to great acclaim. The band is not what it was, since leading lights Roland Alphonso and Tommy McCook are no longer with us, but the tour bus keeps rolling along with old schoolers like original vocalist Doreen Shaffer and saxophonist Lester Sterling now onboard. Recording in Paris in 2001 between tours, the band lets it rip in the studio, playing live with few overdubs. The production has that warm analog feel that gives From Paris a classic sound even if it is new. Tastefully, the album also balances such classics as "Guns Of Navarone" and "River To The Bank" with such excellent new songs as "Lester’s Mood" and "Glory To The Sound." Like many artists with lengthy careers, the Skatalites compete with themselves when they record. And while there’s an endless stream of excellent reissues and collections, this satisfying album is a document of the band in the 21st century.--Tad Hendrickson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Ska in every sense of the word
The skatalites explore as many aspects of ska as they can and the result is great, they always stick to there roots whilst combining the ska with all sorts of genres this realease is no different though in my mind is one of there best releases.

+1/2 The Skatalites are still skankin' up a storm
The surviving members of the original Skatalites cruise through a pleasant set of mellow, steady-rockin' tunes. Mostly instrumentals and tried & true oldies, with a couple of soul-y vocal tunes that feature Doreen Schaffer singing her little heart out. Nothing groundbreaking, but they're still in fine form. ... Read more

Album Description

Features new recordings of the hits of the Specials & Fun Boy Three with vocals by Neville Staple. Includes a special appearance by Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Gos. Features exclusive dancefloor remixes of 'Ghost Town' & 'Our Lips Are Sealed'. 15 tracks. Anagram. 2004. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Must have!
I saw these guys last summer at the Beach Break on the Cape. They played for hours and had everybody dancing and having a great time. The next day, I bought their cds. This cd is constantly in the cd changer. If you like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Sublime, Long Beach Dub Allstars, etc you will love this disc. Incredible horns and energy permeate their songs and make you want to groove. All of my friends have asked for the name of the cd after listening to it once or twice. Great summer driving music, too! ... Read more

Album Description

With all the recordings making their debut in CD, this compilation is every ska fan's dream. Featured on this 3-CD set are some of the giabts of the age, including instrumentalists, Tommy McCook, Don Drummond and Baba Brooks, top vocal groups, the Maytals, the Techniques and the Clarendonians, and popular vocalists, Stranger Cole, Joe White and Freddie McKay. 50 rare Ska tracks in all from Trojan, packaged in cardboard sleeves and housed in a slimline box. 2005. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Mediocre "Also-Rans" of the Skinhead Reggae Sound
A couple of good tracks and a lot of filler. In the late '60s, tons of reggae acts sought fame by appealing to the skinhead craze busting out in Britain. Many of these offerings were of poor production quality and lackluster melody/lyrics. Alas, many such tracks ended up on this collection, which is a shame as I love that late 60s reggae sound.

Favor one (or several) of the other Trojan collections. The Rude Boy, Rocksteady, and Dub collections all have a lot more to offer.

Real Classic Skinhead Music
This box set of songs remind me of the Trojan Labeled Reggae that I used to hear my Skinhead cousins listen to on Vinyl when I was little. This is a great collection of songs which I've forced many of people who thought I was a nazi because of my bald head to listen to and enjoy. There are a few goofy tracks, like Funky Chicken, or Funky Duck, or even the track about the Lockness Monster?!? But it's all good. Buy it!

Illuminating and well worth the price
To those Americans like myself who spent some degree of their teenage years during the 1980's listening to punk rock, the word "skinhead" conjures up the image of a shorn, steel-toed thug who'd throw his fist first and quote Mein Kampf later. By the mid-80's in the US, skinheads were the scourge of the punk scene. They were unapologetically fascist both in fashion and ideology, and their violent and intimidating presence sadly helped limit the punk audience largely to young white males and resulted too frequently in clubs refusing to book punk bands or, in worse cases, being shut down by the police. What is somewhat unbelievable is that these skinheads and their ugly subculture had their roots in one of the most incredible cultural and racial cross-pollinations in popular music, which this boxset clearly represents.

The liner notes to this volume of the Trojan Reggae boxset series bearly hints at what an embarrassment and nuisance the skinhead subculture evolved into in the US, focusing more on its beginnings and demise in the UK. It does give the listener, however, a clearer and broader view of the the whole skinhead phenomenon. The skinhead subculture had intially began in the early '70's as a means for working class and socially disenfranchised British youth to strike out a distinct and defient identity for themselves while finding an avenue of expression their discontent. Reggae, a relatively new musical import from Jamaica, became their music of choice, both for its radical "otherness" apart from mainstream British pop music and for it's distinctive pulse that was more suited for "stomping," a vigorous, cathartic decendent of "skanking" and prerunner of "slamming." At this time, reggae was evolving rapidly, infusing a wide assortment of racially mixed influences, including many coming across the US airwaves, such as R&B, doo-woop, Motown and psychedelica. Because of this American influence, reggae developed into a style quite seperate from the music of neighboring islands, and helped make it more accessable to off-islanders. Partly because of Jamaica's political and historical ties to the UK and partly because of ongoing class and cultural upheavel, British youth became reggae's most accepting off-island audience. Before long, reggae-loving subcultures began popping up both in the UK and Jamaica and influencing one another and setting the stage for the '70's UK punk rock explosion. The rest is history, so to speak.

This boxset series has documented some of the many veins of reggae, but this one on Skinhead Reggae is probably the most curious, since it is a fairly accurate glimpse into the not-so-distant past of a subculture that changed to so drastically over the span of 15 years that it turned on its own roots and on itself. Listening to this boxset, it's not hard to understand reggae's appeal to any oppressed, repressed or alienated social group, since that experience was/is reggae's soul. It's also not surprising that music so appealing yet so radical and so rich in diversity and innovation largely spawned punk rock (the music on this particular boxset gives us no small evidence of that), which is arguably the most influential vein of rock music to date. The flipside is that one of those subcultures that played a role in this fascinating international epic lost its way and is now not much more than a footnote in reggae-to-punk rock history. Fortunately for the rest of us, the music that those skinheads of yesteryear stomped to has stood the test time much better. History aside, "skinhead" reggae is still radical and appealing today, and while this 3 CD set might more radical and appealing music than one can ingest in one sitting, it's certainly well worth this price. ... Read more