Reviews (211)

Could anything possibly top this?
Less Than Jake has assumed the throne of modern third-wave ska with this spectacular release. It has catchy beats, plenty of ska goodness and the evergoing less than jake humor. Just wait until you have "Richard Allen George no it's just cheez" stuck in your head. The undeniable fact is that once you pick this album up it is nearly impossible to put it down. You will find yourself listening to it 5 or 6 times in a row and always being excited to hit the play button one more time. From the blistering opener to the last song with the good chorus, "Al's war" the cd never lets up and never slows down. The infectious "five state drive" and "theme song for H street" keep you coming back. The ska tinged melodies and lighting fast punk chords are so much fun you will be embarrassing yourself dancing to them in no time.

The album as a whole is so solid that I need not even sum it up besides state that this is ska and it's extremely good ska. "History of a Boring Town" highlights the disc as being the true anthem although "Help save the youth of america from exploding" comes dang close. The former has ska verses to the ever popular chorus, in fact this song is indeed ever popular. The latter lacks ska but is a rockin' punk tune with one of those powerful choruses that make you wonder why this album doesn't sell millions and millions. My favorite songs are just about all of them, so we don't have to go down that road. I haven't been this excited since they invented those boxes that keep your pizza warm until they get it to your house. Seriously though, this album is fun catchy and although it looks silly on the outside one of the most meaningful I have heard. The antics are not for no reason, and the music is top-notch to go along with it.

A Punk/Ska masterpiece
I simply can't stress enough just how great this album is. I've been a Less Than Jake fan for about a year, and the more I hear them, the more I can't get enough of them. This is the album that started my love of the band. Other fans will tell you that Losing Streak is better, but I feel this is actually a better, more polished and more mature version of Losing Streak. Don't get me wrong, Losing Streak is great, but this is just better.

There is not a single bad track on the album. Every song is incredibly catchy and will get stuck in your head for a long time. And the amazing thing is that they never once stoop to cheesy pop punk levels throughout the entire album. The lyrics are intelligent and entirely honest thoughts on life itself. The songs sort of tell the story of a guy whos sick of life and trying to make it better for himself. The music itself, put simply, rocks. It'll make you want to dance around your room, head bang, go crazy, drive fast & sing along in the car, whatever. Its just amazing, especially how well they combined punk & ska on this album. Their 2 newer albums, Boarders & Boundaries and Anthem, are not really punk/ska albums, theyre just punk songs that contain horn parts. They're still good, but Hello Rockview is the cream of the crop. Buy this CD, put it in, and after one listen, you'll be hooked. Whenever you're feeling upset, it'll cheer you up. Its just THAT good.

Almost as good as Losing Streak
The first time I listened to this album, I've got to admit, I was a little worried. I kind of jumped on the bandwagon with LTJ. The first song I heard by them was All My Best Friends Are Metalheads, off THPS4. I absolutely loved it! It still stands as my favorite song ever. Then I heard She's Gonna Break Soon and The Science Of Selling Yourself Short. I got Anthem, then listened to Losing Streak on Napster. That became my favorite album of all time, but I had only heard two songs from Hello Rockview. True, I had heard the same amount from Anthem, and enjoyed that, but was there really a chance I would like it just as much? Uh, yeah.

Being a hardcore listener of Losing Streak, and now this, I must admit Roger's bass playing is phenomenal. He always has interesting bass lines, where it isn't three chords the entire way through. Some of his playing can be evidenced on Five State Drive, or even at the end of Motto. Since all songs are great, here's a breakdown of the songs.

1) Last One Out Of Liberty City - 3.5/5
2) Help Save The Youth Of America From Exploding - 4.5/5
3) All My Best Friends Are Metalheads - 5/5
4) Five State Drive - 3.5/5
5) Nervous In The Alley - 4/5
6) Motto - 3.5/5
7) History Of A Boring Town - 4/5
8) Great American Sharpshooter - 4/5
9) Danny Says - 3/5
10) Big Crash - 3.5/5
11) Theme Song For H Street - 3.5/5
12) Richard Allen George...No, It's Just Cheez - 2.5/5
13) Scott Farcas Takes It On The Chin - 4.5/5
14) Al's War - 4/5

I know this doesn't really look that good to you - kind of average - but I'm trying not to do this: EVERY song is perfect! 5/5 for all of them! Except for History Of A Boring Town! I give that 6/5, because it's beyond perfect! Uhh, no it isn't. Either is All My Best Friends Are Metalheads, and that's my favorite song ever. But really, buy this CD. You won't be disappointed.

the best ska album!
I'm not into ska really, but Hello Rockview is probalbly the best of the genre awesome!!!

Not Too Shabby...
This happens to be my first Less Than Jake CD and believe me, Im not disappointed. Its catchy, fun to listen to and its got a nice ska/punk sound going on. Im definently gonna pick up the other LTJ CDs. The majority of the songs, like Last One Out of Liberty City, Motto and Scott Farcas Takes it On The Chin are good but some of them are annoying like Great American Sharpshooter and Richard Allen George...No, It's Just Cheez. And afterawhile, it gets kinda dull and you really dont want to listen to it that much anymore. But nonetheless, its a good album and I really enjoyed it even though theres nothing that terribly special on it. Id recommend it to anyone into the ska/punk scene or someone whos just looking for a fun, catchy album to listen to. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

The most talented band ever...
I got this CD because my friend loves them, so I decided to check them out. I didn't really know what to expect, but after the first listen, I automatically loved them. This CD is absolutely perfect, I have nothing bad to say about it at all. The horns are frickin GREAT, this band has one of the best horn sections I've ever heard. '51 Gardner' is probably one of the greatest songs ever made. Just get this if you like any kind of music, believe me, even my brother likes it and he usually hates ska! while you're at it, check out Drexel too, get 'whenever, wherever' or whatever it's called, by them. JUST GET THIS!

"Good Luck" on getting this out of yo head!
Wow! A very good cd. About the best new ska/punk/hardcore band around. They play smooth ska with superfast punk and jumpin' hardcore with fast cool vocals. They also have a great talented horn section. You won't hear a single mistake on this album. Plus ever song on this album rules nothing sucks. Buy it very cool. These are some bands I like so if you like them you might like Big D: Goldfinger, saves the day, Rx bandits, mu330, showoff, get up kids, promise ring, hippos,catch 22. But I also like emo, punk and ska so who knows.

big d rules
big d is awesome, buy this cd if you like ska. some of their earlier stuff is good, like the fork in hand split with drexel or their ep "energy". go to a show, they kick ass, its definitly worth it.

you gotta check this band out!
This is an awsome band. Obviously if you have stumbled upon this CD you know ska, because not manny people know them. The lyrics are fast and addicting, and the music is great! These guys definitly got the tallent, and I advise you NOT to pay attencion to the loser who gave them only 1 star.I recomend this to anyone! for other ska, you can check out the mighty mighty bosstones, catch 22, or the aquabats.

Big D Is Amazingly Good!!
this amazing ska band from Boston will rock your socks off...you will be the luckiest person in the world if you can see them live cuz they are just amazing..this cd is just amazing...buy it...and then go to their show...and by shot by lammi...and the gypsy hill ep...cuz theyre so good! o tays...im done... ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Also Consider Crazy 8's "Big Live Nut Pack!"
I'm a big fan of Fishbone, and I really like this album. However, I just realized that another favorite band, The CRAZY 8'S (now defunct) would be popular with Fishboners. If you like OINGO BOINGO and FISHBONE, you'll LOVE The Crazy 8's! (...especially "Big Live Nut Pack!")

Try it ... you WILL catch on!
Fishbone is a band which had -- and still has -- 99% of the ingredients necessary to make it huge, but somehow managed to nail perfectly the conditions required to meet the 1% chance that no one would hear their music -- chaos within the band, willful flouting of the "rules" of making hit songs, pigeonholeing (some would say racism?) within the music industry, etc etc etc.

If your music taste includes ANY of the following: Sly and the Family Stone, Funkadelic, the Specials, Ozomatli, etc, run - don't walk - to your local record store and pick up this new "Best of" Fishbone. What Fishbone has in common with those bands is an energy and vitality that is missing from too much "mainstream" music, and an ability to combine a good-time party sound with some serious messages. And Angelo Moore, who plays sax and sings (roughly 75% of their songs; everyone in the band sings at one point or another), is the most spectacular currently-active frontman in rock-and-roll, somehow managing to be a combination of Johnny Rotten, Mick Jagger, and Marvin Gaye. Really, I mean it. He sings with the voice of an angel while leaping into the mosh pit!

Fishbone is NOT for everyone, but don't believe it if you've heard that they are outside the mainstream. They play a variety of styles -- based in funk, with a heavy dose of ska, factoring in some heavy guitars and a LOT of horns -- usually merging those styles together into a unique stew (rather than keeping the styles separate on each song). A fair number of these tunes really SHOULD have been blockbuster #1 hits (Lemon Meringue, Unyielding Conditioning, Everyday Sunshine, more) ... you've really missed out an a lot of spectacular music if you've yet to delve into Fishbone!

If you already (really) know Fishbone, you don't need this review to tell you how great they are. But if you're curious, and like to be a little bit adventurous with your music, you absolutely will not regret spicing up your life with some of this Fishbone magic.

Try it ... you WILL catch on!

This ska-funk has got me Bonin'.
I'd bet alot of people were waiting for this one. As good as Fishbone are, a few of their albums were just so-so. This collects roughly their 16 best tracks, remastered, and all on one CD. Everything great from "Party at ground zero", to the excellent "Sunless Saturday". The only thing missing for me is "Slow bus movin'[Howard's beach party]", which can be found on "Truth and Soul", and the "Tapeheads" soundtrack. So if you're looking for a disc to stick between your "Chili Pepper's" and "Bosstones" cd's, I would highly suggest "The Essential Fishbone".

One of the Baddest Bands slept on
talk about a Underrated Band? Fishbone brings so many styles that they leave you dizzy with the man things they can step into&Pull off.but on Record the energy over the years has met with Mixed Results because Live you can't even begin to explain the overall Party they bring."Everyday Sunshine" with it's Sly&The Family Stone take Rocks.if you wondered where the Red Hot Chilli Peppers,No Doubt,&others got there Game from Peep this Out. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

forget everything you know about music and BUY IT!!!
If you're looking at this and thinking about buying it, chances are you won't be let down. An album more original than anything you'll find out there today. NYC'S beloved squatters teamed up to bring this masterpiece to the table. A fresh punk sound, blending a healthy dose of crust and just a touch of ska (don't let that stop you) Social and political lyrics dominate this album along with plenty of alienation and self doubt yet somehow positive. If you're bored with whats out there, try this!

Punky Ska at it's best!
The band Choking Victim was recommended to me, so I decided to check it out. ... It's a great mix of ska and punk that really got me hooked. If you like ska, and you don't mind the punk that Choking Victim blends in there, you will love this album. If you listen to the whole CD you are bound to find a few more songs that might stick with you for awhile, and if you forget them, you're sure to remember them some day. Overall I rate this CD a four out of five stars. Great job Choking Victim. ... Read more

Reviews (101)

The Fury Of The Aquabats
I gave this cd 5 stars but it should be 6/5. This by FAR the best ska album I have ever heard. With songs like "Super Rad" ,"Red Sweater" ,"Lobster Bucket" ,"Idiot Box" ,"Captain Hampton And The Midget Pirates" ,"Powdered Milk Man" and so many more hits.

Here is a list of the tracks along with my ratings and descriptions.

1 Super Rad(10/10) This song is nothing short of its name. "I have a small friend..."
2 Red Sweater(10/10) A love song with kick but lyrics and fast drums. Rock on Travis
3 Magic Chicken(10/10) This is a true Aquabats song about a guys obsession with chickens.
4 Fight Song(6/10) Cool Sounds but NO LYRICS. #1 of 3 of this cds real Flops.
5 Cat With 2 Heads(8/10) A cool song about an experiment gone wrong. This is one of those songs your in love with for like 2 weeks then it gets old and every time the song comes up you quickly press next song and say you your self "Boring". #2 of 3 of this cds real Flops.
6 Story of Nothing(10/10) A story of a guy who gets dumped feels invisible.
7 Captain Hampton and the Midget Pirates(10/10) A song for Jim Hampton and his sailing adventures. I don't want to spoil the song but there is a mini-fight scene w/ midget pirates. This is a awesome chorus.
8 Martian Girl (7-8/10) A song to a Martian Girl from planet "b"
9 Attacked by Snakes(4/10) Good song but a little to long. #3 of 3 of this cds real Flops.
10 Idiot Box (11/10) A true Aquabat song that rocks. Idiot Box = TV
11 Powdered Milk Man(9/10) A song about a powered milk man villain who comes a creepin' while your sleepin'.
12 My Skateboard(10/10) A love song. DUH?
13 Phantasma del Mar(0/10) Don't even listen to this.
14 Lobster Bucket(10/10) There are times when you find Lobsters in a bucket, cant climb out, Why don't climb away, because other lobsters pull them down. A must hear song if you like the Aquabats.
15 Theme Song (10/10) The Aquabats theme song. There's a lot in this like when monster "M" comes and the Aquabats eat dirt and stuff like that.

8/15 - PERFECT
2/15 - Awesome
3/15 - Could use work
2/15 - Suck

BUY THIS CD
p.s. This cd is out of print

What good Ska is all about!
One day while browsing through a music store, this CD caught my eye. I thought, hey it looks amusing, why not? So I bought it. When I got home, and popped it into my CD player, I was very impressed! This is by FAR my most favorite CD in my collection! The Aquabats take Ska music, as well as many other beautiful sounding instruments, and great lyrics to form a whole 16 track CD (2 bonus tracks, and 1 bonus at the end) of great music! The first time I listen to it, I laughed out loud to "The Story of Nothing", "The Cat with two heads", "Captain Hampton...", "Attacked by Snakes", and practically every other song on this CD. These guys are great musicians, and they have a great sense of humour! If you like Ska, funny lyrics, and GOOD, CLEAN music for a change, buy this CD. You will NOT be disappointed!

Aquabats rock
These guys have a new spin on music. Some of their songs are about such stupid subjects that they are funny. :o)

Once again... greatest ska album ever
All right... all you ska fans... this is IT
Well first off, i just saw the AQUABATS for the second time in my life tonight... Unlike the 1st time i saw them, this time was at a venue that was incredibly small... And i have to say, not only could this be the best band ever, but they are also some of the coolest people ever. I slapped Chainsaw on the back, and got a huge hug from the Bat Commander as he came off the stage, and my life was complete. But this album here was where i first found out about this band, probably about 5 years ago... and how i came to love them sooo much. I am 25 years old, but 90% of the people at this show were extremely young... but the best part was that their parents were there with them. Its just so great in this day and age to be able to go to a show where the parents, not only are welcome, but can also enjoy the music. I was groovin alongside 40 year olds who were digging them just as much as i was... it was AMAZING... So... if youve just recently found out about this band, or are a parent concerned about what your children are listening to... I must say THIS BAND IS THE GREATEST BAND EVER!!!

oooh,randy!
get this cd if you like the 'bats!"super rad"is their theme song,and the rest are good. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Though the Suicide Machines are far more punk (and pop) than ska, they nonetheless manage to fit in some infectious ska rhythms. They're a Detroit quartet with piercings in all the right places (pretty much all over their faces), big baggy clothes, and a knack for writing fun-filled, power-packed ditties. They're also a hell of a lot of fun. At a Seattle gig (at Eckstein Middle School, of all places), they invited about half the crowd to join them on stage and performed the entire gig surrounded by (mostly) teenage boys skanking up a storm. Truly a spectacle to behold.Their debut record on the Hollywood label has much of that same wackiness. The songs are totally adrenalized, manic spasms of poppy punk, jazzed up with some deliriously danceable ska. The best line of the entire album comes in the fashion-tip-laden "The Vans Song", which advises, "Worship Jeff Spicoli, not Chris Cornell." Get the picture? --Adem Tepedelen ... Read more

Reviews (51)

a new favorite
I was totally blown away by this CD that I expected to be mediocre ska-punk.
Here's why:

ONE: and most importantly, the Suicide Machines have ENERGY. The first track ("New Girl") hits you hard. Every song makes you want to get up and dance. They would be the greatest band to hear in concert.

TWO: It has the ska rhythms and power chords, and fun, catchy lyrics. It has a ska feel even though it has a limited use of horns.

THREE: The singer goes from his normal singing voice to screaming. But not harsh death metal screaming. When you hear it, it is like he is on stage and he's screaming because he's having a good time.

Destruction by Definition is kind of like Operation Ivy's "Energy" ... only this could quite possibly have even more energy than Operation Ivy. Songs like "S.O.S." almost sound inspired by Operation Ivy.

I was totally surprised about the fun, active, ska.

I've heard some of the Suicide Machine's stuff from other CD's and it lacks the energy. That disappoints me because there is no more after this. This is the only Suicide Machines CD you ever need to buy ... but trust me, you will not be disappointed!

Just Plain Amazing
I had to redo this review, after realizin that my previous review did not to it justice. This cd is definitely at the very top of my extensive collection. Its hard to sum up the greatness of this album, but I'll try. In short, I can only listen to this album when I'm in a large space. Why? Because it is physically impossible to not get up and start skanking up a storm, and than begin wildly moshing when the chorus of a song like "New Girl" comes on. These are my thoughts on all of the songs of this ska/punk masterpiece. 1. New Girl- Amazing first song, great skankable verses, than a chorus that makes you jump around like an idiot banging into walls. Masterful guitars, and funny lyrics. Really showcases the youth talent of the machines. 2. SOS- A harder, grittier ska/punk sound. Has the skank guitars, but sounds a lot more punk than ska. Still, really astounding song. 3. Break The Glass- One of my favorites, grows on you a lot. Lyrics and the voice of the lead singer shines through on this one. 4. No Face- Really fun ska song, lyrics are great. Its hard to keep describing these songs and not keep using the words "Great" and "amazing." 5. My favorite song, mainly because I'm partial to ska, and this is a pure ska classic. Almost Reel Big Fish esque sound. The beginning guitars really rock! 6. Okay punk song, better than average for most bands, below for the machines (at least on this cd). 7. Excellent punk rawk- what more can I say? 8. Another damn good song. Great guitars, and especially the drumming, which I haven't mentioned before (which also rocks on every song!) 9. Great song. Funny screaming match towards the end. 10. Okay, good punk song. 11. AMazing lyrics, and good, catchy tunes. 12. My second favorite song, has a lot of ska until the catchy corus. This track even convinced me to go out and by a pair of Vans! 13 - 16. I'm kinda tired, these last songs all rock, but So Long is the best of em. Buy this cd, if ya like stuff like Operation Ivy, RX Bandits, and what not.

Destruction by Definition
This CD is so frikin awsum. when i heard the first song on here i knew right then this album was gunna be my favorite. i love this sound. the blend of punk and ska is so good. you gotta buy this cd. all there other albums arnt that good... thats just my opinion, but this cd is a classic. its a must have for ur collection.

THE BEST
It's a really good cd. You should buy it.

Solid album
This is a solid album from start to finish. If you like ska/punk, this is a perfect blend of the two. It doesn't sound like a ska band trying to be all punk, and it doesn't sound like a punk band trying to insert skank rhythms into their music. It's even a better blend than found with Operation Ivy's efforts, although Operation Ivy is a better band and did it first. I must admit that if Operation Ivy had continued, they might have come out with an album like this one... this band is quite a bit similar (and that is a huge compliment coming from me).

The only problem with the album, for me, is that I really have to be in a certain mood to listen to it. The songs are all really good, but there's no one particular song that just grabs me... it's more of a good overall album to listen to when you want a punk/ska album in the player... in fact there may be no better oustide of OPIV. That happens from time to time, but for me I'm in search of outstanding songs, either musically or lyrically. Something I can listen to and it makes my soul move. There's nothing like that on this album, nor should I really expect there to be... but it's a great album, for what it is. ... Read more

Album Description

After writing and/or producing for The Used, Story of the Year, Mest and Good Charlotte, John Feldmann returns his own pop-punk kamikaze band Goldfinger to the sonic wars with Disconnection Notice. After ten years, several indie albums and thousands of shows--including last summer's Reading Festival performing before 80,000 fans-Goldfinger's first Maverick disc finds the magic touch. ... Read more

Reviews (64)

No Doubt
As their first, debut album, No Doubt undoubtedly began with 14 wonderful songs to show the world who they are and what they're doing with music. Here's my review for each track:

1. BND - It's forty-five seconds long, and it's only music, but it's still great. The music is a short introductory piece from the last track on the album "Brand New Day."

2. Let's Get Back - A song about getting back together after a breakup, I'm assuming. It's got a great intro and the lyrics are good.

3. Ache - My favorite song on the album, the story of getting your teeth pulled out and the ache that it leaves. Good music, great lyrics.

4. Get on the Ball - I'm listening to it right now, and the music is great, very ska. It's about if you really want to get that girl you need to "get on the ball" and work for it.

5. Move On - This song is the closest No Doubt will ever get to being a metal band, with ska melded into it. It's about moving on even though things are s[bad].

6. Sad For Me - A slow, sad song with mysterious lyrics and appropriately gloomy music accompanying it.

7. Doormat - Filled with numerous metaphors, it's a song about treating a person right, not like a doormat to wipe your feet on.

8. Big City Train - A song about a train in the big city. Pretty self-explanatory...

9. Trapped in a Box - A great song...this is actually my favorite song, not "Ache" (that's my second favorite). This song is about how much the world is addicted to TV.

10. Sometimes - A great song in which Gwen displays her great vocal skills.

11. Sinking - A song about someone drinking too much and beginnin to sink in life.

12. A Little Something Refreshing - A funny, short song about being hungry and wanting food.

13. Paulina - A hilarious song about a boy's obsession with a woman in a magazine.

14. Brand New Day - A song about every day being a brand new day.

This is No Doubt's best cd :)
This self-titled album is silly and fun. It's got a great vibe, and a lot of great songs. I love artists who don't take themselves too seriously, and this is from a time when No Doubt was my ideal band.

If you're expecting another Tragic Kingdom, you'll be disappointed. This is much different. I like it better than Tragic.

I also suggest the Beacon St. collection.

What???????
Is this no doubt you mighgt say the first time you hear this! If you are a new no doubt fan and you like the new stuff like rocksteady and the singles cd which is good music, you might not like this. My favorite is the singles but this is great ska music and so is the beacon street collection. At first I didnt like it but its fun to see how gwens voice changes, I love Lets get back, its the best song, trapped in a box, ache, and brand new day are also good songs. get this if you like no doubt or/and ska. Give it a chance. 5 star

What is this? This is not No Doubt!
I know No Doubt was a ska band before Tragic Kingdom and all, but this is way beyond ska, this is put me to sleep music. It is not the No Doubt I know and love. I love the No Doubt CDs, but this one and "Rock Steady" have to be the poorest ones. Rock Steady was alright at points but "ND" was a bad CD, not what I like. I give it 3 stars because I love No Doubt and I especially loved it when I saw them in concert during the Return of Saturn tour, they were prime then! If you want to be introduced to No Doubt in a good way, I highly recommend (the pricey but still worth it) "Boom Box" box set, it has the Singles 1992-2003 CD (which has all the good songs), a B-Sides/Rarities/Remixes CD, and 2 DVDs each containing their videos and the Live from the Tragic Kingdom concert which many of you may already own on VHS. But hey, if you're a hardcore No Doubt fan, then just buy this one, but be ready to be disappointed!

Oh, Eric Stefani, Why Did You Leave?
I love, love, love this little album! I bought it in 2002 and it was my first ND album. I love the combination of ska and '80s new wave sounds and the fun, funky keybords and horns. Gwen's voice sounds awesome, almost like Cyndi Lauper circa "She's So Unusual." "Get On the Ball," "Let's Get Back," Paulina," and "Sinking" are my favorites.

Yes, the lyrics are a little on the cute side at times, like in "Ache" and "Paulina" but music doesn't have to be all angst and melancholy all the time. Ska music is fun, and all music should be fun at least sometimes. Lighten up and smile once in a while.

This is my favorite ND album. I have them all, even the wretched "Rock Steady" which I plan on trading in for a Specials album whenever I get the chance. "No Doubt" is a fun, funky album that will make you smile and feel good. Eric Stefani's keyboard work and lyrics and Gwen's dreamy voice really make this album special. I wish more bands made music like this these days.

So put down your Nirvana album, quit trying to be all cool and angst-ridden for five minutes and listen to this album. ... Read more

Amazon.com

You can't accuse Smash Mouth of not knowing which way the wind's blowing. If Astro Lounge moved away from ska-punk in the direction suggested by "Walkin' on the Sun," Smash Mouth follows through on the band's latest breakthrough, the ebullient cover of "I'm a Believer," which was playing everywhere in the summer of 2001. "If you're not down with us, you're down below," Steve Harwell sings in "The In Set," and he's only partly kidding. They can repeat themselves ("She Turns Me On" might as well be called "Walkin' on Venus"), and guitarist Greg Camp's songs have gotten, perhaps, a little less politically engaged--the goofy "Sister Psychic" concerns Miss Cleo. Still, they're mostly playing to their strengths: Harwell's inimitable Cali rasp/whine and their ability to switch styles on a dime every few seconds. (The collision of a three-chord garage-rock chorus with Barry White strings in "Pacific Coast Party" is especially juicy.) Only a couple of slow ones break up the lightweight fun. --Douglas Wolk ... Read more

Reviews (54)

If you love Smash Mouth like me...
"Smash Mouth" is a good follow-up to the great "Astro Lounge". Fans of that CD will enjoy this one. Those hoping the band would return to the sound of "Fush Yu Mang" will be disappointed. There are no "pop punk" classics to be found here like the great "Let's Rock". What is to be found is a nice set of "radio possible" songs. The only song screaming "Play me to the masses!!!" is the already popular "Pacific Coast Party". The rest of the songs will require airplay and a few plays to catch on unless you're a Smash Mouth fan. "Pacific Coast Party" is also the only track that is instantly confused with a disco track (it's catchy and I like it but it didn't hook me at first). The greatest things about the music, as with all Smash Mouth songs, is the underlying upbeat feel, the humor, and the sense that the band is smiling while they're playing. It's like their telling you "We're having fun and you will too". This is remarkable considering the tough times the band has gone through (If you read this, Steve, my heart goes out to you and your family). Give this a listen on a nice headset and it'll hook you the first time out.

Another Masterpiece From Smash Mouth
So here I am holding the new Smash Mouth CD. I've been waiting two years for this... This CD is really great. If you loved Astro Lounge you'll love this one. I think they could have thought of a better title though...well anyway onto the (really good) song reviews: HOLIDAY IN MY HEAD 5/5: One of my favorites from the CD. This has a nice beat and a catchy chorus. Apparently this is going to be a single from the CD. YOUR MAN 5/5: Another one of my favorites. It's been constantly stuck in my head since I've heard. I love the chorus. PACIFIC COAST PARTY 4/5: Supposedly the first single from the album even though "I'm A Believer" was out. It's sort of a wierd violin-disco-rock blend. It's nice to see how they experiment with their songs. This was actually written by Paul Delisle (Bass) rather than Greg Camp (Guitar) who writes most of their songs. This is the only song with an unedited swear in it. SHE TURNS ME ON 4/5: This song is right out the "Walking on the Sun" Book. And I mean that as a good thing. I like the guitar riff. SISTER PSYCHIC 5/5: This is my favorite song from the CD. The chorus is really cool and it has a nice beat. This is supposed to be about Lady Cleo, you know, the psychic lady on TV? OUT OF SIGHT 3/5: This is a good song, I just don't like slow ones as much. FORCE FIELD 4/5: This is the second song with a swear in it, and its edited! I like the lyrics in this one. SHOES 'N' HATS 5/5: Another one of my favorites. It's about them dressing how they want to, I think. It has a cool chorus. HOLD YOU HIGH 4/5: This is an Ok song, but the beat gets kind of repetitive. THE IN SET 4/5: I like this song, the bass riff is cool. DISENCHANTED 3/5: Another decent song, but I'm sorry, it's slow and that bothers me usually. At the end theres a wierd segment of sound where one of them broke their headphones or something. You can hear them laughing and talking. KEEP IT DOWN 4/5: This is a wierd song, but I like it. It starts quiet, and sounds like it's going to get loud, but them Steve Harwell (Vocals) shushes them and says "Keep it down now, just keep it now" At the end it goes into this cool drum beat thing(Just think I should mention that it's play by Michael Unbano, the new drummer) with wierd sounds. It's kinda psychidelic, but I like it. I'M A BELIEVER 5/5: This is the cover of the popular Monkees song. This was a radio over last summer. It's a really good song.

Well, well, well...That wraps up my review of "Smash Mouth" the next insanely great album from Smash Mouth. Thank you, goodnight.

Smashmouths Peak Album (Publically)
This was without a dout Smash Mouth at their best with the public, and it is also my favorite album of theirs. This is ther peak album because Fush Yu Mang only got thigs started for them and had one hit song. Astro Lounge is what many people consider to Smashmouth's Public Peak album, but in reality that was just the beggining of them being the famous band they are today, when people bagn to realize that they were not one-hit wonders. In this album, people being aware they were not one-hit wonders, Smash Mouth, with about 3, more than any other SM album, hit songs coming off this album, and everyone now beingaware of Smash Mouth being a Modern Rock Super Band, Smash Mouth was seemingly everywere. Then on the most recent album, Get The Picture, there was almost no public going on with that, the only radio song was that terrible "You Are My Number One" Man, that song is heck. And "Hang On" in Cat In The Hat and "Hot" from the Hotwheels chemercials, which are both good songs either way, didn't really help, but anyway, heres this album.
The album begins with "Holiday In My Head", a fun song, normal typical SMashmouth Guitar/Keyboard Cross, with a very cool riff. Nice song, I give it 9/10
The next song was "Your Man". A cool song, kind of a cross between Blink-182 style punk and typical Smashmouth, I loved it! 10/10
Then there was "Pacific Coast Party" which was a strange cross between 70's Disco and Hard Rock Guitar Bashing, enjoyable and cool. 10/10
Following PCP there was "She Turns Me On", which is kind of a Classic Rock meets James Bond Song, catchy, oonce again, with a cool guitar riff 9/10
After this was "Sister Pshyic", this was sort of a combination of *NYSYNC and sort of Hard Rock thrashing. A little too keyboardy for my tastes but other than that it was o.k. 8/10
Following this was "Out Of Sight" the only acoustic song on the album. I personally kind of like slow songs, especially in an album that is generally electric guitar dominated likethis album, it adds a diversity of style. 9/10
Then was "Force Field" which was a real all and out Techno/Rock song, cool guitar effects mixed in with spacy keyboards. Strange, yet satisfying. 10/10
After this was "Hats N' Shoes" which was a punk song, it kind of reminded me of something Green Day would do, once again, it had a really cool guitar riff. My favorite song on the album. 10/10
Following Hats N' Shoes was "Hold You High", it was a strange Techno/Disco song, at first listen it didn't appeal to me much, but it grows on you in a wierd way 7/10
Following that was "The Inset", this is another song when Greg Camp seems to ignore his amazing ability on the guitar and lets keyboards do the work. There were indeed alot of guitars in this song, but the riff was a keyboard riff. I think that Greg Camp should cut the keyboards out of his songs and show his guitar ability more. Other than that great song 9/10
Then there was "Disenchanted:, it was this wierd jazz thing. This wasn't real Smashmouth at all. My least favorite sonmg on the album. 5/10.
Then there was "Keep It Down" Which I actually really enjoyed, although it was starnge. 10/10
Finally the "I'm A Believer" cover. Need I say anything 10/10.

Well, thats all, now a word of advice for Smashmouth, Greg, your a great guitar player, show your ability more, less keyboard, and make your stuff a little more like Fush Yu Mang. thats all.

What happened?
I really idn't like this cd that much...i was hoping it would be like FYM but they just got 60's or something...s#*t

Great CD!
As if I wasn't already a fan of Smash Mouth because of "Walkin' On The Sun", "Then The Morning Comes", & "All Star", then they do a cover of the Monkees' "I'm A Believer". (Contrary to a previous review, the Monkees did the song first, Smash Mouth's is a cover.) Smash Mouth did a FANTASTIC version of it, & the rest of the disc is just as good.

I'm really looking forward to more CDs from these guys! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Where Rancid's eponymous 2000 album saw the band attempting to re-seize the moral high ground by aping the hardcore sound of the early 1980s, Indestructible is a return to the eclectic mix of their own breakthrough album And Out Come the Wolves. Thus "Red Hot Moon" and "Memphis" are melancholy, Clash-inspired grooves, "Arrested in Shanghai" and "Back Up Against the Wall" are melodic pop rock, while "Out of Control" and "Born Frustrated" are screaming punk assaults. Their politics, naturally, remain sound, as evinced by "Ivory Coast" and the anti-violence anthem "Spirit of '87". --Dominic Wills ... Read more

Reviews (190)

Rancid is back
I was quite worried about how this album would sound. The previous Album RANCIDRANCID was so hard and angry, I wasn't sure what direction the band was going. This album however brings back that good rancid feeling. It still rocks but has touches of Reggae/Ska and Pop and the mood of the album is that of hope and optimism. I couldn't be happier with it. It's a cross of Out Come the Wolves and Life Won't Wait. Indestructable the song is a great punk athem. Red Hot Moon is head boppin rocksteady/ska and flows only like a ska vibe can. Arrested in Shangai is almost a pop ballad but the political lyrics and Tim's voice make this all punk rock(maybe some Joe Strummer influence?) Born Frustrated is perfected punk rock. A rejected person's song. All the songs have a different feel and they really took the time in the studio to coax new guitar sounds and new sounds for individual songs.
Buy it especially if you didn't like to last album at first. This one brings rancid back to where it came from.

Rancid has made another masterpiece!
After hearing Fall Back Down, I thought that Rancid might have gone a little soft. That was until i purchased the full cd. Every song is good, and most are extremely heavy! It may be just me, but it sounds like Tim's voice has changed a little. That doesn't really matter though, cause he can still dish out punk rock! This cd has alot of varying types of music. It's kind of like they took different songs from all of their cds.

1.Indestructible- 9/10 Very good song. It is pretty heavy,yet has alot of melody. Sounds like something from Let's Go. It's also a tribute to Joey, Dee Dee, and Joe Ramone!

2.Fall Back Down- 8/10 Their first single, and not a bad song. It's kind of slow though, like something from the Transplants. It would be alot better if they made it a tad more heavier.

3.Red Hot Moon- 10/10 One of the best songs on the cd. It kind of sounds a little like reggae, with Ska beats and i think, steel drums! Great song though, with Rob from The Transplants as a special guest!

4.David Courtney- 9/10 This is a very sweet song! It starts out very heavy and continues to sound great! It's about some guy rancid met on their travels.

5.Start Now- 8/10 Not that bad, it sounds like melodic punk. It's about working out all your problems.

6.Outta Control- 9/10 The bass at the begginging of this song is amazing! It is a very heavy song, sounds kind of like something from Rancid 2000.

7.Django- 9/10 PUNK! Very sweet drumming and guitar playing. Quite heavy. It's about a guy who drags his demons around with him!? Go figure!

8.Arrested in Shanghi- 8/10 Very slow song, if not the slowest song on the cd. It starts out sounding like elevator music, yet picks up pace just a little. It's sounds like it's about anarchy or rebelling against something.

9.Travis Bickle-10/10 Awesome song! They pick up the pace and bring a very sweet song. The chorous has smashing, loud drums! Instant classic!

10.Memphis- 9/10 This is a touring song from Rancid. A little slow at the beggining, but the chorous picks up pace. Not a bad song to sit back and jam to. Sounds like Transplant material.

11.Spirit of 87'- 10/10 Probably my favorite song on the album. Heavy song about going to punk and rock shows instead of discos. I agree!!

12.Ghost Band- 9/10 Short song, but very good. The drumming is fast and pretty amazing. Sounds like an ...And Out Came THe Wolves song about brwaking up. Heavy!

13.Tropical London- 9/10 This is a good song that Tim wrote about his breakup with Brody. Reminds me a little of "Time Bomb." Great song!

14.Roadblock- 9/10 Another short song that is extremely heavy. Sounds like a Rancid 2000 song, yet it's strangely dedicated to Motorhead!?!?!?! Still a heavy, great song to mosh to.

15.Born Frustrated- 9/10 Heavy song that sounds like ...And out Came the Wolves stuff. Great!

16.Back up Against The Wall- 8/10 Alright melodic song that could've been heavier. About unemployed friends?

17.Ivory Coast- 9/10 Starts out very heavy and continues to be. Great bass, if you listen closely.

18.Stand Your Ground- 7/10 The only song I'm not really fond of. Too slow and sounds like rap a little. Skip this one. Good guitar, though.

19.Otherside- 10/10 Another AWESOME song! Very fast paced song about the death of Lars' older brother.

Disappointing, but not without it's moments
So I guess the question is/was, can Rancid deliver the goods once again? Yes and no. Out of the 19 tracks on this CD, I really only liked a few. Rancid's always thrown at least 15 songs on every album of theirs, so generally speaking there's going to be a few you or I don't like as much as some of the others. With that in mind, the songs I did like are Out of Control, Fall Back Down, Roadblock, Travis Bickle, Spirit of '87. Out of 19 songs, though, 4 doesn't seem like much an endorsement.

Well, I figure if the album isn't that great, maybe it's because they've been around for over 10 years, and have already put out at least one amazing album (Rancid 1993/...Wolves/Rancid 2000, take your pick). Tim, Lars, Brett, and Matt have already written some of the fastest, insightful, informative ("Blackhawk Down," "Harry Bridges"), and downright ROCKING songs out there, and this is coming from not just a punk fan, but a Beatles/Stooges/Joy Division/Dead Kennedys/Motorhead/ACDC enthusiast aswell.

Different people think different things, and as a fan of Rancid, I didn't like this one too much. I think that after 10 years they're starting to lose their way. On the upside, the majority of their catalog is good. Rancid is/was a great band, check them out if you haven't already.

GENIUS
I have been a Rancid fan for nearly seven years now. Their style has flipped around a bit, but honestly guys, this stuff is musically sound. I'm a guy who listens to new age alternative, some heavy metal, and a bit of punk. This stuff is incredible. From a musical perspective, you just have to acknowledge their skill. Tim and Lars arm themselves to the teeth with slashing guitar riffs that'll cause structural damage to your room. Also, Matt thumps along on the bass like he's a bad@$$, and Brett Reed is back there pounding on his set. This stuff simply kicks. If you want some aggression mixed with ACTUAL talent, go by this item. Sometimes I wish they had made this one a bit more political with their anti-governmental messages, but they refrained... ( I wonder why? COUGH!COUGH! Piece of shrubbery in my throat, sorry) After so many years of them fighting a way into Punk, Rancid really should make a bigger name for themselves with this album. This album has got to be the best I own. They have made so many great pieces, I wonder why they haven't worn out... That's because... They're Indestructable.

(...)

Noooooooooooooo!
Well, at least the album cover is punk.....

Actually, I shouldn't be too hard on the album, it does have its charms. Just not enough drunken charm.

Like everyone else I was waiting so hard for this album that I crapped my pants about ten times. Then I heard the first single 'Fall Back Down' and wanted to hurl my feaces at the TV. Good Charlotte on the film clip? That stupid Ozbourne girl? Playing pop punk songs? I was deflated. I almost wished that they would break up before they could release the album.

But they didn't, and I am glad of it in hindsight. They have besmirched their good names with songs like 'Fall Back Down', 'Arrested in Shanghai' and 'Start Now'. (Don't get me started on how poppy Start Now is.)
After a cursory listening I was ready to give up on Rancid and the album and was getting ready to start pretending that I never liked them so that I could laugh at kids who liked songs like 'Fall Back Down'.

But after a couple of weeks I came back to the album and listened to it with fresh ears. I lstened to it without the burden of expectation and as a standalone album, and, when you take it like that, it's really not so awful.

Tracks like 'David Courtney' and 'Out Of Control' see Lars at his agressive and intense best. While tracks like 'Travis Bickle' and 'Django' do the same for Tim. 'Spirit of '87' is possibly one of the best punk songs ever written in my opinion; it's catchy and sing-along-ish but still with good pace and with a raw edge. 'Roadblock', 'Born Frustrated', 'Ivory Coast' and 'Otherside' are all good songs too. The rest (apart from the utterly horrible 'Fall Back Down, 'Start Now' and 'Arrested in Shanghai') are decent songs but far from exceptional.

As a standalone album this is still far better than most of the 'punk' floating around in the music sucCESS pool, but as a Rancid album this is easily the worst. if I were to give this a score as a standalone album I might edge up towards three and a half stars....but seeing as it does come after some great albums and dissapoint quite a bit I can only squeeze out 3, and only now after the bitterness has subsided.

Personally I would like to see them heading back in the direction of their latest Self Titled which is a masterpiece.
If you love Rancid, there is still alot to like here, but my prediction is, if you're anything like me, that you will spend all your time listening to their older and better albums and only fish this one out to listen to some select songs, with your finger always twitching over the 'NEXT TRACK' button.

Incidentally, pick up the single for 'Fall Back Down' (Yes I know the song itself is awful). The two tracks that come with are great. Stranded is an awesome song by Tim that is better than half of the album and Killing Zone is an awesome song by Lars that is also better than half the album. Perhaps Good Charlotte made the final selection of which tracks would make the album...who knows. ... Read more

Reviews (35)

this cd is ok
i was first introduced to rancid through their music on ...And Out Come The Wolves, and Life Wont Wait, so naturally i was expecting something relly impressive from this album. but to tell you the truth, i was slightly dissapointed. the lyrics were not nearly as creative as op ivy's or rancid's later stuff. the guitar and bass lines were also not as impressive as i expected. tim and matt are very talented musicians, but this was just to early in their career to show it. the addition of lars and brett, to the matt and tim duo makes for an impressive sound,but unless you are really into rough hardcore punk, i recomend you stay away from this album.

Where Rancid Began
This is raw stuff. Once legends Operation Ivy broke up back in (I believe) 1989, Tim Armstrong was barely making it. Living on the streets, alcohol all the time, not a good way to be. His good friend Matt Freeman pulled him out of his funk and got him away from alcohol by forming Rancid. They got Brett Reed to play drums and the best band in the history of punk rock was formed. They played all over the Bay, including Gilman(which they had to do some good 'ol toilet cleaning to play at). They finally got a break when they signed with Brett Gurewitz of Epitaph Records, back then a small label. They released this album in 1993. Donnel Cameron, a good producer of early 90s punk, produced this and did a good job. Tim and Matt had been through quite a lot and they played some angry stuff here. Political stuff here, plus some stuff about life. This is fast, and not as melodic as their newer stuff (...And Out Come The Wolves). No ska or harmonies here, just angry music. This is SoCal thrash, sorta like Bad Religion or Black Flag. Tim's voice is the same as it is now, scratchy and a great punk voice. He does some great guitar stuff, good solos and riffs. But the guitar is nothing to Matt's amazing basslines. Some of his best ever in here. He does sing lead a little bit, his voice very nasally(the word everyone describes his voice with). He is a very emotional singer, but I still like Tim and Lars' voices better. Brett hadn't been playing for very long. His drumming is fast and pretty straight-forward. Adina starts with a big "LET'S GO!!!" from Tim and the fast, tough punk rock ensues. Quite catchy, but again, similar to BR. Detriot has amazing bass, a good story in this song. Brett drums quite well in the song Whirlwind, which is a catchy song. Outta My Mind has a poetic style to its lyrics, like their recent album "Life Won't Wait." This one is very melodic and quite simple. The Bottle deals with drinking, and is fast and angry. Unwritten Rules is a song about music bringing a poor neighborhood together. They play a version of Harry Bridges here, which will be on their next album, called "Let's Go." They cover an Uptones song, called Get Outta My Way. The Uptones were an agressive ska band that Tim and Matt loved as members of Operation Ivy. Anyways, Get Outta My Way is defintely the most melodic song on the album, and one of my favorites. If you're already a Rancid fan, this should be interesting to hear where they began, since their sound has changed greatly since 1993. Again, it reminds you of Tim's struggles in the period between Operation Ivy and Rancid. We're lucky he made it. Again, the songs are very agressive and forceful, so if you like that stuff, definitely buy this. If you've never heard any Rancid(and you should have by now) then this probably isn't the greatest album to get first. But get it otherwise.

the first of a journey
it really is to bad the path rancid chose. Listening to this CD reminds me of how great they were at one time, that is before they sold out. Now adays, these guys are the perfect example of what money does to people, turns em into radio tools. Try the Adicts, or the dead kennedys for some serious punk, rock on!

The Beggining of a Legend...
Rancid is and always will be one of the best ska-punk bands ever! They aren't sellouts and have maintained their trademark sound through the years. They matured and play better now, but this, this is were it all began. This is by far one of their best, and is certainly a must buy. I mean from start to finish I was captivated. Think Ramones+The Clash+Operation Ivy=Rancid. Check this out and their later effort "...And Out Come the Wolves."

rancid's debut album
formed in the wake of the break up of operation ivy, rancid's first album displays a total departure from the aforementioned groups ska punk leanings. from minute tim amstrongs vocals kick in this is a fast and furious album and in my opinion far better than any of their later stuff. there are no slow tracks in this album, just really good songs played at a rapid pace. bret reed and matt friedman make for an awesome rhythm secton whilst tim amstrong provides guitar and vocals.....tho quite how anyone could play the guitar at such an amazing rate and sing at the same time defies logic. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

This is Amazing!
If I had to name my top 10 albums of all time this would be somewhere in there. It's probably one of the finest ska albums ever made. From start to finish, there are no bad tracks on this album...only 3 that I would classify as "average" (Big Star, Song #3, Victory Over Peter Bones)...the rest is amazing. It has a great beginning, with the first five songs totally lighting up the album...The Set Up being the best one. Down in Flames and The Kids Don't Like It are the other two standouts on this CD. Down in Flames and The Set Up both give you that kind of happy power rush that Sell Out gives you, with blaring trumpets and excited vocals. I Want Your Girlfriend to Be My Girlfriend Too is another excellent track. This is music for summer days...or rainy days if you're in a bad mood and need to be cheered up. This is definitely Reel Big Fish's best work ever.

Is Reel Big Fish God?
Yes, absolutely yes. This is one of the best produced ska albums around that I have heard. This cd has sat in my cd player since the day i got it. The horns are awesome on every song, the remixed versions of Im Cool and Big Star are ten times better than the originals... Its just a damn good album. Any fan of Save Ferris, Less Than jake, or early Catch 22 should love this cd. BUY IT AND LOVE IT!

(Rock Music)
This a great disc, probably the best intro to Ska and Reel Big Fish there is. A good mix of Ska and Rock that leans more toward the Ska side, (Cheer Up! Is more rock, TTRO more ska)the songs are almost all upbeat and unbelievably catchy. The fist time you hear songs like "She's Famous Now" and "The Set-Up," they will be stuck in your head for weeks. Plenty of people say that this band is "starter" ska, because they can produce fans who will then get into other ska bands. But as a former ska-head, I can say that they are one of very few bands in the genre that I still want to listen to after expanding my horizons... the qualities that make them "starter," such as their catchiness and connections to other genres of music, make them a band for everyone to listen to. This CD was not made by some kids trying to cash in on the late 1990s ska trend. This was made by actual professional musicians. It's good music that a huge base of fans should be able to appreciate.

The "Reel" deal?
This is a good disc, and I can see why they're popular, but it's not what I think of when I think of ska. It's not so much ska-punk, as it is ska-pop. It has alot more in common with "No Doubt" and "Smash Mouth", than it does with the older hardcore ska bands. At best it reminds me of "The Mighty Mighty Bosstones" or "Fishbone". But I do want to say it's good, and catchy, just a bit happier than what I was hoping for. Maybe I'm getting old.

It's plain and simple...Reel Big Fish is the best.
This was my first RBF album. And being the album it is....I was blown away by the clean, tight sound of the brass, amazing vocals, unique style, and great lyrics. This is one of the best ska cds ever. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

5 stars, from an alternitive fan
There are many groups out there that started slow (newsboys, d.c. talk, etc.) and then really turned it on, but these guys were great from the start! From the catchy tunes of "Old West" and "Milestone, to the more thought-provoking songs like "Anthem" and "Beautiful America", this cd hits hard, and never slows down. With the inclusion of a little bit of humor (track #6) and an old Amy Grant song (plus some lyrics from other songs, such as "Third World Think Tank") this album is absolutely incredible. And when it all comes down to it, Five Iron didn't forget the most important ingrediant: the inclusion of our God and Father. I usually buy albums by groups like Jars of Clay (my personal fav.) and Switchfoot, but this is definitly the best ska album I own, even though it's a little old. I highly recomend it!

Jordan's Review of FIF
I can give you two reasons to run out and buy this CD: A Flowery Song and Milestone. The latter has one of the most incredible guitar solo intros I've ever, along with brilliant lyrics that were crafted by the genius that is lead singer and cheif song writer, Reese Roper. A Flowery Song is a straight-forward worship with rad guitar and even better lyrics. Old West deals with the issue of radical Christians killing in the name of the Jesus and Anthem is a great anti-Patriotic song. The themes range from racism to Diffirent Strokes to praise to how America has gone down the drain. Five Iron Frenzy is one of the second-most versatile band around (the first being the brilliant Jimmy Eat Wolrd) and they have styles for all music lovers. I highly reccommend this CD along with their live CD.

FiF in general
This cd, like all of FiF's is a great cd, with meaningful, and sometimes comical songs... with a religious attitude and all the talent they need, i'd rush out and not only get this cd, but all of them... they're not often blatantly religious about things, rather, they have hidden meanings in thier songs, and address problems with the real world, and real people...

Songs like "A Flowery Song"(our newest album ever, and live...), "Amalgamate"(upbeats and beatdowns), "World Without End"(all the hype that money can buy) and my favorite, "Every New Day" (live) and the alternate version of it "On Distant Shores" from their last album (the end is near) are beautifully written and performed songs about God...

Songs like "My Evil Plan to Save the World"(quantity is job1), "Suckerpunch"(live), and "Handbook for the Sellout"(live) are more punk/ska type songs, that still have their own significances...

overall, FiF is a great band, with lovely, and sometimes funny songs... you should get this cd... buh, if you only get one... get the "Live: Proof the Youth are Revolting" cd...

A must have.
My wife actually put me onto FIF - and she hates punk and ska! I love ska and punk and told my wife one day that I wished I could find a Christian ska band and she found FIF for me (this was a few years ago). I thought OK, cool, but let's see if they're any good. Yup, they're one of the best. I get a kick out of the sarcasm in "The Old West" and "Beautiful America." The quote from Westside Story - priceless. "A Flowery Song" has to be the most creative arraingment of the Doxology that I've ever heard (I'm almost tempted to give this disc 5 stars for "A Flowery Song" alone). A bit of advice - get this disc now and listen to it over and over - you'll have trouble finding anything much better.

SDG

This is by far the greatest cd i own
the greatest ska punk from the greatest ska punk band around. elements of punk ska hardcore are the basis of this incredibly catchy and meaningful cd. dont [hesitate], buy this cd now ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A Real Love Survives A Rock Steady Vibe
This has to be one of the best greatest hits-esque box sets out there today! It has 2 DVDs and 2 CDs. The first "The Singles 1992-2003" is a very decent and pretty complete collection of No Doubt's singles. Their latest single, "It's My Life" is included here, also. It is a great cover single, with a very fun 80's-ish feel to it. I like how they included "Trapped In A Box" on here, too. The next disk is a DVD with all of No Doubt's music videos. They are all cool and crazy. Although it is not listed, the music video for "It's My Life" is on here. Just click "Play All" and it is the first video shown. The next disk is a collection of "B-Sides, Rarities, Remixes". The remixes at the end are the best. The other material is pretty mediocre, with the occasional stand-out. The last and final disk is their "Live In The Tragic Kingdom" on DVD. I'm not one to judge concert footage, because I, personally, do not find concert footage very exciting. There is a great little book inside with some cool pictures and lyrics to all of the songs on "The Singles 1992-2003", some cool pictures, and a little story behind each single. It's very cool. This collection overall is very fun, and is sure to brighten your day. I really recommend it, especially to all you other No Doubt fans out there. This is very very very very cool. ENJOY!!!!!

No Doubt Boom Box Questions
I was wondering why this set carries a parental advisory sticker. If anyone has information, please post. The Singles CD is pretty good, but not as good as buying each individual album. The Videos: Simple Kind of Life is by far their greatest video (as well as song), but Ex-Girlfriend and It's My Life were excellent as well. The B-Sides were pretty sweet, and I have yet to see the concert DVD. Again, parental advisory? Let me know.

Answer To Question / Review
In answer to the below question, the PARENTAL ADVISORY Sticker only pertains to the "Live In The Tragic Kingdom" Concert footage, in which Gwen Stefani has the girls in the crowd repeat a phrase with "F***" in it multiple times. The music itself has no foul language in it whatsoever.

This is a very very complete collection of No Doubt's greatest hits, and much much more. It is quite a gift to the fans. The first disk is self explanatory, with ND's singles from the 1992-2003 period. The next disk includes all of their stunning music videos, including the most recent video for "It's My Life." The third disk is a collection of B-Sides and Rarities and 2 Remixes (included are songs that No Doubt has recorded for soundtracks). The 4th and final disk is the DVD version of ND's "Live In The Tragic Kingdom" concert, recorded in Southern California, soon after ND's first breakthrough mainstream success.

Also included in this wonderful box set is a booklet with all of the song lyrics, great pictures, and a mini-bio to each song included on the first disk of this collection. This is a CD that any No Doubt fan should own. Why? Because everything is here! Trust me, you won't regret buying this. For its relatively cheap price, it is a much better buy than the single disk version of ND's "The Singles 1992-2003," even for the casual fan.

Good but not great!
As happy as I am to own this little wonder, I must say I was expecting maybe a tad more. Of course I knew what I was getting way before I got it, having read the tracklists and multiple reviews but even so...meh?

Well I'll just tell you what I'm not crazy about, because most of it is actually pretty good!
Predominantly it's the "Somewhere in Time" album, which as most probably know is the B-Sides, Rarities, Remix album.
While I do love this CD, I was dissapointed not to find some of the older tracks that I've come to love so much, like "Everything's Wrong" and "Up Yours." There's also a whole lot more unreleased tracks dating back pre-self-titled which would have been mad to see here!! Songs like "Where's Your Lovin'?" and "Soundquake," and even "Dear John" which I guess is kind of an eulogy to the late John Spence.
I think songs like these could have been much nicer to see here than the remixes that although aren't bad, I still don't really care for.

As for the rest, well it's pretty good! And what I said about the "Everything in Time" CD is just a bunch of wishful thinking. So yeah, get it if you can guys 'cause they're not making it anymore!!! Oh yeah!! The booklet is pretty cool too 'cause it's fat!!!

it has everything!
It literally has everything! You have to buy this if you want to be called a true fan! ... Read more

Reviews (35)

My favorite Urge CD
I have all seven of the Urge's CD's and this one is my favorite, sure the album Receiving the Gift of Flavor is good, but this one is still better. My favorite track is Going Down, but I enjoy listening to all the tracks. Once I listened to this CD three times in a row while playing some game (I don't remember which one), and I wasn't tired of listening to it. The tracks on this album are varied in style. Thus MASTER OF STYLES. I have been a hardcore Urge fan for at least three years. The other album's that you can buy off of Amazon are also really good. The other four Urge albums are small, underground albums they made while gaining popularity in St. Louis. If you live in St. Louis you probably can find copies if you look, but if you live out of town you are probably screwed. Bottom line, buy this CD, you will not regret it.

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT
My absolute favorite bands are 311 and Rage Against the Machine. Then I saw the video for "Jump Right In" and not only did I absolutely love the song but Nick Hexum from 311 was in the video. The Urge is a kick *** band, and just the Master of Style's CD but all of their CD's. You should check them out if you like this one. This is the music of the future.

Gotta love the funk-vibe-ska
I saw these guys at a outdoor festival in 1995 at Ak-sar-ben. They r-o-c-k-e-d. They were the third best band there, which is fine, since 311 and Violent Femmes were 2 and 1. The spectacle of seeing this band take a dance break made me fall in love with them right away. When you've got six guys, some of them still holding horns, dancing around the rhythm section, you've got something. I have always like "Jump Right In", and the deeper tracks are rockers too.

Awesome CD
Master of Styles is an awesome cd to rock out to-its really upbeat and gets you going. Very similar to 311.

MO-funk.
Don't know if these guys are together anymore, but they left behind a few decent albums, especially this one. "Master of Styles" is just what it says it is. Parts funk, punk, ska, and a general party vibe. They do remind me of "Fishbone", "311", and others of the kind. Just not as good. The single "Jump right in" is really good though, and probably the best track. I also like "Closer", and "Gene Machine" is an old "Bad Brains" song. If only "The Urge" were as good as their influences. I did see a show of theirs in Missouri once, and afterwards my roommate slept with the singer. I guess she just had the urge. ... Read more

Reviews (54)

5 Stars for effort, creativity, and plain great music!
The Beacon Street Collection was made after No-Doubt's self-titled album and before their breakthrough "Tragic Kingdom." You can see the transition between the two albums in this CD. The first track, "Open The Gate," is a good opener, but the song doesn't isn't anything special to me(7.5/10). "Blue In the Face" is a very unusual song. You need to appreciate the unique beauty though (9/10). Total Hate '95 has some awesome parts, and some parts you need to listen over and over to get. But Bradley from Sublime contributes, and that can never go wrong. You've got to admit, it is catchy too (9/10). Stricken is the climax. With a little bit of ska, jazz, Gwen Stefani's vocals, a slow sweet melody, and some love this song comes out just right. Gwen's vocals are at best here. My favorite on the CD (10/10). Greener Pastures is a great song anyone can relate too. It hasn't really got to me yet though (7/10). By the Way is another favorite of mine about a faraway love (I think)(9.5/10). Snakes is an okay song, but not one of the highlights (6/10). That's Just Me is a very unique song which literally goes all over the place musically. The only song I initially skipped while listening to the CD, but if you're patient, the song will not disappoint (8/10). Squeal is a plain awesome song which is also one of my favorites on the album (9/10). Doghouse was not initially one of my favorites. If you can appreciate the wonderful lyrics though, you will love it (7/10). Overall, this album deserves five stars for wonderful craftsmanship, tremendous effort, and "Stricken."

Fun CD to listen and dance to...
The very first No Doubt CD I bought was Rock Steady, followed by The Singles, No Doubt, Tragic Kingdom, and now this. I'm going to soon buy Return of Saturn. Now, on to the review of the songs, okay? =)

Open the Gate - 9/10 - Great guitar and keyboard intro. Listening to this song, I could imagine the group playing a driveway somewhere in Aneheim, CA, while the whole neighborhood is standing around and dancing.

Blue in the Face - 10/10 - Wonderful music. Great lyrics.

Total Hate '95 - 10/10 - Great song to dance to.

Stricken - 9/10 - It starts out in an almost 20's style big band. Then it picks up.

Greener Pastures - 10/10 - I love the way this song begins. It's a great breaking up song. Ha! Joking. =P

By the Way - 9/10

Snakes - 10/10 - Great metal-sounding music.

That's Just Me - 8/10 - It started to sound like supermarket muzac, but it picks up and works out.

Squeal - 10/10 - My personal favorite on the album. Great song to sing with. I would love to hear a group cover this song. That would rock!

Doghouse - 10/10 - A great way to end a great album. The music, on the keyboard, sounds like Danny Elfman composed it. But still a great song.

Now, you might be thinking, "Oh, he's a No Doubt fan, so of course he won't give any of their songs low ratings." That's not true. I would give any of these songs low ratings, but they're just too good. So, if you have a spare $12.99(or however much this CD's priced near you)+tax, then spend it on this CD.

Wicked!
The Beacon Street Collection is one of the best ska albums I've ever heard. Although, I strongly recommend you only buy it if you like ska. If you don't like ska, you'll probably hate it. I thought it was great! 'Open The Gate' is currently one of my favourite songs, and for me is the best on the album. 'Blue In The Face' is amazing, gets you singing as soon as you know the words! 'Total Hate 95' is a fab head-banger tune, you hear this and you just want to lob pillows across the room! (not because it's bad, because it puts you in the sort of mood).

All the rest of it is great, but stick-out tracks are 'Open The Gate', 'Blue In The Face', 'Total Hate 95', 'Greener Pastures' and 'Snakes'.

No doubt about it, this is No doubt
I bought this cd recently becoming their biggst fan after buying the singles one. (It was awesomE!)aNYWAY, I heard that this was totally different, at the time all the reviews said ska music, i didnt no what it meant but they were right, ska music is like punk with insturments such as the trombone and saxophone, etc.Well, anyway, this was a great album, maybe because eric stefani was still in it. I dont no but I liked Open the gate up,and blue in the face. If you like No ndoubt already and are undecided, get this, its a different no doubt. If you like ska music and never heard no doubt definetly get this! It is so good but not as good as other albums such as their singles one!!

Tour de force of potential
A rerelease of their 1995 independent release (at first, under Sea Creature Records, but newly released under Interscope), "Beacon Street Collection" showcases not only No Doubt's humble beginnings, but the convergence of their eclectic musical tastes on one CD. Here, reggae, ska, new wave, and Blondie-esque punk collide and create vibrant sparks.

Although "Beacon Street Collection" lacks the spit-and-polish of the professionally produced "Tragic Kingdom" and their following albums, the band's melodic talents and lyrical smarts are still present and accounted for. The presence of former band member Eric Stefani's piano only adds more of a poetic resonance to songs like "By The Way" and the jazz-tinged "Blue In The Face." Gwen's vocals are substantially more rocky and unevem, although that's not necessarily a bad thing: it adds a certain sense of unpredictability as she occassionally goes off on trills and other tricks that were lost as the band emerged into the mainstream. The Gwen we know today, however, is in perfect form on songs such as the echoic, beautiful "Stricken" and the dark "Greener Pastures," whose broody sound resurfaced on the phenomenally melancholy "Return of Saturn." The in-your-face affectations of No Doubt make appearances on the hair-raising "Snakes" and the classic opener, "Open The Gate."

"Beacon Street Collection" is the foundation of No Doubt's future endeavours. All of their future sounds can be found on this CD -- it's a stellar, although not impeccably produced, album that merits repeated listens. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Aquabats
this cd is awesome. its not ska as i was expecting. its third wave. but as far as third wave goes this is an awesomely awesome band. they are so cool. i saw them live in lawrence and they were absolutely crazy. i love their stuff and look forward to getting their other cd's.

serious awesomeness
This was the first Aquabats CD I bought. I stumbled upon them when looking for a new ska CD, and I am so glad I did. Their songs are so fun to listen to, and their live show is even better! Even if you're not sure about them, get this album and you won't be sorry!

@3%&ytf!!!!!!!!!!!
a must buy, especially for any ska fan, i like all their cd's. very soon youll be asking yourself "why do i like these weirdos so damn much?"

Behold The Kings Of Suburbia!
This cd is my first sampling of The Aquabats, a group I have heard so much about. I don't know what to say other than these cats have blown my mind, from their lyrics to their costumes to their over-the-top suburban presences. Singing about topics from school lunches to backyard pool parties, The Aquabats have taken the nerdiest aspects of suburbia, and magically transformed them into "Cool, Daddy, Cool!"

How does one classify the music of The Aquabats? They cover so many realms! In the opening sequence "Robot Theme Song," I immediately felt the aura of "The Moog Synthesizer" sound that people like like Gershon Kingsley and Stan Free made popular in the 1960s and 70s. The third track "Pool Party" begins with two "Hang Loose" type dudes talking on the phone, getting ecstatic over an evening pool party, raving about the "Food, Girls, MORE FOOD!," then shifting into a song with that perky 80s ska-beat. The song "Pizza Day" will bring back memories of the school lunch menus that all us suburban children memorized in elementary school (the lyrics also remind us of junior high, when the school lunch menu suddenly becomes uncool!). And then we have "I Fell Asleep On My Arm," which had me doubled over; it's an agonizing account of a student falling asleep on his arm, and waking up to find the limb went numb. The Aquabats play and sing this song in the same ultra-angst-ridden vein as a song like "Pray For Death!"

The Aquabats are a great wake up call to middle class folks who grow up thinking they have become too cool for suburbia to even admit to being part of it. This cd is pure fun with absolutely no empty filler songs. Pick it up, you will be glad you did! ... 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 (17)

good ... but not everything i had hoped for.
A somewhat average CD from a more than average band. Their self titled album doesn't offer everything it should. There are a few songs that really stand out, like "Here In Your Bedroom," "Mable," and "Miles Away." But other than that most of the songs are rather mediocre. And what I miss most of all out of this CD is the ska. What happened to the ska-punk?! There's a few horns on a couple songs, but nothing impressive. Goldfinger didn't impress me with this CD.

TRACK LISTING: [I don't know why [Amazon.com] doesn't have them]
1) Mind's Eye 2) Stay 3) Here In Your Bedroom 4) King For A Day 5) Only A Day 6) Anxiety 7) Answers 8) I Believe 9) Anything 10)Mable 11)The City With Two Faces 12)My Girlfriend's Shower ... 13)Miles Away 14)Nothing To Prove 15)Pictures 16)...You And Your Cat

Not Hang-Ups...
The store didn't have Hang-Ups, so I grabbed Goldfinger's self-titled. I figured that it would have at least a little ska and plenty of hyper-hardcore punk like Stomping Ground. Wrong on both counts...

There is not much ska here. Where there is, the horns are weak and inaudible. The ska songs are "King For A Day," "Answers," "My Girlfriend's Shower..." and "Pictures." "Here In My Bedroom" has a little ska guitar skank in the beginning, and that's it! Some of the other songs are good, like "Mind's Eye," "Anything," "Mable," and "Nothing To Prove." Feldmann's voice is in good shape, and the hidden phone conversation is funny...at times. In fact, with this album, Goldfinger show that they started the sick-joke-punk thing that Blink 182 stole from them and butchered. All in all, I was disappointed by the lack of ska, abundance of profanity, and inconsistency of this Cd at first. It's grown on me, so I give it a 4. It surely beats the trash heap Open Your Eyes, which gets a 2.

album blows if you are looking for good ska
no, I don't like this album. do yourself a favor and pick up hang-ups first. If this is your first goldfinger album, it will likely be your last. Goldfinger is a good band, just,well I like a little more ska.

Goldfinger's best album
I like about half of Hang-Ups and about none of Stomping Ground (see 7 Seconds for a sweet cover of 99 Red Balloons, not Stomping Ground), but for some reason I really like this album. Probably, because there's not a lot of ska on it. My favorite tracks are Answers, Mable, The City With Two Faces, and Mind's Eye. Most of the rest are all right, but I can't give it four stars because King For A Day pretty much just sucks, and it goes on WAY too long, and by the end, it's pretty boring. My Girlfriend's Shower Sucks is stupid, and in a bad way, Miles Away is boring, but at least it's short, and Nothing to Prove is similarly boring. The last 3 tracks get back to being at least fun to listen to. So, I'd buy this used, but not new. And really, it's much more worth it to buy Walk Together, Rock Together instead.

Just a thought
To "burn14me", i have been to many live shows of goldfingers and FYI to you, they have always had a horn section. Your live concerts may have been different. i can't believe you would even compare Goldfinger to NoDoubt, i agree though...NoDoubt is not even close to punk. Im sorry you missed the experience of the horn section, but goldfinger is very much a ska band my friend. As to the cd, it's quite good, lacking in horns but definitely a classic. ... Read more