Reviews (21)

A dizzying, enlightening array of music
Fishbone is one of those bands that refuses to be painted into a corner. Primus would be the other band that comes to my mind that fights categorization like a frightened cat. Fishbone's music spans the musical spectrum, tossing in funk, ska, punk, metal, rock, folk, blues, reggae... the list could go on and on. GAMABAHSHTCOTU is not only the longest album title I know, but also one of the finest representations of a band and what they're about, like Moving Pictures for Rush. It's also damn good. The opening track, "Swim," gets little press, but immediately tells you that you are in for an experience("The pool is now open!"). "Black Flowers," "They All Have Abandoned Their Hopes," and "End The Reign," are wonderful highlights. "Drunk Skitzo" is a paranoid, anxiety-ridden track that keeps the listener on edge, a true artistic venture. Another reviewer brought up the fact that most music today is easy to consume, served up hot on a plate for its customers. Sure, it's nice to be waited on like that sometimes, but most of the time, I find it far more rewarding to work a bit for your meal. Listening to an album like GAMABAHSHTCOTU is more like hunting for your food, processing it, preparing it, and eating it. It takes a little more effort, but it just seems to taste better due to the work you put into it. A great album.

Better Live
New York's Fishbone are one of the wildest, most energetic bands I've ever seen live. A shame that their sprawling array of musical styles (covering anything from hip-hop, ska, reggae, and soul, through to metal) doesn't quite translate in the studio. My main gripe with this album is that it lacks any real coherence, with its song structures going awry on frustrating tangents. There's also too much going on in the songs, resulting in the whole picture being cluttered up. Despite that, the positive message and subliminal melody of 'Black Flowers' and the twisted funk of 'Lemon Meringue' do them justice. But on the whole, this is a disappointment.

"Who do YOU Serve?"
...First of all, I am a huge fan of Fishbone...or at least I WAS until Kendall Jones and Chris Dowd left and the band started releasing sub-par material left and right ("Give a Monkey a Brain" was their last great album, in my opinion). If you are not familiar with Fishbone, you may want to first purchase "Truth and Soul" and/or "In Your Face" (which are both fantastic albums and more "commercial" sounding than this one) before you dive into the heavy-duty nuttmeg of "Give a Monkey..."
I think this album along with "Reality of My Surroundings" are Fishbone's greatest...This one is their heaviest, featuring a few "metal" songs ("Swim", "Servitude", and "End the Reign"). These songs are some of the greatest on the album but I think some fans couldn't hang with that..."Unyielding Conditioning" (ska) and "Lemon Meringue" (soul/funk) are two of the most well written songs ever by Fishbone. "Nutt Megalomaniac" is funky as hell. "They All Have Abandoned Their Hopes" is a hauntingly apocalyptic song...one of my favorites. "Warmth of Your Breath" is definitely NOT a love song. It's a funky little speed metal ditty directed at certain police officers...
The entire cd is awesome, no weak songs. The musicianship is outstanding...Norwood's bass lines are as funky as ever (especially on "Lemon Meringue")...Kendall Jones and John Bigham lay down some great guitar and Angelo Moore and Chris Dowd's vocals are some of their best work ever. This album sounds fresh to this day...Fishbone WAS one of the most underrated bands ever and they never got the success a group of this magnitude deserved. This was the last album they did with Kendall Jones and Chris Dowd and, for me at least, their departure marked the end of Fishbone as we knew it. I have the albums that followed and while they have some good songs here and there they don't come close to matching Fishbone when they were in their heyday. Kendall Jones' songwriting skills are sorely missed on all the albums that followed.
"Give A Monkey..." is a like an all-you-can-eat buffet for the ears but it will take most people several listens to uncover all the sonic nuggets that are hidden.

Unassailable...!!!!
My fave Fishbone album. This one has it all- a seamless, and I mean seamless, blend of styles. I'm not talking Mr. Bungle mix of styles (not that it's a bad thing- far from it, long live the cult of Patton) I'm talking each song sounds like the pinacle of whatever genre Fishbone happen to inhabitting/shredding at that given moment.

Take your pick- maelstrom-metal, funk, ska, reggae, psychedelia, and even a hint at Gospel (No Fear- stylisticaly- is a gospel song... well, the organ just makes it sound like Gospel, or in this case Gospel-funk rock without the odious 'oh-please-breathe-on-me-oh-God lyrics and afro-american yodeling that passes for gospel singing... militant atheist that I am...)

On ONE FREAKIN ALBUM!!!! They manage to summon the mothership, send out the best mosh-anthem I have EVER heard, Channel the ghosts of Eddie Hazel and Sid Vicious (in one song no less), crank out one of the few reggae tunes I can stomach, skank-their way to paradise in a way that most 3rd wave skasters can only drool at, Out Kool both Kool AND The Gang and invent a cure for sanity and the drab pabulum that chokes media of all species.

I mean, it's just impossible to take any of the 'hard' bands out there seriously after putting their albums next to this. They seem flat, monochromatic, lifeless, dull. Unfunky. Lyricallly Fishbone may not be the most original but they play to their strengths, are inventive and funny and certainly capable of stuff as poignant/eloquent as anything that 'Dear Charlotte' have ever penned.

And yet, this album kinda tanked (despite their prominent Lollapalooza placement... I don't get it- that was the first year that People bitched about Lollapalooza- year 3... but Primus? Dinosaur Jr? and Fishbone? It was one of the best shows I'd ever seen, ah but I digress...)

These guys couldn't fail even if they were drop-kicked into the studio with Avril, baby Spice, Nick carter, the result wold still leave you wondering what the hell assulted you and left you wanting more...

Oh, I'm 25 years old and have been to more concerts than I can recall and still will unhesitatingly state that Fishbone put on THE BEST live show I have ever seen- I don't care what your bag is, The Bone will stuff it for you. And they play for hours. You will leave the venue sore and deaf and maybe (as I have been known to do) you will drive a couple hours to see them again the next night in a different town or state.

FISHBONE finally rocks hard
Album sells have never been FISHBONE's forte. Because their albums are ahead of our time. This 1993 rockfest of 'GIVE A MONKEY A BRAIN AND HE'LL SWEAR HE'S THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE',whew, is the hardest FISHBONE has ever been. 'THE REALITY OF MY SURROUNDINGS', their best album, was close. If you just wanna rock hard there is "Swim","Servitude","Black Flowers","Warmth Of Your Breath","End The Reign","Drunk Skitzo" and "No Fear". The funk and reggae/ska songs are here but this is more of a rock album than a FISHBONE album, which is cool, but the fun out of FISHBONE albums, the humor,is not in this one. Too much of serious KENDALL? (the first member to leave the band). The album is good, but it's just NOT a FISHBONE album. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

Albums that make Amazon.com's yearly "best of" list aresometimes judged using high-falutin' artsy talk. Rancid haslanded on the list because it compelled editors to scribble anarchysymbols in public hallways, buy skateboards, and start punk bands.Twenty-two songs, 39 minutes, and not one wasted second. A pure punkjoyride with the throttle wide open. --S. Duda ... Read more

Reviews (151)

...And Out Comes The Mediocrity
I've spent the last decade listening to Rancid religiously so this review is from a fan's view. When I saw Rancid on the Life Won't Wait tour, I couldn't figure out why they refused to play much of the newer, experimental tracks from the album. Here was the most experimental, interesting, and downright soulful punk album I'd ever heard & they instsited on playing the same thrash standards of albums past. On this new album, it seems Rancid is still afraid of the brilliant new sounds it created on Life Won't Wait. Tim wrote & sings a vast majority of these new songs, which aren't bad, but it's done at the expense of their versatality. Lars is a great singer & songwriter, why is he on so few songs? At least Matt gets 2 songs. But the main problem I have w/ this album is that it looks like Rancid responded to the predictable & idiotic cries of "Sellout" by putting out an album that grinds through at 100 MPH. On the one hand, no on puts out albums like this anymore, so it is fun to a degree. But there's little diversity over the 38 minutes (save Rawanda, Radio Havana). Life Won't Wait showed it's diversity by mixing reggae, punk, ska, harcore, rockabilly, etc. This album's diversity is limited to an occasional chorus sung in half-time. Why are Rancid so concerned with a bunch of a-holes crying sellout? Criticizing something just because it's different is the true essence of a real sell-out. Who knows, maybe Rancid wanted to get some good old fashioned Thrash out of their system in order to brace the world for their NEXT brave record. I'll love Rancid to the death so they have my support to the fullest. And to whoever that Skinhead was who wrote that insane previous post - this album has ZERO to do with "white pride", instead it touches on the struggles of oppressed people in Rawanda & Havana. Keep on...

Whooooooo.....
I think it's no coincidence that this is Rancid's second self-titles album... the pumped up street punk sound on Rancid (2000) reminds me of the 1993 self titled debut; a louder, faster, more energetic Rancid than was shown to us on Life Won't Wait.

It seems each Rancid album prior to this had a little more reggae and ska influence than the last; then this release seemed a throw back to the first one. This does lead me to wonder what form of Rancid will appear on their next release (2003 I believe....).

Personally, I thought Rancid (2000) was a perfect blend of fast guitar's, the crazy bass riffs you'd expect from Matt Freeman, and the ever wonderful vocals of Tim, Lars AND Matt. However, if you thought Life Won't Wait the best Rancid album ever, maybe this one isn't the best buy for you.

Some People Are Indeed Poison
To say that Rancid's second self titled album hits you like a freight train once you press start is an understatement. Following the sprawling, epic "Life Won't Wait", Rancid cut out the fat and give you thirty eight minutes of circle pit anthems.
So, what's the problem with "Rancid"? Well, to be honest, it feels like two step back for the band. I was one of the few people who loved "Life Won't Wait", so hearing this record for the first time was a slight dissapointment. There are really no surpirses to be found on this record. Rancid are merely retreading ground that perfected on their first two records(1993's "Rancid" and 1994's "Let's Go!")
But over the past four years or so, I have learned to like this record on its many charms. With a million crappy pop-punk bands substituting Pro-Tools and songs about girls for attitude and songs, "Rancid" is Rancid's angriest, hardest record ever. But to the end, its also one of their most melodic and entertaining.

"Don Giovanni" and "Disgruntled" get the record off to a great start, getting the blood flowing with their one-two punch. More melodic, Rancid-esque songs quickly follow with the great "It's Quite Alright" and "Let Me In". Through the next eighteen songs, "Rancid" sounds like the band always have: fast, furious and melodic, with honest, smart lyrics(when they can understood). All Rancid have done here really is trim away the ska-punk sound of "...and out come the wolves" and the everything-and-the-kitchen-sink sounds of "Life Won't Wait" and trimmed down the fat for twenty two quick, perfect Rancid songs.
Though if your new to the band, this wouldn't be the first Rancid disc I would pick up(that would be "Let's Go!"), "Rancid" is still a great rock record that is more rewarding everytime you listen to it.

Back To Harcore
4.5 Actually. Ok, I'm not excactly a fan of the whole ska thing, maybe that's why this is my favorite one yet. The other albums may have had stronger songs, but this one hits the hardest. "Don Giovanni" is relentless and flies by in a breeze. There seems to be no central theme throughout the album, except rage. But hey, Rancid would not be Rancid without the hooks. There plently of those here and they're immediately catchy. People can say whatever they want, but these guys are like the kings when it comes to catchy punk hooks. To top it off, they combine it with a hardcore sound. This album is VERY fast, loud, hard and really fun. "Radio Havanna's" great. As a whole, it's the best one yet.

not their best work
this cd goes to show how much rancid likes to expierament. this comes off as both a good and a bad thing. the good is that theres nothing wrong with a little variety, the bad is that rancid already had their best sound down pat long before this CD was even a twinkle in Tim Armstrong's eyes. Now before you say i wasnt helpful, go listen to lets go and out come the wolves by Rancid, and you'll understand. ... Read more

Reviews (22)

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

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

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

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

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

Here's the deal:

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

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

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

Reviews (24)

Not nearly as great as Keasbey Nights
When I first heard this CD, I was a bit dissapointed. They lack the energy that they had in 'Keasbey Nights'. After Tom Kalnoky (the lead singer) left the band they seemed to have gone downhill. The lyrics and vocals are weak, the guitar and bass isn't as good, and the horn section isn't as strong, but the drumming is still amazing. There are a few good songs, like 'It takes some time' and some others, but it does NOT compare to 'Keasbey Nights'. You should get this anyways, but if you are just getting into Catch 22, get 'Keasbey Nights".

incredible. simply incredible
my friend let me borrow this cd, and i doubted that it could possibly live up to keasbey nights. i mean, there wasn't a bad track on that album. however, i am pleased to say the same for alone in a crowd. catch 22 has the best horns of any of the ska/punk bands, hands down. my favorites are tracks 3 and 5, but the rest is pure gold as well. this cd comes highly recommended. 5+ stars.

Music is Good, Message is Not
I'm sure every fan of Catch 22 (real fan, that is) has listened to Alone In a Crowd and liked it. To tell the truth, the music isn't bad. So Tom was kicked out, the stuff is still pretty good. And then you put the white cd into the stereo, and the first track is just whatever. Then the second starts to sound pretty good, and you like it. But please, do NOT like that song.

Hidden within the lyrics of the song are subliminal messages, aiming at making fun of Tomas Kalnoky, the genius writer of C22's original album "Keasbey Nights". It is sickening to hear the hate that is thrown out at him.

But you will be happy to know that in his next amazing piece of work, Streetlight Manifesto's "Everything Goes Numb", he takes out his own little fun. Listening to "A Moment of Silence", one will hear a line that is like this..."if you hate me so much then stop singing my songs."

I would like to say, Catch 22, continue to make good music, but keep your feuds to yourselves, because you threw out one heck of a musician.

God-like
when i first heard this album, my immediate reaction was: "wow, Keasby Nights cant compare". This album is by far the best Ska i've ever heard. Ever. It has such enegry and heart that i cant help but sing (scream) along to every song on the who freaking CD. If you liked Keasby Nights or Turn the Radio Off by Reel Big Fish this CD will pleasantly surprise you. There is not a bad song on this CD. I dont even need the fast forward button with this CD, i never touch it. I turn it on and let it go. Buy this album, if you like ska, at all, you'll love it. If you dont, e-mail me, and i will personally and sincerly apologize.

HFSmaggot@yahoo.com

Best Cd Ever Bought
Catch 22 is my favorite ska-punk band and its because of this cd. "Hard to Impress" has to be the best song I've ever heard. The horns wail on this song. If your sick of the same old sounding ska, check this cd out. It takes Ska to a whole new level. Buy this cd. It is fricken Sweet ... Read more

Amazon.com

Part three of a series of records that benefits the Special Olympics, A Very Special Christmas 3 from 1997 is as excitingly eclectic as its predecessors. Though it features the likes of R&B chart toppers and hip-hoppers Mase, Puff Daddy, and Snoop Doggy Dogg and alt-rockers No Doubt, Smashing Pumpkins, , Blues Traveler, and others, the real standout performances belong to Jonny Lang, with his bawdy, barroom version of "Santa Claus Is Back in Town" and Sting, who delivers a proper reading of that old English carol "I Saw Three Ships." The showstopper, though, is Natalie Merchant's "Children, Go Where I Send Thee" in an arrangement so rich and compelling it may top even the many five-star versions of this African-American hymn that have come before it. --Martin Keller ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Memorable Modern Classics
The feel of this third collection of Christmas songs for the "Very Special Christmas" series is a lot less pop, and a bit more alternative. I think this collection is my favorite of the first three. Although I had some strong individual favorites on the first two albums, there were more unique stand-outs on this version.

Sting opens the CD with a very traditional version of "I Saw Three Ships", followed by a very off-beat rendering of "Christmas Time" by the Smashing Pumpkins. Natalie Merchant does a fantastic job with the gospel standard, "Children Go Where I Send Thee." Perhaps my favorite song on the album is "Christmas" by Blues Traveller, an original and very honest song of Christmas hopes and cultural differences.

Hootie and the Blowfish bring a modern flair to the traditional "Christmas Song", and I absolutely adore Chris Cornell's earthy version of "Ave Maria." Steve Winwood sounds a bit like Cat Stevens on the beautiful "Christmas Is Now Drawing Near at Hand", and Tracy Chapman's version of "Oh Holy Night" is very simple and less showy than other renditions.

All in all, I find this the best album in the series, as far as being unique and listenable, and with rock singers focusing more on the spirit of the songs, with a few glaring exceptions.

A Very Worthy Addition to your Christmas Collection
The third album in this series is mostly a winner and well worth adding to your Christmas collection (as well as the first two volumes). As with any compilation that attempts to cover multiple genres, it is bound to be a hit or miss affair for most, but I think the producers of this series have done a pretty good job of it so far. Like the first volume, this record has very few clunkers and is overall worthy of five stars (I gave Volume 2 only four stars on account of it having a higher number of unworthy tracks).

The collection leads off with Sting's short and sweet rendering of the traditional "I Saw Three Ships." Does such a good job with it that you wish the tune went on longer. One of these days, Sting will produce his own Christmas album. Next up is the now defunct alternative band Smashing Pumpkins with their original composition "Christmastime" which you most likely have heard on the radio a number of times. This is one of the top songs on this album. But the best song on this record could very well be Natalie Merchant's "Children Go Where I Send Thee" which is an old gospel song. So the first three songs are already worth the price of this CD alone.

Unfortunately, the mood is spoiled by the next track featuring a whole mess of rap artists doing an ugly version of "Santa Baby." I don't know why the producers of this series feel compelled to stick a rap track on every volume but I don't appreciate it. Next is No Doubt doing "Oi To The World" which is a very annoying song that grates on your nerves after repeated listens. This song would no doubt (pardon the pun) drive Noriega out of his compound. Then we have Sheryl Crow doing a version of the overrecorded "Blue Christmas" that doesn't do anything for me but at least it gets the album sounding like a Christmas record again.

Now we have Blues Traveler doing an original John Popper composition ("Christmas") that is one of the top tracks on this album and this also gets a lot of radio airplay around the holidays. Following that is Enya's Gaillic version of "Silent Night" ("Oiche Chiun"). This is just superb and very hypnotizing. I like playing this late at night on Christmas Eve by the fireplace once the gifts are under the blinking lights of the tree and the champagne is uncorked. If you are not familiar with the music of Enya, I highly recommend getting some of her albums. Then we have Hootie & The Blowfish (who were one of the hottest bands in music when this collection came out in 1997) doing a version of "The Christmas Song." While the performance is okay, I do not like this song at all as it is recorded by so many other artists and it's getting sort of old. Whatever happened to Hootie & The Blowfish anyway? They sort of disappeared after this.

Next is my personal favorite song on this CD, Chris Cornell (of the alternative rock band Soundgarden) doing a spine-tingling version of "Ave Maria." This is another song I like to hear late at night on Christmas Eve. It sets quite an atmosphere. Next is "Christmas In The City" by Mary J. Blige. This soulful track doesn't sound very Christmasy at all and it sort of spoils the mood that was created by Chris Cornell's song. After that is Jonny Lang's version of "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" which is a bluesy rocker which is quite good but it just doesn't flow right here. The producers of this album don't do a very good job ordering the songs. They are all over the place.

Next track is probably the one that gets the most radio airplay, that would be the Dave Matthews Band doing a live version of "Christmas Song" which was written by Dave Matthews himself. This is definitely a highlight of this CD. Next is Steve Winwood doing a version of an obscure ancient song called "Christmas Is Now Drawing Near At Hand." I like it but you need to give it a few spins before it starts growing on you. Tracy Chapman then follows with her version of "O Holy Night." This is a very atypical and sparse interpretation of this song and quite interesting to listen to. Like the Steve Winwood track, you have to give it time to grow on you.

Finally, the set concludes with Patti Smith doing an eclectic version of "We Three Kings." I've seen some negative comments about this song on other reviews but I like it a lot and consider it one of this album's highpoints.

There are enough great songs on this record to make this an essential part of your Christmas collection.

This is "Christmas music"?
I was always a fan of this series even though I wasn't always a fan of some of the artists included in each compilation. But when I heard #3 for the first time I couldn't believe my ears. Is this the best combination of pop and Christmas music they could come up with? I was actually laughing out loud in my car the first time I listened to this disc because it was so horribly wrong. As some other reviews have mentioned, this isn't a very Christmasy-sounding offering, which, in my opinion, is a big mistake for anything offered as a Christmas Album.

And the musicianship on this disc is completely laughable. Many of these songs sound as if the "musicians" performing them tried to pick out the tunes and harmonies by ear without ever referring to the readily available printed music. I mean, couldn't they have even taken the time to consult a chord chart before destroying these classic Christmas songs? I'm all for reharmonizing a song to make it fresh, but this is ridiculous.

If you're a fan of the individual artists, this might be a good disc to pick up. But if you're looking for musicto put you in the holiday spirit, stick with something more classic (like "Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas") or something by a newer artist that has respect for the traditions of these songs.

A review from an italian boy
I bought this CD last year and I didn't find it so beautiful but there is a song that's INCREDIBLE... this is the Tracy Chapman's "oh holy night"... simply amazing... buy it only for this song... I love it

Many fabulous surprises
I was familiar with (and enjoyed) the first release in this series. I hesitated from the 2nd and, initially, the 3rd because the artist groups weren't striking my facuty. But when I learned that track seven involved Popper putting lyrics to the incredibly swift and complex guitar lead of the Phish composition "Divided Sky", I knew it was going to be either the most horrific mistake I'd ever heard or a complete stroke of musical genius. And, oh! What genius it is!

And, I found, the rest of the disc was more than up to snuff as well. Contrary to some other reviews here, I found Chris Cornell's "Ave Maria" quite moving and Patti Smith's "We Three Kings" really *real*. Even Sting's opener, while a bit pop-y, is plenty pleasant as well.

All around, this is more than seasonal background music. There are some real gems here to hook your interest. Bravo!! ... Read more

Album Details

The Band's Most Cohesive Album to Date, Blends Quirky New Wave Melodie with the Band's Hometown Signature Punk Rock Sound, Concreted with their Uniquely Sarcastic Humor. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Smash Mouth make no apologies for keeping the party going on their fourth album. There they again turn out a lighthearted mix of surf music, reggae lite, and beach anthems, even going so far as to graft a snippet of the Beach Boy's "Good Vibrations" onto "Hot" just to make sure we don't miss the point that they are the preeminent summer band of their time. But they're at their best when they're anthropomorphizing their cars ("Hot") or singing the praises of driving in the fast lane, ("105") as they turn up the heat on the subversive-sounding Farfisa organ, conjuring up the greasy spirit of ? & the Mysterians. They're less appealing when they're reminiscing about the awkwardness of a school dance on "Seventh Grade Dance" or extolling mall culture. --Jaan Uhelszki ... Read more

Reviews (63)

Not Old Shcool SMASH MOUTH, But still Good
When I heard "SMASH MOUTH" was releasing a new album, I hoped it would sound more like there original material from 'Fush Yu Mang' and 'Astro Lounge'. Unfortunantly, Its not like thoose albums. Once again, "SMASH MOUTH" is going with more 'POP' music instead of there original "ROCK" Roots.
Heres my album Review on "GET THE PICTURE":
1. Hang On 4/5 * They should of started there album with a intro song like "Whos There" from 'Astro Lounge' This song is ok. More POP Music

2. Always Gets Her Way 3/5 * Once again, a pop song
3. You Are My Number One 3/5 * I personally did not like this song as there first single. The song is ok, but they should of introduced their new album with something more energetic.
4. Whole Lotta Love 3/5 * Ok Song
5. Space Man 5/5 * This song is perhaps the only song that revolves around 'Astro Lounge' It has sounds like from 'Astro Lounge's' "Who There", One of my favorites on this album.
6. Hot 4/5 * A Good, energetic song.
7. Looking for a Wall 5/5* This song has a pretty good pace to it, another great one.
8. Seventh Grade Dance 4/5: This song starts of slow and starts to pick up the pace until it reaches a better level.
9. 105 5/5 * This song is good for us Southern California Residents. It talks about how Traffic can get you down, and how you want to spread the word to thoose infront of you to move faster and go!
10. Fun 4/5 * Ok song
11. New Planet 5/5 * This is another one of my favorite songs. It gets better once steve starts singing the Lyrics that talk about and 'Eclipse' (I am not to familiar with the lyrics yet, it is my first day witht the album)
12. You Are My Number One [Radio Remix] 3/5 * Same as Number 3

All in all, "SMASH MOUTH" Is an awesome band, No doubt about it. Its just that some of us old school "SMASH MOUTH" fans which they can go back to there original roots from 'Fush Yu Mang' and 'Astro Lounge'.
Dont get me wrong, The album is good, and maybe new "SMASH MOUTH" fans may like there current "POP" type music instead of the old material.
POP OR ROCK, I will always be ready to purchase any new material from SMASH MOUTH!

Super great!
I first heard Smash Mouth when "Walkin' on the Sun" came out and was on the radio quite a bit; after that, I always enjoyed the songs the radio played. Then I was exposed to their third album and fell in love with the music and style. All summer long I anticipated this album, bought it the day it was released and haven't regretted it once. "You Are My Number One" is a great single, and since listening to the entire CD, the songs "Looking for a Wall" and "Seventh Grade Dance" have become my favorites. Song layout is important in an and I think this album does an amazing job of it. The music is catchy and the lyrics once again impress me. Despite the fact I'm left wanting more, this album is amazing and fun and can certainly cheer me up and make me want to dance and sing along whenever I listen to it. I'd most certainly recommend this album to any Smash Mouth fan who has enjoyed their past work. They've certainly done an excellent job.

They Got Better...Alot Better
I almost prefer this over "Fush Yu Mang", even though that one is still my favorite Smash Mouth Album, this one is also really good. If the guitars were tuned like they were in "Fush Yu Mang", it would sound just like that CD. For a couple of years there, I thought Smash Mouth was running out of gas or something, but they're back in buiseness now, and I can tell their next album (yes they will make another album!) will sound more like the classic "Fush Yu Mang". Here's my song rating (Songs marked with a * were released as a single):
1) Hang On* - 5/5
2) Always Gets Her Way - 5/5
3) You Are My umber One - 5/5
4) Whole Lotta Love - 5/5
5) Space Man - 2/5
6) Hot - 5/5
7) Looking For A Wall - 5/5
8) Seventh Grade Dance - 4/5
9) 105 - 5/5
10) Fun - 4/5
11) New Planet - 5/5
12) You Are My Number One (Radio Remix)* - 5/5

Different...but this time in a good way!
It's not like their best CD FYM but it's their second best! It's much slower but much faster than the previous ones.

Awesome!!!!!!!!!
When I first got this cd I didn't like it, but then I heard "looking for a wall". The rest of the songs kinda grew on me. I heard their smash hit "all star" which is from their second cd,I think. And I decided to "get the picture". ... Read more

Reviews (17)

A Little Lukewarm
So I dont know what to think about the SMachines. This cd is ok. There are a handful of good songs and then there are some that just lose momentum. Like alot of the last CD, but definatly with a more punk style. I liked "The Air we Breathe" the best. They do a good cover of "Its the End of The World As we Know it". I liked "Honor among theives" and a few others, but... songs like "All my People" and "Leap of Faith" really make them look bad. They aren't very smooth and the lyrics are kinda lame. I really like Destruction By Definition the best, it has good punk songs and ska as well. It seems like it had more focus. Battle Hyms is pretty good too, but it has a few losers (most CDs do, though).

If you are an Suicde Machines fan, buy this album, otherwise, get Destruction by Defenition first.

And the reggae song, "Stand Up" blows. I like "Give" off of Battle Hyms much better.

Another change of pace, for SM, but a great change
I own all 4 of the Suicide Machine's albums, and each one has a very different Sound. Destruction by Definition is incredibly fast pop-punk-ska-reggae-whatever music. It sounds like angry teenagers who have yet to define a sound but just want people to get along. Then comes the ultra-fast no-song-more-than-2-minutes-Battle Hymns. Then comes the s/t album and it could not be more different than Battle Hymns. It is much slower and even has a couple of symphonies in it. Finally, we arrive at "Steal this Record," the most polished and crisp sounding of their releases. If you are a die-hard fan of their first 2 cds and aren't open to other types of music, you may hate this change. But if you like the basic punk sound with a few variations, good lyrics, great harmonies and a positive message, then you should love this cd. "Stand Up" is probably the best song that SM have ever written. The message is great and the tune never gets out of your head. There are a couple songs that aren't up to SM standards on this cd, but it is easy to listen to the entire thing without wanting to change a track. This cd doesn't have much ska and has slowed down again, but keeps a good steady pace. Give this album a try. Their new Cd comes out June 17...who knows what kind of music to expect. But if it is consistent with SM's first 4 cd's, it will be damn good.

Awesome CD
This CD kicks ass. No Ska. Here's a song by song description
1. The Killing Blow(10/10) Great opening song. Punk, Dark verses. Very catchy chorus
2. Steal This Record(8/10): This Song is hardcore/punk. Very fast, and screaming.
3. Honor Among Thieves(10/10) This is more like something you'd find on their s/t CD. Pop-punk, very catchy
4. It's the End of the World(9/10): Great cover of the REM classic.
5. Bleeding Heart(10/10): Catchy pop-punk like Honor Among Thieves
6. The Air we Breathe(10/10): More hardcore/punk. Not like Steal this Record
7. Stand Up(10/10): Cool Regae song
8. Off this Cliff(10/10): All screaming. Verses sound like a Blink riff combined with hardcore vocals.
9. Middle Way(10/10): Another catchy pop-punk song
10. Scars(10/10): catchy pop-punk
11. All My People(10/10): Pop-punk, very fast
12. Unbreakable(10/10): Starts off a little dark, then gets more pop punkish
13. Stay(10/10): More pop-punk
14. Leap of Faith(10/10): Sounds more like something a pop/rock band would make in the beginning, but it gets more pop-punk later

I hope this was helpful. I would highly reccomend this CD.

A return to form
Whether you loved or hated the upbeat pop-punk of the Suicide Machines' 3rd release, all memory of the sunniness of that CD will fade from memory as soon as "Steal This Record" kicks in. The menacing opening chords of "The Killing Blow" removes any notions of these guys being sellouts and firmly re-establishes them as forerunners on the aggressive punk scene.

One of their more ideal albums, Steal This Record finds the Machines taking on the record industry ("Steal This Record,") capitalism ("The Air We Breathe,") and racism ("All My People.") They even do a fiery cover of R.E.M's "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and the result is enough to make any punk unashamed to shout "Leonard Bernstein!" without a trace of irony.

Strangely enough, in the midst of all this hostility, the album shines brightest when the tempo drops. The two best songs of all are the album-closing soul searcher "Leap Of Faith" and the socio-political reggae number "Stand Up," on which the Machines relate their views on everything from race relations to abortion.

So, steal this record if you want to, but keep in mind that this one is worth shelling out the dollars for.

ok why wouldnt you like this cd??
this cd is awsome. i consider their other cd better cuz of vans song but thats my oponion. just cuz its not blasting ska outta everything dosnt meen there horrible. well thats all i gotta say other then the suicide machines will still be one of my top favorite bands other then The Ataris. peace out ... Read more

Reviews (17)

You don't need to love Duran Duran to love this cd...
I bought this c.d. for one reason: Reel Big Fish. They did a fantastic cover of Hungry Like the Wolf and I was dying to have it. However, Goldfinger, Buck-O-Nine and some other ska bands do really terrific jobs of recreating Duran Duran's original songs. The end of the album doesn't really appeal to me, as the last five or six songs are a bit boring... but I'm going to have to give the tribute album five stars for the simple reason that Reel Big Fish rocks and any fish fan should own this c.d.

Duran Duran heaven.. yeaey
i'm a sucker for tribute albums, and a hardcore Duranie, and I love punk and ska. So it was only natural for me to get this cd. All i have to say is... I love it! Aside from several tracks that were, well, not good (to say the least), this album kicked booty. Deftones, Homegrown, Goldfinger, Eve's Plum, Riverfenix, and Wise Crack all do an amazing job at covering my favorite Duran Duran songs. The biggest dissapointment were the songs by the bands i usually love - Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, Mr. T Experience and Gob (who manage to squeeze a 6 minute song into a minute and a half... why???). And of course Wesley Willis Fiasco... Fiasco is probably the best word to describe how this band butchered a Duran classic.

Awesome CD...
Personally, i think the strongest song would have to be by the one unsigned band on the CD; Come Undone by WiseCrack, this song rawkZ!!!

awesome bands
I love the bands on this cd..not normally a big duran duran fan, but i love the bands that have done their covers. My personal favorite would have to be new religion, ... I love that song!!

One of my surprise favorites
I got this cd cause of the 'tones song that it contained. I have been a fan of any and all types of music and punk and ska are among the top of my favorites. Duran Duran i remember from growing up as does any child of the 80s. This assortment of bands breath new life into these songs in a good way. I love pretty much every song on this cd. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

$1.09
I don't know. I'm a huge ska/punk fan. When I heard "My Town" about a year ago (I don't know how I had never heard of Buck-o-nine before), I went crazy. The band is incredible. The EP is pretty nifty. It has 4 songs that have the same general sound I think of when I think Buck-o-nine and then "Pass The Dutchie" which is some really, really awesome reggae ska. I love it. Sounds like something The Pilfers would do. If you like Buck-o-nine or ska in general pick this up. It's awesome:)

BUY THIS CD!
This CD is the best Buck-O-Nine CD available. It includes a great cover of "Pass The Dutchie" and a great remix of "28 Teeth". All of the songs are great and the CD can be played all the way through without getting sick of it, like their CD "Twenty Eight Teeth" is. BUY THIS CD! ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Tricks are for kids...
Don't listen to a childs review,great songs,new sound.If you like Jake,you'll love this cd.If you love Grease,you'll at least like this cd.Cant lose...

Like LTJ? Like Grease? Then you'll love this!
'Greased' is Less Than Jake's version of the hit movie of the 80's, 'Grease'. It includes 8 great songs covered by Less Than Jake. It's a pity that the CD is only 15 minutes long, but it's still another masterpiece by Less Than Jake.

1. Summer Nights
2. You're the Only One That I Want
3. Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee
4. Greased Lightning
5. Hopelessly Devoted to You
6. Blue Moon
7. Beauty School Dropout
8. We Go Together

big disapointment
With so many Ska bands so famous for their covers, I had the best hopes for this CD but it falls short. It sounds like a hastily thrown together garage band version of these songs rather than often hilarious versions we've come to love from bands like Reel Big Fish.

Save your money on this, less than EP sized, "album".

Good idea, bad attempt
The idea was great, and I think this album would've rocked if they had just put more effort into the songs. They all seem pretty half-assed, and thus, don't sound very good at all. Only get this if you're a big Less Than Jake fan and want all of their albums.

Good idea, just done too fast.
"Wow! Less Than Jake covering Grease! Awesome!"
Or so I thought. This is the most hastily arranged and recorded release I've ever heard in my life. The singing is off key, the guitars are sloppy, the band sounds unrehearsed . . . and there's only one song with horns. When LTJ ever starts to lack in any area, the horns always make it up for them. Not here. If they put any time into these songs at all, it could have been one of their best releases ever. But instead you get a short album that costs way too much full of complete hackneyed [stuff]. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Bay Area's Dance Hall Crashers were originally founded as a ska band and side project by Rancid members Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, but the group evolved through several permutations into a pop-punk band with no Rancid members. The Dance Hall Crashers' major-label debut, Lockjaw, is full of staccato guitar riffing and impatient complaints about authority, but it's all set to irresistibly catchy melodic hooks. As with Green Day, the contradiction between the unhappy lyrics and the deliriously happy music comes across as a remarkably healthy response to an unhealthy social environment. Here, that response is given a fresh twist by the chirpy, twin lead vocals by Elyse Rogers and Karina Denike and by the remaining traces of Caribbean rhythms. --Geoffrey Himes ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Even Guys Can Like It! Don't Worry, It's OK!
Alright, I'm a 17(18 on the 26th)-year old guy and I love this CD. It's the only DHC I have, but I've heard other songs by them. I'm sure any guys out there who like DHC are afraid to admit it. Well, DHC is no different from other punk/ska bands. After all, it was Rancid who put them together. The only quality making them "girly" is their vocals. THAT'S IT! Cm'on! They have good songs here! My fav being a split between "Go" and "Pictures". Get this CD. You'll see what I mean.

GRRRRREAT!
WOW! Thats all i can say is WOW! This is the CD that got me into DHC and i think its their best one EVER!! This album is waaaay better that "The Old Record" and "HIH". All the songs are great! My fave would be "Pictures" and "Good For Nothing" GO BUY THIS CD NOW!!!! I find myself listening to this CD over and over.You guys better buy 2 cause the first one is gonna run out!

What a shocker...
I found this CD in a bunch of burned CDs a friend was throwing away. It was the first one I picked up, and I let her keep the rest. After I found out who exactly I was listening to I rushed to buy the real CD. The entire Lockjaw album is upbeat and catchy, and is one you can listen to over and over. The harmonies are fun, and the band builds a solid backbone behind the girly duo. Pay special attention to the song GO- it's my personal favorite, and a good starting point for anyone looking to love DHC.

no...
I won't get into a negative review like I'd do for the Backstreet Boys or *N'Sync, but still, DHC isn't what you'd call a good punk band (in my opinion). I admit, I like Buck-O-Nine. I like Green Day. And believe it or not, I LOVE Rancid! I've even started wearing a Tim Armstrong-like mowhawk! But as for the Dance Hall Crashers, no. The song "Sticky" has the strangest lyrics ("Take the knife out of my back/clean the blade and put it back"). even a Slayer fan like me finds that weird, probably because it's being sung by a chick. The 2 girls definetly aren't fun to look at either. They're both extremely pail with dark red lipstick. Real female punk is Joan Jett, The Donnas, Patti Smith, you know, singing about rock & roll and boys and pissing and stuff and not songs about other girls with mental problems. To me, DHC's style has nothing to do with real punk. Now, since I like punk, even ska punk, I hope DHC sells well, but I wouldn't bother buying one of their albums.

DHC's Lockjaw a MUST HAVE in my book...
Wrote this review because, quite simply this album is MONSTER POP, just insane giddiness, harmonies reminiscent of X with the lead singer in lower octaves, grass roots appeal.. just totally throws it out there, hilarious punk rock humor... They draw on soooo much great great music... they are really step wayy over the boundary of just a ska band... The lyrics, harmonies and solid band really took me by surprise... they can really tear it up. Songsss are anthems harmonized by cynical gurls who tell it the way it is, my favorite song keeps changing.... I have been listening to if for the better part of a year, and have never taken it out of rotation... This band really has it going on. Get the album. Tell your friendz... They totally deserve your support... Totally entertaining, CD is destined to be a classic. Songs are wayyy too good not to be... I listened to one other album by them, maybe Honey I am Homely... but this one is my fav so far... Holds it's very own place in my music collection. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Here's a righteous romp through the free-spirited L.A. ska-punk pioneers' history. This two-CD set features a well-chosen best-of disc that pulls prime cuts such as "Party at Ground Zero" and "U.G.L.Y" (from Fishbone's mercurial 1985 debut), "Bonin' in the Boneyard" and "Freddie's Dead" (from 1988's Truth and Soul), "Everyday Sunshine" and "Sunless Saturday" (from 1991's The Reality of My Surroundings), and "Black Flowers" (from the 1993 swan song, Give a Monkey a Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe). Disc 2 features formative demo tracks from the group's early-'80s incarnation; it's amazing to hear their development from fun, awkward ska players to assured monster musicians, from scrappy horn band to metalloid mofos. Fishbone's influence--be it on the Red Hot Chili Peppers or the Mighty Mighty Bosstones--is massive; their success wasn't. This retrospective clarifies why, for once, you could believe the hype. --James Rotondi ... Read more

Reviews (7)

No better Fishbone in one set!!!!
Growing up in LA in the 80's my friends and I listened to Fishbone almost every time I went cruising. We saw them several times live. We couldn't help it.

This 2 CD set truly is a EXCELLENT intro or reminder of the fun and power, not only music but intellectually, of Fishbone. The first CD covers the standard 'best set' from their albums. I love not needing to carry several CD cases now to get my Fishbone fix.

The second CD is an excellent reminder collection for those fans who were actually there to collect this music, or for those fans who would like more Fishbone to play with!

This album does NOT portray Fishbone as the excellent live band they are. See them in concert for that!
This album does NOT cover ALL their great music. Collect all thier CD's, tapes, LP's and EP's for that.

This album IS an EXCELLENT and large collection of great music by a great band at an super price.

I hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Also Consider THE CRAZY 8'S!
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!")

Studio is Palid by Comparison
Fishbone is one band which does not do in the studio what it is capable of doing. If you ever get a chance to see them live, then you will know what I am talking about. Don't get me wrong, their albums are really jumpin', yet, the animalistic energy and musical-instrument-juggling-act which is their live performances should never be passed by.

This CD is off da hook
The other reviewers said it all! Great music from some funky brothas

the baddest altrenative band
this band can play any style and groove for days.this is the greatest late 80's and 90's band that many folks haven't heard of.the groups that get the love on mtv can't hang with FB.i've been digging this group for years.they put so much energy and heart into there work.groups like this used to be respected now it's ignored.that's sad.this group deserves to be heard out loud. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

ALPHA-BETA-GAMMA RATING "EVERYTHING SUCKS"
HEY ITS ALPHA-BETA-GAMMA

RATING ANOTHER GREAT REEL BIG FISH ALBUM

FIRST OF ALL

LETS REVEIW THE FACTS

-IT HAS 21 SONGS(NO INTROS/NO SKITS/NO INTERLUDES)
-IT IS AN ENHANCED CD
-IT HAS SONGS FROM THE FIRST TWO ALBUMS PLUS NEW ONES SO IF YOU ARE LOW ON MONEY BUY THIS INSTEAD OF THE FIRST TWO ALBUMS

IT FEATURES THE HIT SONGS

"BEER"
"SKATANIC"
"I WANT YA GF TO BE MINE"

ironic name! haha just kidding
first of all this is like a really old cd with all their old songs: re-realeased. when i bought it i thought that the songs were going to be newly-recorded, expecting that the track names i hadn't heard of, on their previous cds, to be new! yeah well thats not the case. it turns out that half the songs that are on other releases are recorded at a quality less than previously released. alright i hope that made sense. these are the recordings BEFORE the released the other cds..but since the other cds have already been out--released this one now with worse sound quality had me kinda of disapointed. this cd was worth it for the songs i hadn't heard before. if you alread have the other RBF cds then go for it, but if this is only your first or second RBF cd i'd suggest "why do they rock so hard" or "turn the radio off" before you buy this one.

Child eats dog - you ain't seen the cover!
Everything Sucks! - By Reel Big Fish.

This albumn does have so much on it it's hard to know were to begin. Well first off you should know this band are a Ska Punk band and therefore you shouldn't buy it unless you like that style of music. Sounds like a more angry and faster amercanised version of Madness! Lots of fast guitar, trombones, Saxaphone and Trumpets.

The Songs:

I'm Cool
Join the Club
Call you
Hate You
I'll never be
Boyfriend
Fo'Head
Trendy
Skatanic
Why Do All Girls Think they're fat
Say "Ten"
I want your girlfriend to be my girlfriend too
Jig
Go away
Beer
Snoop Dog, Baby
Big ****in' Star
**** Yourself
Spin The Globe
I'm her man
Super Hero #5

I'll describe my favourite songs :-

'Hate You' has a lyric that i'd love to tell so many people "I hate you, F**k You, leave me alone!". But seriously I mean it is quite truthful that you would want to say so many things that you just end up not bothering to get round to or having the arrogance.

"I want your girlfriend to be my girlfriend too!" Now I definetly want to say that to some people. This song is funny, and at a medium pace compared to the rest of the albumn. Not a ballad by a long shot but nice enough to tap your foot to, if you don't really listen to the lyrics it's a nice tune, but be warned the lrics are hilarious!

"Beer" This song is an ode to all of those guys out there that have bother with a girl and turn around and say " Oh well lets get Pissed!" I'm definetly one of those guys so I can relate very well to this song! The guitar in this song is excellent and the opening riff is one of the best on this albumn. The lyrics are truthful and straight to the point, with nice lyrics rather than the obscene screaming of a hard rock band! Unrequited Love is a hard thing to accept but this song gladly points out that to take the pain away there's always Beer!

"**** Yourself" Self explanatory title. The reason this song makes me smile so much is that if my ex-girlfriend ever listens to this albumn i'd just like her to know that this song is definetly written with me and my thoughts about her in mind. The line "One day you'll come back to me and I'll say why don't you why don't you go and F**k Yourself!" is a taster of how high an opinion I have of my ex.

Come to think of it this whole albumn is rather negative about girls in general, I think target audience is young guys with out a care in the world! This albumn is only available on import in the uk at the moment and therefore is quite expensive but seriously worth it as you do get 21 tracks and an enhanced cd to play the video on your computer! Contact me if your having trouble finding it and I'll gladly let you know where to pick up a copy! anyway hope you enjoy it as much as I do

COVER ART IS THE COOLEST
I really love this CD so much. I mean, the music is cool, but the cover art has to be the coolest I've seen...EVER...even if you don't like ska, buy this CD just because the cover art RULES!

Go out and buy reel big fish, favourite noise TODAY!!!!!
Reel Big fish are my Fave band at the moment coz there the best.I like them coz they make me feel happy and cheerful when i listen to them. They are a ska band and the album 'Favourite Noise' is a compilation of all there best songs.They have even got a copy of AhHa's 'take me on'included on the album (this is a particularly good song). This is a really cool 'feel good' album so go and get it and listen to it to make u feel cheerful and chilled!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great little number, but don't pay too much for it
Simply put, if you like other Bosstones stuff, you'll definitely like this album. Someday I suppose is a fun tune to start it off, and Think Again, Lights Out, and Police Beat, none of them very long, are harder rockin' songs.

Simmer Down, a cover of a Bob Marley tune, is more relaxed as its title implies. It's a nice change of pace for the usually very-intense Bosstones.

The last two songs, Drugs and Kittens and I'll Drink to That, were recorded live at a concert in Boston, on December 2, 1992. It has some banter with the crowd at the beginning and end, and if you wait a long time (almost 25 minutes) after it ends, a hidden track will start playing. The hidden track is a moderately-paced song about getting older - I see why it's bonus, since it doesn't really fit in with the other songs on this EP.

Overall, a great little EP - don't pay too much for it, and you will definitely not be disappointed.

wow
short and sweet, that's the problem. this could have been their best if there were more than an ep here.

Some good ska core from the BossToneS
A good example of ska core. This EP shows the excellent range of the Bosstones with songs like "Someday I Suppose" and "Think Again," an excellent cover. One of my favorite songs on the EP; the Bosstones add a nice horn section into this hard-core song. The live songs at the end are an excellent addition. Watch out for the hidden song "HowWhyWuz,WhoWhyAm." It's a different sound than LFI, but any Bosstones fan should really like this excellent EP. The other covers are "Police Beat, Simmer Down" and "Lights Out"

PS. "Drugs and Kittens" is another version of "Drunks and Children"

ska core? more like CORE
I don't know if they have sold out or if they're just having a lot of fun. This album doesn't compare to the hardest songs on Don't Know How to Party. If your looking for the up-beat sound found on other Bosstones recordings look somwhere else.

Two words: SELL OUTS!
I would have given this a no star rating, but the lowest it went was one star. Their pictures need to go up on the dartboard, right next to No Doubt. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Mest hail from Chicago but their hearts are in the Southern California-style punk made famous by Green Day and Goldfinger.(In fact, this release was produced by Goldfinger's John Feldmann, who also encouraged the band to record their first demo tape.)The result sounds too much like their influences. Though solid and crunchy, the songs on Wasting Time, Mest's major-label debut, mostly come across as anonymous-sounding anthems for the hyperactive skateboard set. However, there are a couple of moments when the band proves that there's muscle beneath the mush. The hilariously titled "Richard Marxism" sears, cajoles, and busts out with a hook as big as a Blink 182 single. "Drawing Board" has the same vibe, with the overdubbed harmonies of frontman Tony Lavato adding a necessary melancholic twinge to the tune. Still, this one's for die-hard power-pop fans only. --Jason Josephes ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Listening to this will not be a waste of your time...
I love this CD. I own all four Mest albums, and I think that this one is my favorite.

1. Long Days, Long Nights- 9/10- good opener for the CD, pretty good song.
2. Hotel Room- 11/10- my second favorite song on the CD, the vocals are amazing.
3. What's The Dillio?- 10/10- extremely catchy, more of the pop-punk style that Mest is like today, great song.
4. Slow Motion- 7/10- Personally I think this is the low point of the album, I just don't like this song very much.
5. Drawing Board- 12/10- Simply an amazing song, everything just fits, the vocals, the lyrics...You can also find this track on their next album Destination Unknown.
6. Change- 9/10- good song, I really like the acoustic part at the beginning.
7. Forget You- 8/10- Once again the greatness of this album takes a dip with this track, the songs that Tony doesn't sing just aren't as good...
8. Electric Baby- 11/10- I love this song! It's cute and sounds like a love song from a couple of decades ago except there's a twist: "There's two loves that I have in this world, my electric guitar, my electric girl..." It's great!
9. Girl For Tonight- 10/10- A great song, especially for all of the groupies out there.
10. Lonely Days- 9/10- Good song, I like the lyrics, you can relate easily.
11. Richard Marxism- 8/10- I really don't understand this song, the music is pretty good
12. Random Arrival- 8/10- This is a good song with a really positive message.
13. The Last Time- 9/10- The simplicity of the lyrics and speedy music makes for a great track.
14. Wasting My Time- 11/10- Perfect way to end a great album.

Mest is..well, the best!
This CD is great :: Here's my comments on the songs..

1. Long Days Long Nights - Not much to say--it's pretty good. I can relate, so maybe you can do?
2. Hotel Room - This song is one of my favorites. It's extremely catchy, and the lyrics are great.
3. What's the Dillio? - Ohhh wow, this song made me love Mest! It's funny, catchy, addicting....
4. Slow Motion - This song fits it's title--it starts off slow, then goes into a more punk beat. Very good.
5. Drawing Board - Not only is the song on their 3rd album, it's on this one too! You might get sick of it if you have both though..
6. Change - I love this song, it's spiffy.
7. Forget You - It's not by the lead singer, but it still rocks!
8. Electric Baby - This is kind of a cute song, it's one of my favs.
9. Girl for Tonight - Aww, if you're a fangirl like me, this song is heald close...
10. Lonely Days - Another spiffy song
11. Richard Marxism - I really like this one, there's some REALLY good harmonizing.
12. Random Arrival - This one makes me laugh, though I'm sure that's not the point. It's another one of my favs.
13. Last Time - It's easy to relate to this one sometimes
14. Wasting My Time - This one is really good, PROBABLY why that's the album title, "Wasting Time". There's also a hiddeb track...which I shouldn't name because of the profanity. It's extremely funny, it's about Greyhound Buses.

FME
Mest is amazing and If you liked showoff check out chris from showoffs new band Farewell My Enemy at www.farewellmyenemy.com they are really f'n awesome.
Tom

obsessed with mest
wow. what is there to say about this cd? its just awesome. i listen to this thing every day. i love this so much and i am very, very confident that you will too! songs:

long days long nights 10/10: an awesome opener that makes you reaaaally wanna listen to the rest of the cd. great lyrics backed by great music. i love this one.

hotel room 8/10: really good song i love the sound and lyrics. great song.

what's the dillio 9/10: this is a really fun song that had a great sound and an extremely catchy chorus. awesome song.

slow motion 11/10: AMAZING song. I just love this song so much. it has great lyrics (i'm so bored with life/is it because i wanted you to be my wife/and now she's gona again/and i wonder if she'll ever be my girlfriend again/ i think what can i do now/ sit by my kitchen table wondering how/ one second life can be filled with so much emotion) and awesome music. it really is in slow motion at first, but quickly gets fast.

drawing board 11/10: soo soo sad. i love this song its one of my favorites definetly with a heart-wrenching chorus (i spend days and night/in my bedroom/trying to write the perfect song to sing to you/write a song a day/but she won't like it anyway/back to the drawing board/ with the words you've heard a million times before) i love this song so much. great guitar.

change 9/10: this song is so true. you can so relate to this. i love this song. good music.

forget you 10/10: just looking at the title, your prolly sure its a so-easy-to-relate to-song, and that it is. it's so good i love this song.

electric baby 7/10: this song is good. i don't really listen to it that much anymore though.

girl for tonight 9/10: a fun song. i love this one. catchy chorus+good music.

lonely days 7/10: just like electric baby, this song is good, but i don't really listen to it anymore.

richard marxism 10/10: a GREAT song with Tony's harmonising in the backround, this song is awesome. i looove this one.

random arrival 9/10: good song. this one is lotsa fun. good music ofcourse

last time 8/10: good song. great drums, pretty fast. i love this one.

wasting time 9/10: awesome closer. starts off slow, but ofcourse, gets faster. a very, very good song.

BONUS SONG 12/10: oooohh this song is the best, tony really does let loose on this one, and the result? an amazing song. great (funny) lyrics and GREAT music to go with it. i love this one VERY much.

by the way, for all you people out there looking into mest for the first time and innocently reading "Drew's" review, i would just like to say that yes, "F*** the greyhound bus" may be "one of the best written songs of all time", but however it was NOT written OR sung by "Tom Lovato"...where did THAT come from? as a matter of fact, the lead singer (and writter of the majority of mest's songs- the others by mest's other guitarist, Jerimiah) is TONY Lovato, NOT Tom. maybe before you give a mediocre review to an great cd and band, you should learn a thing or two about them, for example, this is NOT there first CD, it's there SECOND. get your facts strait.

anyways, mest is an awesome band, go buy there cds and such like i have and you will be a much happier person, im sure.

peace out, everybody, i hope you enjoy.

the chicago boys rock
Personally I love MEST and Wasting Time is an amazing follow up to 'Mo Money Mo 40z'!
If you like Goldfinger, you'll love MEST, and you'll love this CD.
This is one of my favourite CD's in my colection and frankly you can't go wrong with MEST! ... Read more

Reviews (42)

So Many Great Songs for So Little $!
If you're a fan of the Punk-O-Rama series, #5 is no different. If you like TRUE punk rock, and you're willing to part with 4 bucks, then you'll get 28 songs from 28 great punk bands like NOFX, Pennywise, Zeke and Guttermouth. The great thing about Punk-O-Rama is that several of the songs are ONLY available on this CD, which makes the price of the CD worth it in itself. This CD is well worth the investment...if you like TRUE punk rock...no Lit or Blink here.

The Best Punk-O-Rama Ever
i have all 7 punk-o-rama's, and this is definitely the best. as always, the CD has a great song by NOFX. the millencolin song was addictive. this band called vision made what was perhaps the best song on the album. guttermouth, recently signed from nitro, featured a great song from their new album. osker, who have unfortunately broken up after an interesting career that ended when they could no longer find a drummer, did an awesome song. H20 made one of the best songs, but they no longer feature a hardcore/punk sound. instead, somehow, they have been reduced to pop-punk tatters. madball, practically their brother band, followed H20 up well with a similar sound, but luckily they have not followed their counterparts down the drain. i dunno what refused were on when they wrote their song, but its actually pretty good when you're in the mood for some crazy mix (however, not punk at all). voodoo glow skulls made an interesting little number that is not punk at all either but its still good to listen to (a little corny though). pennywise's song was one of their best ever. the hives song was great (too bad they're not underground anymore - too popular). other good songs were by all, T(I)NC, rancid, dwarves, 98 mute, bouncing souls, satanic surfers, pulley, union 13, new bomb turks, and agnostic front. so as you can see, this cd was the closest to a perfect compilation you will ever find. but there is no such thing as a perfect mix, so you're just gonna have to settle with this cause there will never be anything better. POR5 inspired me to buy CDs by NOFX, guttermouth (i now have every single guttermouth album, including old 7-inches), osker, 98 mute, H20 (unfortunately i bought their new one, not knowing that they had undergone their drastic change. but i got a t-shirt free that says 'PUNK U', so oh well), dropkick murphys, pennywise, pulley, the hives, and agnostic front. now THAT is a good compilation. you must buy it.

sweet
This is by far the best punk o rama... best songs are pump up the valuum, poison, better be women, guilty by assoiciation and prob some other ones... good comp

The BEST Punk-O-Rama Cd Ive heard!
Ive heard 4, 5 , 6 and this one is the best one. Songs Like Pump Up The Valium , Slow Motion Riot , 1.80 down , Panic , Riot Riot Upstart , and Good Rats make this cd a classic. And for only 5 dollars you can own some of the best modern punk rock. I usually only listen to classic punk but this made me realize that modern punk rock is good too. Get this and you wont be dissapointed!

You've tried the rest, now try the best...
I have listened to all of the Punk-O-Ramas, One through Seven, and have been thoroughly impressed by most of them. However, this particular POR is the best. 28 tracks, and only one doesn't belong (Refused, but that's just becuase it's not remotely punk). That is a remarkable accomplishment for any compilation, and what makes this one better is that all the other songs just plain rock. All the songs, apart from the refused, are worth the six bucks I paid for this while looking for checkered shoelaces and whale hightops in Zumiez. The second best part of this CD is that I bought it new for the price I usually pay for used CD's at my favorite used music (vinyl through plastic) stores. The best part of this CD is that I was able to discover some new bands which really rock. I listen to this CD while taking math tests, riding my lovely city's public transportation system, talking with friends, doing homework, researching stuff for my college-prep classes, balancing chem equations or even sleeping. It's that good. I won't tell you which tracks are best, that duty is left up to the individual listener, but my favorites are spread all over, from NOFX to Millencolin to New Bomb Turks to Agnostic Front, with many in between...I genuinly love to listen to this CD. I definetly think this is better than the latest release, POR 7. Buy it if you have the money...It's worth it. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Non-stop "flavor"
I have been a fan of The Urge for quite some time, and I can easily say that this is one of their best CD's. Unfortunately for most consumers, and fans of the group, most of their older stuff is no longer being printed. This CD is fast, energetic, and just plain awesome. I would suggest it to anyone who wants to hear some exciting new sounds.

It doesn't get any better...
I've been an avid fan of The Urge ever since they came through with 311 a while back...I must say after my friend wisely lent me this cd....egad I didn't think there was a band with this much energy. I've heard them caterogized as ska, punk, funk, rock, metal, hip-hop, alternative, reggae, heck you name it it'll be in the album somewhere. I was lucky enough to catch one of their concerts about a month ago - insane. They tore the place up, they just blew all the other shows I've been to out of the water. A superb band, and even better to see live, I would highly recommend this album..wow.

Play that Mutha F-------n Urge S----t!!!
I have owned this CD since 1998. It is on my top 5 favorites of all-time.

What separates this band from the rest is:
1. LIVE PERFORMANCES: "Straight to Hell" is where The Urge sends those immatators who can't perform. I have seen dozens of nationally known bands, but NO ONE CAN PERFORM LIKE THE URGE. Period.

2. ENERGY: They give their shows 110%. The band is officially broken up but you can still catch them in their annual reunion shows in St. Louis. They just played 3 live soldout shows in St. Louis, their hometown and went on a small midwest tour to two shows at Mizzou, SMSU, KU, and SIUE.

A great original band!!
I had heard songs like "Jump Right In" on the radio before, and I really got into this band's music. I decided to check them out live once when they came to the Blue Note in my town, and they completely rocked out. Since That show, I have seen them live two other times, and they have rockd out every single time. They always do a hardcore cover of Bob Marley's "One Love" and it is amazing. This is a great CD to groove to and is strikingly original. It's a kind of ska/reggae/punk mix and it is executed very well. The songs are all really amazing. The ylrics are funny and original and the band members can play. Check out this CD, as well as "Master of styles" and "Too Much Stereo." Also, if you evr get a chance, check 'em out live. I heard they might have broken up, and they haven't been around lately, and that would make me sad, but if that rumor is false, check them out. They're awesome!!!

Proto Rap Metal?
Fairly standard ska-punk. Pretty much all sounds the same. Teeters on the edge of rap-metal, actually falls off with 'It's Getting Hectic'. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

An amazing collection of songs from an unlikely group.
I saw a band in Austin called Thattaboy sing a song called "So Much," and they said that it was written by a band called "The Impossibles." The unique ska rythms and sheer energy of the chorus caught me, and I started looking around for CD's by this band, "The Impossibles." Surprisingly, I couldn't find anything besides information, that they were an Austin punk band, now broken up, and that they had an anthology coming out. I anxiously awaited the release of this CD, and when I finally got my hands on it, I gave it a spin, and was amazed by every track on the CD. There's more energy and fun in a single one of these tracks than in entire albums by other punk/ska artists. Just listen to the screeching profession on Erin with an E and imagine this intensity coming from a group of High School guys. I don't think a 5 star rating should be thrown around as much as it is, but this album is definitely amazing, the Impossible's amazing ska anthems will surely live on, even though they've decided to go their own ways. Buy this CD, if you have any liking at all for ska or punk.

Great CD from an Austin band
The Impossibles are just a fun band to listen too. "Eightball" has got to be one of the best songs I've ever heard, and these guys totally rule in concert. I have a lot of respect for them because they sound as good live as they do on the CD.

Anthology is basically the combination of their first self titled CD with all the songs from their second CD, which was and EP called Back for the Attack, tacked on the end. Both of those ruled, but you'd have a hard time finding them anywhere, and it'd be cheaper and easier to buy this.

Pretty much, this is one of those good CD's that you can listen to all the way through and enjoy every song.

the best cd i've ever heard, hands down
I listen to a lot of punk/ska/emo/whatever you may call it. I listen to a wide variety of music from NOFX to The Roots to Bob Marley to Sublime, but this Impossibles album is hands down the greatest musical accomplishment i've ever had the pleasure to listen to. Not one song let me down, all songs have lyrics straight from the heart, energetic punk and ska beats and just a pure vibe to it. The Impossibles knew so well how to put music together and it is such a shame that they ever broke up. This will be the best money you will ever spend if you buy this cd. Truely a classic.

i love the impossibles
one of my greatest friends ever got me listening to the impossibles. i liked them so much, i went and ordered this cd. great move on my part. as of now, i own all of their stuff and although i love all of it, i must say that this one is still my favorite. the first time i listened to it for myself, i loved the ska-ness of it. there is also a lot of variety on the cd, mainly because of the compilation songs from both the EP and their self-titled cd. but every track is just awesome. there aren't any intermissions or fillers. every time i go back and listen to it, i find something new to like about it. since anthology is 20 songs long, at first i didn't always make it to the 2nd half of the cd while i was driving home from school, so i put my cd player on random and was amazed. in the beginning i seemed to like first few songs the best, then later the last ones were the ones that i listened to the most. now i can't pick just one and i can't seem to turn it on without listening to it the whole way through.

at this point, if you're still wondering if you should buy this, my answer would be just buy it anyway and experience their music for yourself.

Uncommonly crafted
It took weeks before i could remove this cd from my cd player. The disc simply got better with everytime i listened to it. When i took it over to friends houses, they would instantly join me in the instant-fan category. Lyrics that speak blatantly, emotion without getting whiney, and energy that is almost unsurpassed make it as addictive and comforting as a morning cup of coffee. With most bands that sing about girls you get a lot of, "how could this have happened to ME". The impossibles take a much more mature route with their wailings by saying, much more honestly, "how could i have done this to myself". Between the energetic work of the guitars, to the dueling vocals, an album like this comes along very rarely. To be ranked with the likes of the pixies, man or astroman, weezer, or pink floyd for having taken an existing genre and pushing it beyond itself to new levels. The impossibles have made something actually deserving of five stars. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

The Machines Take A Stand
The Suicide Machines have been reading some Michael Moore. At least that was my feeling after listening to their new release "A Match & Some Gasoline." From anti-Bush diatrabes to attacks on corporate capitalism that results in mass unemployment, the album could easily have been produced by Moore.

Longtime fans of Suicide Machines will be very happy with this album. The ska is back with a vengence, and the album is their angriest since "Battle Hymns." The album deftly navigates between ska and hardcore punk and often, such as the standout "Did You Ever Get A Feeling Of Dread," blends the two nicely.

Their most political album to date, a decent 75% of the album focuses on government workings, from the anti-war rants of "Burning In The Aftermath" and "Your Silence," to the album's best track, "Seized Up," which plays out like a musical version of Michael Moore's famed documentary "Roger & Me."

Despite what recent releases might lead you to believe, the Suicide Machines still have some anger they need to vent, and "A Match And Some Gasoline" is an energetic and enlightening way for them to blow off some steam.

The fire, it burns!
As the lead singer Jason Navarro says in his thanks, A match and some gasoline is very much a protest cd. In the past, the political leanings of the Suicide Machines, although present, could be overlooked, if someone really wanted to ignore them. With this cd, this is not possible. This cd's political message shows through in nearly every song, and is as clear as a cd case- Never trust your government, and always speak out.
"Your Silence", quite possibly the most thought-provoking song on the cd, is an extremely well done protest of the war in Iraq; It shows the reason the band is protesting, while, in a way, telling people exactly what they can do about the war, all to a loud, punk beat that has remained in my head for weeks.
Iraq, however, is not the only thing this cd protests. As demonstrated in "Politics of Humanity", "Burning in the Aftermath", and "Your Silence" the cd protests global ignorance and apathy. "Did You Ever Get A Feeling of Dread", "Invisible Government", and "Keep It A Crime" protest Governments's, especially the U.S. Government's, attempts to control the people at large. The hidden track, placed at the end of "Politics of Humanity", has a deeply touching protest of nuclear warfare, with many cultural references that only add to the power of the song.
This cd's only value is not message, however. A match and some gasoline carries on the Suicide Machines' excellent musicianship, the fast paced, heavily drummed beats, the quite accomplished, punk-styled singing, with the occasional quiet, slow song mixed in to great affect.
This is the best cd I have ever heard. If you are in the least bit considering buying this cd, I recommend you do, especially if you enjoy the Suicide Machines' previous music.

Good Stuff!
The Suicide Machines kick some major ass, but their last two cds were not too good. Not many cds can live up to ska-punk goodness of destruction by definition, but this is probably their second best cd. Battle Hymns was good, but on this cd, they come out with a new style they haven't really tried before: hardcore. Listen to Burning in the Aftermath and Your Silence to see what I mean. Probably the most notable change is that the ska is back! The cd mostly switches off between hardcore punk tracks like Beat My Head Against The Wall and ska tracks like Split The Time. The ska may not be as good as it was in the past, but it is still a relief to have it back. Pretty much everything here is good, but you wanna skip track #8. It blows. Other than that, slip on your skankin shoes, cause thats what you'll be doing when you listen to this album.

Great Album
The Suicide Machines are a refreshing change from most of today's bands. They have catchy songs but are not sell outs and actually think about what they're saying. Albums like this are rare, not too many well known bands are willing to discuss anything controversial anymore. Well, The Suicide Machines are, and they do it without losing their mainstream audience.

Suicides Machines KICK A$$
I first heard one of their songs a while ago called "My Girl" a popular ska song, I then got this cd, cause I listened to their more hardcore sound, and i was hooked. Suicide Machines deliver the sound of ska, along with the noise of hardcore punk, lyrics violent, but GREAT! This band is true to the ska tradition, and punk sound, buy this cd, not a bad song in the whole thing! ... Read more