Amazon.com

For all his tattoos and bulked-up frat-boy persona, singer Bradley Nowell had real soul, which made his fatal heroin overdose even more tragic. There's more to this Long Beach, California, trio's debut, released shortly after Nowell's death in 1996, than white suburban punks imitating Jamaican ska music. The band comes up with great songs, notably the catchy MTV hit "What I Got"; spooky dub-reggae undertones, produced by the Butthole Surfers' Paul Leary, to go with the snappy horns; and surprisingly progressive lyrics that attack sexism and other social ills, especially on "Wrong Way." Like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Fishbone, obvious forebears, Sublime become slightly tiresome after 17 songs, but the band is great in short doses. --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (366)

ONE OF THE GREATEST CDs OF ALL TIME
If you haven't heard Sublime before, I suggest buying this CD. It's full of ska, reggae, punk, rap, and hip-hop. All of the songs are great, energetic, and they all sound different. This is how I would rate each song:
(1)Garden Grove:A++
(2)What I Got:A+
(3)Wrong Way:A+
(4)Same In The End:A+
(5)April 26, 1992:A+
(6)Santeria:A+
(7)Seed:A+
(8)Jailhouse:A
(9)Pawn Shop:A
(10)Paddle Out:A
(11)Balled Of Johny Butt:A
(12)Burritos:A
(13)Under My Voodoo:A
(14)Get Ready:A
(15)Caress Me Down:A+
(16)What I Got(reprise):A
(17)Doin' Time:A+

This is the last CD that Sublime made before Brad passed away, and it's one of their best. It's to bad he went away at the height of their success, but he new some day he would "lose the war".-Pool Shark

R.I.P. Brad Nowell

RADIO HIITS, WHO CARES, STILL A GREAT CD!!
I don't get why some people will give a cd a lower rating cause it gets radio play. You shouldn't like or dis-like a cd cause some of its songs on the radio. Anyway i'm a huge Sublime and own all there cd's (execpt stand by your van) I think this cd doesn't get enough credit just because excellent songs like what i got, wrong way, santeria and doin time are played on the radio. It also holds some other gems like Garden Grove, April 29, 1992 (Miami) which has a great story line, Same in the end, Burritos, Get Ready and Caress Me Down. The best song has to be what i got (reprise) when you listen to it just makes u feel good. In my oppion this is Sublimes second best album behind 40 oz to freedom, but it is still great.......... mad love out to lou dog and RIP BRAD..........PEACE!!!!!!!!

Bradley Nowell sounds even better now that he's Dead.
"Sublime" is one of my favorite albums of all time and it is by far the best Sublime record. Listening to "Sublime" is like the equivelant to watching an episode of Cops. There are songs about prostitutes, pawn shops, weed, race riots, and guns. All good fun!
Some highlights are:
"Garden Grove"- I like when Bradley goes through the list of reasons why his soul is unsound.
"Same in the End"- Totally rocks.
"Seed"- Totally rocks too.
"Burritos"- Should have been another single.

You'll love this
No matter what type of music you listen to,you WILL like this.Trust me.This is one of the only CD's I can listen to over and over and not get tired of.Some of the best tracks would have to be "What I got","Seed","Santeria",and "Wrong Way" are the best tracks on the cd.There's a serious point in all the songs,but the it's so inresting and catchy,you don't even notice.You'll love it so just buy it.

no band can compare
Sublime is just one of those bands that can't be compared to or imitated by anyone. Brad had a great gift with not only lyrics but amazing vocals. This CD especially shows sublime had true musical talent and wasn't imitating anyone like most rock bands are today. Every song on here is good and each song shows how many different kinds of music sublime could combine into one CD, rock/rap/punk/reggae/ska. This cd and 40 oz to freedom are by far the best 2 sublime cd's out there. RIP brad and your music lives on. ... Read more

Reviews (171)

This band's aging nicely....
Ten years after their debut, surprisingly, No Doubt is still around. Who would have thought? Their original sound was so...early 1990's....I would have figured that they would have died out with the grunge era. Boy, was I mistaken! Gwen and company have learned the secret to success: keep your sound fresh while still containing some of the original elements of your music. What No Doubt has done in the past decade is shown how a band can age gracefully, changing their sound as they go, and having a good time doing it. There are some instant classics on this compilation, namely "Don't Speak". But, don't overlook "I'm Just A Girl", "Spiderwebs", or "Ex-Girlfriend" either. All of these songs are great. Of course, the new hit "It's My Life" makes me think back to the early 80s new wave craze...and who knows...maybe No Doubt is the harbinger of a resurgence in that genre of music! In any case, this CD is a wonderful addition to your collection. Get for your living room...get it for the car...get it for everwhere!

A Good No Doubt "Starter Kit"
No Doubt wisely didn't name this CD "Greatest Hits", because only about 6 of the 15 songs on here were bonafide hits. They also were smart not to call it "Best Of No Doubt", because few of the songs on here are really the best No Doubt has to offer. Most of their finest material can be found on their albums, especially Return of Saturn and Tragic Kingdom. Nevertheless, this album is exactly what it claims to be: a collection of all the singles No Doubt has officially released between 1992 and 2003. The standouts range from the recent: the new single, a quality rock-driven cover of Talk Talk's "It's My Life", and Rock Steady's "Hella Good"; to the obvious: their biggest hits, "Don't Speak", "Just A Girl", and "Spiderwebs" from their most popular album, Tragic Kingdom; to the underrated: "Ex-Girlfriend", "New", and "Simple Kind of Life" from the woefully overlooked Return of Saturn.

Chances are if you are buying this, you are either a No Doubt fanatic who buys everything they release (such as myself), or you are a casual fan, who knows a few of their radio songs and want them on one disc. To the hardcore fans: buy Boombox instead: you get this CD, a b-sides and rarities CD, all their videos on DVD, and Live In The Tragic Kingdom on DVD. All this for less than $50!
If you are a casual fan, don't let your No Doubt collection stop here: buy all 5 of their albums (1992's No Doubt, 1995's Beacon Street Collection, 1995's Tragic Kingom, 2000's Return of Saturn, and 2001's Rock Steady). You will not regret it. Listen to how this great band has evolved over the years--from the ska-driven band they were in in the late 80's and early 90's (as demonstrated on "Trapped In A Box", included here)to the innovative New Wave/Pop-Rock band they are today.

A great way to get into this excellent band.

No Doubt About It
As I was loading the songs of The Singles 1992-2003 onto my computer, I realized something - this was the first CD that I had ever given every song a five-star rating in iTunes. This isn't just a set of singles from over the last 12 years - it's also really, really good music.

Every song here has some of the smartest lyrics you will ever find in music, as well as the most memorable themes. Take "Don't Speak" - in an era when every singer asked their ex-lover what had gone wrong, Gwen Stefani pleaded, "Don't speak, don't tell me because it hurts." My favorite song on this CD (and favorite song, period) is the catchy, unforgettable "Just A Girl". "Trapped In A Box" is the weakest track in the way of singing, but its smart lyrics make up for it. "Simple Kind of Life" channels reflective sadness, while "Hella Good" and "Hey Baby" are party songs to the core. "New" can be only described by the word 'fresh'. "Ex-Girlfriend" is all of it a high-powered bass riff. "Excuse Me Mr." is an even more frantic plea for attention and respect.

If you can buy just one CD, make it this one. If you're not quite sure about investing in a No Doubt album, buy this collection. Listen, and not only will you want ND's other five CDs, you'll know why fans will buy The Singles just for its new track, the '80s remake "It's My Life". It's well worth every one of its 59 minutes and 37 seconds.

amazing album, stupid idiot review!
I was appalled to see one idiots review of this album giving Bathwater and new 0/10 and 4/10 to trapped in a box. I have to say that i think trapped in a box is an amazing song, its one of the most intellegent and unique songs out there. If you don't understand the song you shouldn't bash it in your idiotic review. ( I HAVE ALREADY WRITTEN A REVIEW THIS IS JUST BECAUSE IM ANGRY AT THIS IDIOT) :)

i loved this
No Doubt have such a varied compliation on this album its unbelieveable but brilliantly brilliant! From hard rock, to hip hop pop right through to a little rap, some regee and some show tune! One song I found mesmerising was Trapped in a Box, i felt something about it that was like the songs in rocky horror picture show. Such a unique song. I'm just a girl is a great song, I've always loved Gwens voice its very unique and unlike any other voices. My favourite song on the album is very difficult to say because I adored everything. And They haven't let us down with the most recent, It's my life which is one of my favourite songs of all time. All and all this was one hell of an album. Don't stop there No DOubt keep them coming.
You truely would be in need of medical care if you did not like this. BUY IT. ... Read more

Reviews (51)

Quite Good
RBF comes back after three years or so of touring and releases a rock-solid, infectious, bitter, pissy, angry album.There are usually two or three pissed off songs on an RBF album, "We're Not Happy 'til You're Not Happy" has about eight.

'THE FIRE' 4/5- This song starts in a funky, half time beat and is moderately entertaining, then kicks into a full skank and is awesome.Chorus is especially fun.

'Drinkin'' 5/5- A companion of sorts to the song 'Beer' this song has a fun little riff at the beginning and equal amounts of rock and ska throughout.

'Don't Start A Band' 5/5- I wanted to give them all a hug after this song.It amazes me how RBF can take the most depressing lyrics and set them to the happiest music.

'A-W-E-S-O-M-E' 4/5- I laughed my ass off at the beginning of this song.The song itself is ok.The chorus is the best.

'We Hate it When Our Friends Become Successful' 5/5- A Morrissey cover that fits the band quite well lyrically, and I like RBF's version better

'Turn the Radio Off' 5/5- Very angry, very good.The bridge is the best part.

'Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution' 4/5- awesome reggae version of a Tracy Chapman song.It shouldn't have been the first single, but it kicks ass.

'The Bad Guy' 3/5- My least favorite song on the album.It is saved by the brass section in the bridge.

'Story of My Life' 5/5- RBF has made a Social Distortion song sound almost cute, and has gotten away with it quite well.

'The Joke's On Me' 4/5- Starts out kind of new-wavey, is quite sad throughout, and the "never were any good old days" part is downright depressing.

'One Hit Wonderful' 5/5- incredible 3/4 time examination of the success of 'sell out'.the mandolin in the bridge is fun. after the song finishes, you can hear a high school marching band playing an arrangement of 'sell out'.

'The Last Show' 5/5- Makes it sound like RBF is breaking up, but they're not.The lyrics could be seen as Aaron talking to Scott, but i don't know.

'Say Goodbye' 4/5- End of a relationship song.At least it says "feels so good to say goodbye".almost not sad.

'Your Guts (I Hate Em)'10/5- My Favorite song on the album.SO damn funny.

Well, I'm Happy
This cd is honestly, one of my most favorite CDs that I own. They kept the same RBF sound, but somewhat matured a little bit. This is by far better than Cheer Up (mainly because the songs on Cheer Up bring back bad memories), and is my favorite RBF album. With Turn the Radio off in second.

My favorite tracks on this cd are: "Don't start a band", "A-W-E-S-O-M-E", and "Last Show."

Buy this album if you love RBF and want a good CD!

A bit more poppy than the others, but still my RBF
Reel Big Fish seems to be getting more and more pop oriented (melody and tone) as time goes on.Not that this is a negative thing, per se, but it's a step in an unexpected direction.

The opening track starts with a song that reminds me very much of my first listen to "Cheer Up".The song progresses from a lone guitar into a big buildup into more distorted guitar, then the repeating choruses into the big ending.It seems most of the tracks follow this format, though there is some variation.Looking back at "Turn the Radio Off" and "Why Do They Rock So Hard?", I miss the chill groovy tracks that dominated those albums.Most of the songs have a "hit on every beat" feel during choruses.I'm not sure how to describe it, but it feels sort of punk.

They make fun of themselves a bit with "One Hit Wonderful" and throw in their signature hypocricy with "Don't Start a Band".Theme-wise, the album is fairly negative but only lyrically.RBF has a unique talent; they can make the most lyrically negative song into a happy-go-lucky "make me want to skank" smile-fest.Still, I miss the good old days of "Beer" and "Alternative Baby".Maybe they just need more horn melodies, less distorted lead guitar.

All in all, this is about the best I can hope from from this awesome band.I was not disappointed at all, and I can see the songs growing on me.Keep churning it out guys, I look forward to what's ahead.

It was time for this band to grow musically!
While still full of the tongue in cheek, often curt but undoubtedly negative lyrics RBF have become known for, this CD returns the band to its ska roots and mixes in some new production style.The end result is incredible.Every album this band records seems to reflect their state of mind in the industry at any given time.In particular Turn The Radio Off and Why Do They Rock So Hard?This album is no exception. Turn The Radio Off told the story of a small time band that wanted to make it so bad it hurt.Why Do They Rock So Hard dealt with the inevitable backlash from some fans when the band "sold out," though they did nothing of the sort.We're Not Happy Til You're Not Happy has its own theme too, but this is a VERY angry, bitter album.It deals with the competitive and backstabbing industry every signed band finds itself in.That state of the band where the music becomes it's own stress, when playing feels like a job. If you can't deal with that anger, however, I'm not so sure you ever really listened to the lyrics of other Reel Big Fish albums, much less been in a band of your own.One of the reasons I like RBF so much is I empathize with a great number of their songs,.. they capture the experience of being in a band so perfectly, particularly the negative aspects which hardly any other group seems to acknowledge (most bands just want to tell you how much they rock).This album is a welcome addition to my record collection.Easily the best CD I've bought so far this year.

RBF Is back Baby!!!
This CD is so good!I've loved Reel Big Fish since I was a littler kid than I am now.That's like ten years or something, and really, this CD is absolutely amazing.I don't know what all you people lambasting this CD are thinking.Obviously somebody ripped the fun out of your ear drums because you suck if you think CD is not a 5 star worthy purchase!

This CD is awesome."Drinkin" is easily one of the top RBF songs ever.So is "Don't Start A Band,""Say Goodbye," "Your Guts (I Hate 'em)" and, well, basically every song on this CD.This is classic rocking awesome funny rad Reel Big Fish and everyone should buy this CD.It's so much better than Cheer Up, which was still a 5 star CD.So maybe, this is really like a 6 or 7 star CD (on a five star scale) because this CD is just so freakin' sweet.Basically this CD rocks harder than when unicorn's have their horns stuck in the rock that was holding excalibur until King Arthur pulled excalibur out.That's how hard this CD rocks!!!

This CD will not stop rocking until King Arthur comes back and rides that unicorn straight into Heaven to the tunes of "Your Guts (I hate 'em)" which will be playing when everyone who dissed this momentous CD is tossed into firey brimstone for their lack of faith, which I find disturbing. ... Read more

Amazon.com

No Doubt's 1995 release, Tragic Kingdom, brought Southern California's ska scene to a national stage while elevating the band to star status. An irresistible mix of reggae, punk, and power pop, Tragic Kingdom scored several hits, among them "Spiderwebs," "Just a Girl," and "Don't Speak." Singer Gwen Stefani's looks made the group MTV shoo-ins, but her soaring voice is the real star, as evidenced by such songs as "Happy Now?"--a classic you'll-regret-you-dumped-me anthem that recalls Blondie--and the bouncy "Sunday Morning." Despite recurring themes of pain and regret, Tragic Kingdom manages to somehow feel sunny throughout. --Courtney Kemp ... Read more

Reviews (238)

At the top of the Kingdom!!!
This is a killer CD from No Doubt- topping Return of Saturn, in my opinion- and I've yet to listen to all of Rock Steady, so, currently, this is my favorite No Doubt CD.
The songs on here are pure ska, funk, reggae, pop, dance mixes that are outstandingly No Doubt. When speaking of No Doubt, I would give someone the CD and then say, "Here. Listen. Learn."
The guys are excellent musicians, and Gwen is a truly talented singer. The guys admire her looks, we girls admire her voice. It's a win-win situation with her.
Some of the best tracks on the album include "Just a Girl" which is oustandingly Female. It's quite the song- as is "Spiderwebs", a really good tune to listen to. However, the best song (in my opinion) has to be "Don't Speak", a tragic breakup story. You can see the lyricist agonizing over what to pen next...up late at night with their head in their hands, thinking over and over again: "Don't Speak/I know what you're thinking......don't tell me cuz it hurts....."
All in all, a truly great effort from No Doubt- really really good!

The album that put No Doubt on the map
Released all the way back in 1995, this album went on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide (over 15 million in the US alone). This CD includes the hits Just a Girl, Spiderwebs, Don't Speak, Excuse Me Mr., and Sunday Morning.

The album opens with 1. Spiderwebs (5/5) This song is pretty much instantly catchy, and if your a person who likes to bang your head around, the chorus is perfect for that. 2. Excuse Me Mr. (4/5) This song is a pretty hardcore, in-your-face kinda song. It's probably the worst of their single releases from this album, but it's still really good. 3. Just a Girl (5/5) Now this is THE song that put No Doubt on the map. It's a girl anthem, but unlike alot of them, it isn't a man hating one! It opens with that famous, catchy guitar riff, and the song just goes from there. 4. Happy Now (4/5) I think it's pretty obvious that this song is about Gwen and Tony's break-up, but, it's not a bad song. It's pretty catchy to. 5. Different People (3/5). Another catchy song, about people being, well... different... It seems like a bit of a filler, but it's still an okay song. 6. Hey You (4/5) Lol, the chorus is kinda weird ("Your just like my Ken and Barbie doll"), but weird in a good way. The song is catchy, and I love the way they use the Sitar. 7. The Climb (4/5) Definitely the longest song on the album, topping the 6 minute mark. The only thing that keeps this song from reaching 5 stars, is the fact it seems to drag. Other than that, it's a great song.

8. Sixteen (5/5) One of my favorite songs not to be released from this album. It's really catchy, and has a great chorus. Great song. 9. Sunday Morning (5/5) I think this is one of No Doubt's most underrated songs. The big long drum roll at the beginning is great. Everything about this song is great. And, it's so damn catchy. 10. Don't Speak (5/5) My favorite song off of this album, and maybe my favorite No Doubt song ever. I mean, who hasn't heard this song. It's one of the most beautiful break-up ballads of all time. This song shot straight to #1, and became No Doubt's biggest single ever. Gwen sounds so heartbroken in this song, it gives me chills. Believe me, if you listen to this song when your sad, you might just cry. 11. You Can Do It (3/5) Another song that seems like a filler, and is probably the worst song off of the album. It's not a terrible song mind you, and is pretty catchy. 12. World Go 'Round (5/5) This is my other favorite song not to be released off of this album. Everything sounds great on this song, and it's so catchy. 14. End It on This (4/5) This is pretty good song. Another song that is most likely about Gwen and Tony's break-up. It seems to drag a bit at the end though. And finally, 15. Tragic Kingdom (4/5) I think this song is the perfect way to end the album. It's a good song, but it can be kind of confusing. It drags a bit at the end to.

All in all, this album is great. I recommend if you're looking to become a fan of No Doubt's music, you start with this album. But, if you only like a few of their songs, I'd recommend buying The Singles 1992-2003.

Not So Tragic
Before No Doubt released Tragic Kingdom they weren't well known. They actually just released this so they could get their songs out, then they would go on with their lives. Luckily their first single "Just A Girl" hit well and they didn't have to do that. Tragic Kingdom in my eyes is No Doubt's best work, filled with all good songs. I don't there are many cd's where I happen to enjoy all hits, but this is definitely one of them.

The cd starts of with "Spider Webs" which is an ingenious song. One of my favorite songs in No Doubt history is "Excuse Me Mr." which is just an awesome song. Next is "Just A Girl" which was their first single and possibly the "star" of the cd. Another one of my favorite songs from no doubt is "Different People" which is just so awesome. Then later comes their other hit from the cd, "Don't Speak" which is still getting radio play today. "You Can Do it" is also a fun song, though it kinda sounds like something the Spice Girls would sing. Then comes my favorite song on the whole cd..."Tragic Kingdom". It's so fun, heavy, deep, imaginative, and basically has a nice flow.

The whole cd is just loads of fun and I would suggest it to anyone who has only heard their new stuff.

I LOVE THEM! NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE NO DOUBT AND THE CRANBERRIES!
GWEN RULES!
I NEVER REALLY LIKED THIS KIND OF MUSIC UNTIL THEM!
THEY ARE DOPE!!!!!!!
5 STAR STUFF~! *****

This Is Pretty Good, But Tracks At the End Drag It Down
I like this album, even thoguh it's really old (almost 10 years)

1. Spiderwebs- Really good way to start the album, really energetic. 9/10
2. Excuse Me Mr. Not as good as previous song, but still pretty good. 8/10
3. Just A Girl- First single, and I can understand why! It's so good! 10/10
4. Happy Now- Not too good, but stil ok! 7/10
5. Different People- Favorite song! It's not even as fast as the others, it's jsut really good. 10/10
6.Hey You- Um, this song is very interesting. 8/10
7. The Climb- I think this was too long but it's stilkl a decent song. 6/10
8.Sixteen-The guitar is so cool! 10/10
9.Sunday Morning- It starts out really weird but it's still a great song! 8/10
10.Don't Speak- The verses are good, the chorus is awful. 5/10
11.You Can Do It- This song is ridiculous, sorry No Doubt. 3/10
12.World Go Round-This album's second half is proving to be bad. 3/10
13.End It On This- Way better then the 3 songs before. 7/10
14. Tragic Kingdom- YAY! Perfect! 10/10 ... Read more

Amazon.com

Just as Green Day aped the Ramones, their contemporaries in this Southern California punk quartet aspired to be the Clash. But also like Green Day, Rancid's fresh approach and excellent songs (including the ska-punk MTV hit "Time Bomb" and the anthemic "Roots Radicals") rose far above tribute-band level. And poet Jim Carroll (The Basketball Diaries) adds spoken-word stream-of-consciousness to the dour "Junkyman." While 19 songs makes this 1995 CD drag on a bit too long, Wolves is evidence of punk rock's relevance a full two decades after the Sex Pistols. --Steve Knopper ... Read more

Reviews (214)

A VERY , VERY GOOD PUNK ALBUM
Until the first 12 songs , this one was headed for a full 5 stars. But the last pieces somewhat lack the consistency of the first two thirds of the album .

Nevertheless , I will highly recommend this one , particularly for those interested in punk rock , and most particularly those interested in knowing what is punk rock NOW , twenty-some years after the Sex Pistols , Clash , Damned and Ramones first stormed into the musical scene , creating a musical and social earthquake of unimagined and gigantic proportions .

Rancid is , no doubt , a rightful heir to those bands , as a matter of fact their Clash influences show everywhere throughout the album , but this is not something to be ashamed of , on the contrary they pick where the Clash left and follow the same line , but they sound fresh , not just a replica .

Probably most people will only know "Time bomb" since MTV aired the video somewhat frequently a few years ago . A good song indeed , but a few others match this one : particularly "Olympia , WA" , "Junkie man" ,"The 11th. hour" , "Ruby Soho" and the hidden gem "Journey to the end of the East Bay" .

All in all , a good CD , highly recommendable . Rancid is a honest , down-to-earth band with their feet standing firmly in the punk rock foundations , but not limited to nostalgia .

This was my first Rancid experience . I plan to buy one or more CDÂ's from them , since I believe itÂ's well worth it .

Would've been 3 if it wasn't rancid
I give this CD 3.5 stars. I didn't know whether to put 3 or 4, but seeing as it was my beloved Rancid, I decided on 4. I love Rancid, and I love all of their albums, except this one, which I just LIKE. Don't get me wrong . . . I have played this album repeatedly since I got it, but there are a few songs I always skip (particularly the HORRIBLE Maxwell Murder, which doesn't even sound like Rancid), whereas with the other albums, there is not a single bad track. The album in general though, is good - quite fast paced, REAL punk, with some good ska thrown in too. As Wicked, The War's End, and Roots Radicals are probably the best tracks. I can also appreciate Ruby Soho, although it sounds a little bit more commercial (but not poppy) than the usual Rancid. So, you should buy Out Come The Wolves, but buy Rancid's other albums first.

i wont get sick of this for a long time
this is a good album for youger people just getting into rancid.
when i got this album i listened to it so many times and i didnt get sick of it like i normally would. It is melodic and has good choruses.there is some great bass playing also. best songs are junkie man back to olympia and journey to the end.

joe-bob
this cd is so awsome i almost crap my pants i think about listening to it!!!!!!1 when listen to it i feel more sex than before. i want rancid to make 4 or 5 more cds that sound just like it!!!!!11

good but as punk as they can be
rancid is a cool band but this album made them seem like there fading away but we can still listen 2 10 or 11 good songs on this album ... Read more

Amazon.com

Most posthumous albums are shrouded in a sense of morbid nostalgia and grim curiosity. In Sublime's case, there was also some cruel irony to contend with: the California nuevo-punk outfit's promising self-titled major-label debut and commercial breakout was released barely a month after frontman Brad Nowell's death from a heroin overdose--and their de facto demise. But such was the Long Beach band's longtime following that raiding the vaults, however sparse, was inevitable. Released 18 months after Nowell's death, Second Hand Smoke more than lived up to its title, cobbling together a collection of outtakes from their debut and padding them out with (sometimes multiple) remixes of old tracks like "Doin' Time," "April 29," and the Gwen Stefani duet, "Saw Red." There's a standout cover of Bob Marley's "Trenchtown Rock," but a lot of the rest feels like the incomplete discards and second (or third) choices they obviously were. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (65)

Just as good as any other sublime cd if not better
This album is much better than robbin the hood, and i listen to this album more than 40 ounces or the self titled. Their live album is also pretty good. The first 4 tracks are great. I absolutely love the ubtown dub version of doin time (the first track). "Get Out" is really good. "Romeo" is awesome. New Realization is good. I never liked don't push that much and it's on 40 oz. Slow ride is alright. The version of chic on my tip on 40 ounces is better. Had a dat is good, trenchtown rock is very good. Badfish i can never get sick of. Saw red is excellent and so is superstar punani. Basically i like most of the songs. I would pay 40 bucks for just the first four songs. I only give it four stars because i don't like every song and everybody inflates this rating system like mad, most people are pretty dumb.

Experimental and AMAZING!!!
CD is much better than it's cut out to be. A little less professional than the others, but that what's unique about it. Get Stand by your Van, Sublime, and 40oz. first if you don't have them all ready, but you have to get this right after! At first I wasn't impressed, but I listened to it again and I can't put it down. Here's the skinny on the tracks while I'm listening to the songs:

Doin' Time (uptown dub): Cool trumpet! Nice semi-instrumental to start off the cd.

Get Out! (remix): ok, not great

Romeo: Awesome start, nice bass, kinda oldie. I like it!

New Realization: One of the worst songs on the album. Just skip it.

Don't Push: Tha BEST song on the alblum! GREAT remake, as good as the first you might say. I do!

Slow Ride: AMAZING SONG, good drums.

Chick on my Tip: Cool remake, very different from the original. Totally different songs except a little of the background.

Had a Dat: good bass, weird, but cool.

Trenchtown Rock: Great! Nice variation on Bob Marley. Why not? Brad has some great vocals.

Badfish: Classic! same as on 40 oz. Gotta luv it!

Drunk Drivin': Not much of a track, a bit lame, funny, only 16 seconds.

Saw Red: Nice upbeat, faster version than on 40 oz. Gwen is great with Brad

Garbage Grove: Bad one compared to one on self-titled Sublime.

April 29th 1992 (Leary): more upbeat, not so sure about this one.

Superstar Punani: AWESOME!!! pretty cool, good second part after break in the middle of song!

Legal Dub: pretty cool. It's got something to it. Futuristic!Nice bass and drums!

What's Really Goin' Wrong: Another great song!

Doin' Time (eerie splendor remix): ok

Thanx Dub: Fanriffic! Instrumental, awesome ending to CD!

RIP Bradley Nowell

Kicked some Shizziat
This is my favorite of sublime's and i think that its very well composed..too bad there wont be anymore delicious bradley anround...good one, i urge you to buy it

Get this one fourth
When I saw some of the recent rave reviews of this disc on Amazon.com, I finally picked it up, but was pretty disappointed after the big buildup. Few tracks stand out, and the disc is definitely not in the same league as Sublime or 40 Oz...

But of Sublime's 3 posthumous albums, I do think this one is the best. There are some pleasant remixes here for Doin Time, Saw Red (w/ Gwen Stefani), and a couple others. Half of the "new" songs actually date back to the 80s and it is weird to hear what sounds like an 80s version of Sublime if you can imagine. Not as mellow as say UB40 but some laid back, polished stuff to be sure.

But overall it's kind of fun, and worth getting when you need a break from 40 oz. and want some new tunes.

Good
I like this cd, I like basically every Sublime cd except "robin the hood". This has some great songs on it, like "date rape" and "chick on my tip." This cd was under-rated. It's worth buying if you're a fan. ... Read more

Album Description

Kona, Hawaii: think lush natural landscapes, divine inspiration and kids with nothing to do except find the next rage and invent slicker ways to pick up girls. Add metal and rock/dancehall influences to Hawaiian spirit, humor and ridiculously good looks - and you got Pepper. "Give'n It" was originally recorded in late 1997 in the only studio that existed in Kona at the time. Pepper caught the attention of fans from all corners, particularly Volcom Entertainment. After packing up all their belongings and heading to California, Pepper scored dates with established artists like Born Jamericans, Shaggy, Eek-A-Mouse, Burning Spear, Pato Banton & Secret Hate, were featured on XBox and Transworld Surf & Snow games, and played an entire run on the Warped Tour 2001, paying their dues by building the stage and pumping their signature Kona-dub-rock into the hearts of fans from state to state. It is edgy, lush, rocking, melodic, innovative, heart-grabbing and a good ride. It is Pepper. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Brad Nowell may be dead, but his musical influence lives on.
For everyone who was bummed when Sublime ended, your prayers have been answered. This band has a great sound to them and is similar to Sublime and Slightly stoopid. Keep an open mind and you'll find there is alot of music out there to enjoy.
MINT! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The major-label debut from ska punks Save Ferris isn't exactly a classic, but it is a lot of fun. There's no middle-ground reaction to their cover of "Come On Eileen"; everyone seems to either love it or hate it. If you're in the latter group, skip it and listen to "The World Is New," "Superspy," "Goodbye," and "Little Differences." Save Ferris are at their best when they're up-tempo, and fortunately there are plenty of up-tempo songs on this album, peppered with catchy hooks, the requisite horns, and Monique Powell's considerable voice (one of Save Ferris's major strengths). While not fantastic, It Means Everything is a promising album, with several moments that verge on brilliance. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (86)

WUHOO!
Review For album "It Means Everything" by Save Ferris.

I love this album because it has nothing but ska and swing in it. It's allot of fun to listen to, dance to or just chill to and I really recommend this for anyone who likes swing or Ska. Save Ferris is a fairly new band but they hit it off right away and I even saw them in concert and they were really good. The reason I bought this CD is because my older brother liked "Come On Eileen" so much. But after listening to the rest of the CD I "discovered" that all the other ones are really good too. Most of them are upbeat and fast but there are a few slow ones too. This is good because you can listen to it anytime you want. Other good songs are "S.P.A.M." and "It Means Everything". I really recommend this CD for anyone who has any sense of taste in music, good is an understatement.

Cool Cd; but not ska
People often mistake this blend of music for ska. A few songs have a few ska elements in them, but for the most part, this cd is indie/pop/swing. If you want ska (modern ska, not the real, old ska), listen to bands like the Toasters or the Aquabats. Save Ferris's big song on this cd is "Come on Eileen," but there are a couple other good ones, like "Nobody But Me" or "Under 21." They're sort of like Reel Big Fish, but more swing-like. If you're into that kind of music, this is worth the money. But, if you're a fan of real ska, you'll be disappointed.

Excellent CD
I love ska/punk music, but I think I enjoy the vocals on this CD more than anything else. The group's lead singer, Monique, is outstanding. She is quite possibly the best singer I've ever had the pleasure to hear. Her voice is very powerful and she has excellent range. The rest of the group compliments her work very well on this CD. My favorite tracks are Superspy, Come On Eileen, and Goodbye (my personal favorite). The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because -- at least in my opinion -- it's not one of those CD's where EVERY track is a great song. Still, it's definitely a good buy.

Fun Lyrics and Fast Paced Songs With Punk Edge!!!
I bought this cd after listening to the "10 Things I Hate About You" soundtrack about 100 times. Save Ferris sang the song "I Know" and I absolutely loved it, so I bought this cd on a whim. I am definitely glad that I did! This cd is filled with fun, edgy songs, and infused with great lyrics and awesome brass sections that make you want to get up and dance. Some of my favorites on the cd include "Lies,"The world is new," and their fast and peppy remake of the classic "Come on Eileen." For anyone who loves ska and punk with a strong female lead singer, I definitely recommend this cd and Save Ferris!!!!!

Yummy-yummy-chewy-chewy
My father calls this my "yummy-yummy-chewy-chewy" music, but it's a good peppy workout CD, or a good "dance-around-in-your-underwear-singing-in-a-hairbrush" CD. Or is that just me? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Long Beach garage kings Sublime rode the cresting wave of late-'80s/early-'90s Cali punk to a well-received 1996 major-label debut whose success was overshadowed by tragedy: frontman Brad Nowell died of a heroin overdose just a month before its release. This 1994 album was their freshman indie outing and the record that largely secured their ticket to the majors. Instead of building on the energetic, if formulaic,punk-reggae fusion of their 1992 40 Oz. to Freedom (with its sometimes awkward, too-dumb-to-be-ironic lyrical bent), Robbin' displays a Nowell whose slow evolution as a songwriter is more than compensated by an eager plundering of old-school rap influences and ska beats. It's a record that moves the band beyond often-stultifying punk clichés to a true musical adventure whose buoyant sense of discovery is almost palpable, and one that proves that their '96 big-label breakthrough was no accident. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (91)

weird at times, but AWESOME!
a lot of my friends think i'm weird for liking this cd, but there are really some great songs on this...

1.Waiting for Bud. While i never can be sure if its waiting for bud the drummer, or waiting for BUD, this is a great instrumental that is a good start.

2.Steady B loop dub. crazy. a big switch from the first song, but its pretty cool, the only line of lyrics in the song can also be heard on garden grove on self titled...

3. Raleigh part I. raieigh is a pretty crazy guy, im not sure who he is, but i've heard him on other bands cds too.

4.Pool shark original. I like this song, even though its really short. its pretty sad though, as it is about brads drug problems

5.Steppin razor. this is kinda a weird song, but i usually don't skip it because its cool to see the diversity in this cd

6.Greatest hits. awesome song, one of my favorites from any band. sweet bass lines. if you're too cheap to buy the cd, download this song

7.Free loop dub.crazy, weird, dub, cool bass line. yeah.

8.Q-ball. short, quiet, cool basslines if they were louder for more of the song. rap, but not brad rapping.

9.Saw Red. i like this song, its really ska ish and fast. gwen stephani is cool too.

10.work that we do. this was probably one of the songs recorded on a 4 track, its pretty bad quality, but its a pretty decent song.

11.Linclon highway dub. this is an early instrumental version of santeria. its got some cool solo parts that aren't on the self titled version. no words though.

12.pool shark (acoustic). same as the original, but acoustic, and more sad

13.cisco kid. AWESOME! haha, starts out with an old tv show, then goes into this reallllyyy slow song with trumpets, and every once in a while, a really loud smacking noise!! BONUS

14.raleigh 2. if u didn't already know that raleigh was crazy, heres proof, its funny

15.STP!!! this is a sweet song. it has everything from reggae to blues. i wish i played bass so i could play this song, its got awesome bass lines. brad can sing really high as he proves in this song.

16.boss dj. sweet. reel big fish covered this song, although it was nothing compared to this version. it sounds a lot like a marley song that goes "its so nice/wanna do the same thing twice"

17.don't care too much for reggae dub. this is just people talking on the street about being "magicians" and stuff. it actually goes into a song (which i cna't understand the words) and theres some cool guitar. crazy.

18.falling idols. instrumental, crazy guitar and cool bass. thats it

19.all you need. i can't understand half the words, but the bass is really fast, and theres a cool (and easy) slow guitar solo in it.

20.freeway time in la county jail. just brad playing some blues, its cool stuff

21.mary. funny song, really easy chords (C,G,Am,F,Dm are the only ones in the song if i remember right) good message. lol

22.raleigh part 3. just some more raleigh. after a bunch of scilence, theres a version of don't push that has some crazy lyrics that you won't hear on 40 ozs.

it takes a while to warm up to this cd, unless you're hard core sublime fan, u have to listen to it a few times.

the way i did the numbering is right, even on the cd case the numbering is messed up because they call free loop dub and q-ball one song.

A great album for fans of ska, reggae, hip-hop, and the lazy
This album contains many different styles, from rap to ska. All of these styles come together though to create an album great to just sitting back and listening to. Lincoln Highway Dub is my personal favorite on the cd, but there are many great songs which to listen. Most people will just buy the self titled album and claim to be fans of sublime, but those are the posers. If you are a true fan, you will buy this album, smoke a bowl and relax to it many a time ; ). Too bad Brad couldnt enjoy all of the success he so deserves. How long till his son can sing??? Rest in Peace Brad Nowell.

Feeling, history, laughs
This Sublime cd has always been one of my favorites, no matter what. I played this cd so much *was originally purchased in 1996, that four yrs later I had to buy it again. Totally worht it.

The Raleigh interludes between songs are strange, yet hilarious. I think that old man really was crzy.

The songs "Boss DJ" and "Mary" and the accoustic "Pool Shark" are so good, and really show Bradley's songwriting ability. "Saw Red" with Gwen Stefani is a great duet that is so fun to sing along with.

Overall, this cd really brings out the bands personality. There is a great variety of songs, some are on other cd's but not many. It is a great part of the Sublime collection.

If you are a fan, this cd is a definite must have. If you buy, you will enjoy.

Yes brothers and sisters this is great
I love Sublime. It almost seems as if damn near everyone loves Sublime. This album is pretty great and is also a pretty weird one too. There is a lot of experimentation and throw away(but in a sort of good way) tracks on this cd. There are some tracks with speaking and music (the elioquent rambelings of Raeleigh and some dudes talking about Reggae). Then there are some hip hop sounding beats mixed with reggae and ska and just sometimes straight up hip hop (steping razor and some of the instrumental tracks). There are some punk song that feature a straight forward skate era sound of punk (pool shark and I Saw Read which features an early day Gwen Steffani in a day when her band didn't suck). Then there are some great chill back acoustic tracks that soothe the soul (Steel Train and the acoustic version of Pool Shark being prime examples). So with such a diverse sounding collection of songs can this in fact be a favorite among fans? Usually not, though it is warming up on me I still regard 40 oz. to be my favorite. But it's fair that this isn't a fan favorite, it just too mixed up. Though it may be slightly eccletic it is still a great release and any chump that thinks this isn't too great is kinda foolish because it's Sublime, and Sublime is just golden.

Sublime's definitive CD! Very underrated!
How could anyone that calls themself a Sublime fan rate this CD anything less than 5 stars or call it anything worse than their second best album (after 40 oz)?

I'll be honest, I did get into Sublime in '96 with the release of their S/T album and I thought it was a great album back then. After a few listens to 40 oz though, I realized it was a much better CD. People told me that Robbin the Hood was a bad album and that I should stay away from it, so I decided not to buy it. Finally I decided to get this album and listen for myself to see how good it was, and I'm damn glad I did! This CD is now my favorite Sublime CD, with 40 oz as a close second.

Unless you're 15 or something and just getting into Sublime, I might understand why you dont like this CD, because your used to all the crap that's on the radio these days and Sublime's S/T album is their most mainstream one. Get 40 oz though, and once you like that more than the S/T, get this and give it a few spins and you'll see what I mean. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After No Doubt sold more than 10 million copies of Tragic Kingdom, riding that wave of success without toppling over must have been a daunting mission. No sweat for No Doubt. The band toiled as national unknowns with a loyal local following for a decade before that album's release, and during that time the band members were learning how to be better songwriters and musicians. The follow-up, Return of Saturn, glides along that continuum of songcraft perfection. The band presents a cleaner, less apologist representation of their influences. They pull off some of the more difficult maneuvers of pure reggae, ground-pounding ska, and Cars-esque New Wave. Gwen Stefani, the fearless Orange County princess, belts a powerful pout, her Mae West-meets-Siouxsie Sioux vocal bravado the bungee cord that springs in between the band's retro tendencies and SoCal pop-punk attitude. It seems believable that she could stamp her foot and always get her way, but her self-deprecating confessions evade brattiness. Songs like "Bathwater" and "Ex-Girlfriend" reveal the singer's vulnerability to being hurt or dumped on, and the band's sense of humor and exploration (albeit firmly controlled) matches the songs' sentiments. This group is growing out and tightening up, and while the rest of the ska-punk surfer-dude bands do nothing more than repeat history, No Doubt is creating it. --Beth Massa ... Read more

Reviews (429)

An excellent follow-up to Tragic Kingdom
I remember when Tragic Kingdom came out - I was living in Orange County. I always liked No Doubt, they had some really catchy and clever songs and Gwen Stefani's voice is quite distinctive. Also, Tony's bass and Tom's guitar are excellent, as are Adrian's drumming and the horn section. However, with "Return of Saturn" No Doubt has made a very different album that is, however, very good.

I have a feeling the songs from Return of Saturn won't get a lot of airplay except in select areas. While Tragic Kingdom was a fast burst of ska-influenced rock, Return of Saturn is more influenced by new wave artists like Devo and Oingo Boingo. The sound isn't nearly as marketable, and that's probably a good thing.

The songs are still very catchy. "Ex-Girlfriend" is reminiscent of Tragic Kingdom, but shows growth from that sound. Gwen's "Simple Kind of Life" is a wonderful song. "Bathwater" recalls the Tragic Kingdom sound more than any other song. "Six Feet Under" is an excellent, straight-ahead, almost new wave, ska-punk song, and my favorite on the album.

There are a lot of very ballad-like songs (Magic's in the Makeup, Marry Me, Too Late, Home Now). The new wave influence is especially apparent on "New" and definitely "Staring Problem." Don't get me wrong, I love the song, but it almost sounds like Gwen could be singing an Oingo Boingo song. That's good though, cuz Boingo is cool.

Lastly, Gwen has easily grown the most of anyone in the band. Her lyrics are personal and very revealing and her singing is impressive. She even arranged some of the music on Return of Saturn - all in all she did a great job. I can't wait for the next album.

Complex, Interesting and Filled With Power
I actually bought RETURN OF SATURN at least a year after it came out but it is now one of my all-time favorite CD's. No Doubt produces an energy when they play thet begs you to keep listening. Here is my blow-by-blow review of the album:
1)EX-GIRLFRIEND:5/5- Mostly every one has heard this jumpy first single with its loud, catchy chorus and low key verses.
2)SIMPLE KIND OF LIFE:5/5- We get a closer look at Gwen Stefani's insecurities in this song, which is a powerful ballad
3)BATHWATER: 5/5- An amazing song with enough energy to light a small town
4)SIX FEET UNDER:5/5- A song that I think didn't get the attention it deserves. A pop-punk classic
5)MAGIC'S IN THE MAKEUP:5/5- I didn't like it at first but after a few listens it has grown on me; another ballad
6)ARTIFICIAL SWEETNER:5/5- An awesome punk song with power; shows of Gwen's vocals
7)MARRY ME:3/5- Obviously well thought out, but it misses something; my least favorite song on the CD
8)NEW:5/5- GREAT! Jumps between slow, fast, superast and superslow
9)COMFORTING LIE:5/5- My favorite song on the CD
10)SUSPENSION WITHOUT SUSPENSE:5/5- Beautiful ballad
11)STARING PROBLEM:4/5- Lots of energy but it sort of repeats the same thing over and over
12)HOME NOW:4/5- Okay, but missing something
13)DARK BLUE:5/5- Very pretty

I miss this No doubt
I can't stand their new CD, Rock Steady, and it made me appreciate this cd along with their older ones even more. I miss the pre-2001 No doubt. I hope you guys come back because your new stuff stinks.

amazing followup
I liked No Doubt during Tragic Kingdom but didn't really jump on the bandwagon and liked them cause everyone seemed to though I could tolerate them. Once the songs from Return of Saturn were released, I began to respect them as artists because it seemed to me that they had expanded creatively, and even furthermore on Rock Steady. The best song on here in my opinion is Bathwater though I like them all to an equal degree. This album is much better than Tragic Kingdom too though it was their biggest album. Every artist who does a follow up to their biggest album always works twice as hard and musically it pays off, Return of Saturn is a great example of this

The Greatest No Doubt Album of All Time
After No Doubt's release of Tragic Kingdom, I thought it impossible for them to top it. What a shock I got when I picked up Return of Saturn, the group's best album. While Bathwater was somewhat of a letdown, the rest of this album is incredible, blending punk, ska, pop, and rock together to create the album I had always dreamed they would release. Simple Kind of Life is the best song the group has ever released, and Dark Blue, Magic's in the Makeup, and New are all songs that no music lover could hate. To me, it is disappointing that No Doubt released Rock Steady after such a great comeback. Steady left their rock and roll in the past and traded it for dance hall anthems. Oh well, Return of Saturn makes up for all their other mistakes. And parents- this one's fun for the whole family (with the exception of Bathwater, although it is not explicit). Let's hope that No DOubt returns to this sound on their next album! ... Read more

Reviews (95)

A Must-Have
Until a couple of weeks ago, I had never heard of Catch 22. The first time that I heard this CD was at about 1 in the morning at camp when a friend came in and wanted to listen to this cd. I quickly became hooked on the cd and bought it soon after returning home. This cd is a must-buy for all music fans. Even people who don't usually enjoy ska music, like myself, will quickly fall in love with Keasby Nights. For starters, the musicians are fantastic. Most of the songs have some kind of solo in them. Kristina She Don't Know I exist features a solo by almost every member of the band, and On & On & On (one of the best songs on the CD) has a minute-long playing of Canon in D. The vocals are also very good for a ska band. The lyrics, despite being hard to understand at times, are rather meaningful and sometimes even sad. As The Footsteps Die Out Forever is horribly depressing when one reads the lyrics, but if one just listens to the music it still sounds like an upbeat song. The best thing about this cd is probably how smoothly the band shifts between music genres. Walking Away features a jazzy style at first, then some fast-paced ska, then a swing-like feel, and finally a drum cadence. For a mainly ska band to do this is really amazing, especially because it sounds so good. Buy this cd by all means.

The Best Ska CD of All Time
There are a lot of landmark 3rd wave ska albums out there. Slapstick's "Lookit", Mu330's "Chumps on Parade", Reel Big Fish's "Turn the Radio Off", and Less Than Jake's "Losing Streak." This album, I feel, supercedes them all simply because it is almost as if it's the last great album of the 3rd Wave Ska era, and that era walked out with the biggest bang possible. The horn section is tight enough to rival the best studio RBF recordings, and their melody and tempo make it impossible to not hum along. The vocals are insanely fast and clever. The bass player is not only the best in the field that I've ever heard, but plays on a fretless bass, and uses it to his advantage. The drums are poppy at the right time, punk at the right time, and always get your feet tapping. The only instrument really lacking is the guitar. The distortion is muddled and you can rarely hear it when everything else is going on . . . but let's be honest: This is ska. The guitar doesn't have to matter if the band chooses to not let it.

Unfortuneatly, this incarnation of Catch 22 disbanded shortly after this album was made, and the new Catch 22, featuring only two or three original members, just couldn't cut it as well. This is one of those albums that you can be thankful it was made, but [mad] that nothing will ever see its equal again.

Classic Ska Album
I bought this CD after I had purchased the excellent album "Everything Goes Numb" by Streetlight Manifesto, since I heard that the lead singer had written all of "Keasbey Nights."
While I believe "Keasbey" doesn't quite reach the level of Streetlight, it is an excellent punk/ska/swing album. The horn parts are interesting and well-played, the lyrics are excellent, and the singer has an immediately identifiable voice. The bass guitar player also does an outstanding job. Songs like the title track are extremely catchy and will get stuck in your head for days. If you're a fan of a lot of different music styles, you'll appreciate the way they're combined so effortlessly in this album. For example, Pachelbel's Canon in D is quoted on "On and On and On," while other songs feature more of a gritty punk guitar sound. Altogether, this is an uptempo CD with excellent musicianship in all aspects that will not leave your CD player - or head - for weeks. Definitely pick this up along with Streetlight Manifesto's "Everything Goes Numb."

Best ska album.
This has to be my favorite ska album ever, every song is great and this is Catch 22 at its best.

the greatest cd.....ever
I orginaly got into this band after my best friend and his brother listened to nothing but them. AND THEY SHOULDN'T LISTEN TO ANYTHING ELSE!!! This is the greatest CD since DSOTM, hands down. Every song is awesome, and rules. I don't think there was every a moment where I skipped past a song because it was bad. The greatest song EVER is Giving Up, Giving In. And don't you say that "I don't listen to any good music or anything like that..." because I listen to all kinds of rock. My favorite band is Zeppelin. So just shut up. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Virtually an institution after a decade on the scene, Boston's finest ska band continues to deliver an extreme adrenaline rush on its fifth album, which was produced by Paul Kolderie and Sean Slade. The metal edge in the Bosstone's particular brand of skacore comes further to the forefront this time, while songs such as "Noise Brigade" and "Royal Oil" rank among the catchiest they've recorded. And Nate Albert continues to carve out a new role for the guitar in ska-influenced music. Jim Derogatis ... Read more

Reviews (86)

Decent mainstream third-wave ska, but I've outgrown it.
Most third-wave ska is basically pop-punk with horns. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are no exception to this rule. Most everything about Let's Face It is slick, homogenized, and safe.

The one thing that redeems the Bosstones from the rest of the soundalike third-wave ska refuse (Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, etc.) is a respectable horn section. They actually integrate the brass pretty well with the music in most of the songs (ex. The Rascal King, the title track) rather than just treating them like an add-on. However, the latter half of the album is more guitar-driven, and their take on punk is rather pedestrian. If it weren't for Dickey Barrett's distinctive raspy voice, this would be any other third-wave ska outfit.

I'll admit, I used to dig this band. But it doesn't take long to get tired of them or their contemporaries. Operation Ivy is the exception, and that's because they were a punk band first and a ska band second, rather than some half-arsed combination of the two. Get Op Ivy's single-disc compilation Energy, and you can safely write off third-wave ska after that. For real ska, you're better off checking out English two-tone (second-wave) bands such as the Specials and English Beat, or looking even further back to '60s bands like the Skatalites.

The Bosstones Drive It Home!
As a lifelong Bosstones fan, I can say that this album is one of the strongest I have ever heard by them. While Question the Answers is a killer CD with unbelievably catchy songs and high-tempo ska-core that you have come to expect from them, Let's Face It is a dominant force on the ska-core circuit. You get the whole shabang with this one. From the mellow "Royal Oil" and "Another Drinkin' Song" to the upbeat classic ska-core sound of "1-2-8" to the publicly acclaimed "The Impression that I Get" then onto the poignant lyrics of "Numbered Days" and the fun jumpy "That Bug Bit Me", this album is unparalleled by any other that Dicky and the boys have put out to date. Nothing against their other albums, but go out and buy this essential ska-core album.

Very energetic and catchy.
I only found out recently that the bosstones sang "The Impression that I get" I immediently had to have this cd. This cd is energetic and upbeat and fun to dance around to. It's a grat distraction from doing other less fun things like homework. Aside from "The Impression that I get" my favorite song on this cd is probably "The rascal king" this song is fun and happy and has a chorus thats fun to sing along with. Definetly check out this cd; these songs will be stuck in your head for days (and thats a good thing).

Not bad...not my favorite CD...but still fun to listen to.
Give ska a chance you might like it.

What a train wreck from a band with skatential.
This offering from the mighty mighty bosstones demonstrates how bad a ska/punk band can sound having said that the ska elements in this cd are nothing short of perfect with the first half of the album producing 5 star quality however then the rock comes and it's very poor punk rock at that, one minute the rascal king and impression that i get are getting your feet tapping and are great two tone songs then you get that bug bit me and songs of a low calibur, lets face it is an album that you really cant get into and will probably only listen to very rarely (unless you're hardcore MMB fans) in this way i feel it's similar to their first release which was equally as bad as it suffered the same flaws which was bad rock as oppose to great ska. I heard somebody saying how the skatalites and the toasters stole ideas from the mighty mighty bosstones which could'nt be further from the truth as they started before the bosstones and with that point made i would say i would recommened any other bosstones release to this and their first offering. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Life Won't Wait bursts with a thrilling ambition. On Rancid's past albums, these Clash-via-Cali punks came on with an invigorating twin guitar attack that sounded like it wanted to take over the world--to set it free!--and their fourth release continues in this radical vein, insisting that "all people must rise and decide your fate." But there's newfound ambition in the music, too, as the band's raging attack is supplemented now by new sounds (rocksteady and rockabilly, even doo-wop and soul), new musical textures (the exhilarating "Crane Fist" features a piano battling a B3 organ), and new sources of inspiration, as the boys shout out for Salvadoran immigrants and brag like rappers in anthem after anthem of urgent, beautiful poetry. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (141)

Amazing record by a great band
Rancid is one of those rare bands who can crank out album after album of similar-sounding music without stagnating. Their sound is born of the Clash and the Sex pistols, with a touch of Black Flag political sensibility thrown in. To say Rancid is not derivative would be a lie, but to discount them because of their influences would be a crime.

"Life Won't Wait" was the eagerly-anticipated follow-up to 1995's "...And Out Come The Wolves," and it showed surprising levels of innovation and musical exploration from what had been a band with staid musical style.

"Bloodclot" is the leadoff shot, a typical Rancid-esque song with Lars' raw-throated vocals getting the record off to a super-charged opening. There are a lot of great tracks on this record that are not straight-ahead punk songs, and if people complain about Rancid trying out Ska and Reggae, the lyric "Desmond Dekker was singin" from "Roots Radicals" is obviously lost on them.

"Hoover Street" is one such reggae song, though it mixes rocking choruses in for a great blend of sounds all tied together with Tim Armstrong's drawling vocals. "Who would've thought" and "Corazon De Oro" are also in the reggae/ska vein. Both are beautiful songs that bespeak brash and youthful love, and are a far cry from the hard-edged punkishness that had been Rancid's trademark up to this point. While the departure is uncharacteristic, the songs' strength and sheer enjoyability cannot be denied. "Life Won't Wait" and "Wrongful Suspicion" also have the Jamaican style, though they are more serious and political than the aforementioned selections.

Lars does even more singing on this record, and his voice is an excellent counterpoint to Tim's. There are so many amazing songs on this album, it's hard to pick any favorites, but my favorites are "Coppers," "Something in the World today," "Cash Cutlture and Violence," and the brilliant "Crane Fist."

Listening to this album takes you through almost all ranges of human emotion. From adrenaline-fueled aggression to anthemic exaltation, Rancid has crafted a masterpiece with this album. I've had it for four years and never gotten sick of it once. If you like bands like Green Day, the Clash, the Ramones, and any of the new Pop-punk bands, give this one a try. I think you Blink-182 fans might just be pleasantly surprised.

Rancid have done it again....
This cd rocks! it tops and out come the wolves big time! it's got a great mix of differant types of music, from punk to a more catchy less poppy ska sound! It's very cool to hear rancid jam with artists from hepcat the slackers and even mighty mighty bosstones. I liked every single song on this cd, from the heavy, fast and just plain cool sounds of Bloodclot, to the fast and up beat sounds of crane fist. Not since Lets go have rancid rocked so much, i thought wolves was missing something but Life won't wait made sure that rancid have not lost a thing! 1 fan had said this album pretty much sucked and that Tim had taken over the band, that "fan" needs to take a better look and this masterpiece, not only does Lars and Brett do many number of the vocals but many guests were involved as well, Rancid are still and will remain my favorite punk band, and from what this album shows, any real, true, rancid fan feels the same way!

Great Rancid Record
This is my personal favorite Rancid record to listen to when I'm relaxed. It isn't as angry as both Rancid S/T's, but it's a very damn good record. There is a great fusion of reggae, ska, and pop. The highlights include Bloodclot, Black Lung, Life Won't Wait, Hooligans, Crane Fist, 1998, and Coppers. OK, all the songs are good. I'm not too crazy about the ballad type songs, but they're listenable.

Bottom Line: Angry? Not really, Original? No, Fun? Definately.

This sounds a lot like the Clash, but that doesn't matter, because this record is brilliant. And, the clash are good, so what's bad about sounding similar to them?

RANCID'S "LONDON CALLING"
This is Rancid's best CD. There's not a bad track on it. It has experimental tracks as well as straight-ahead punk tracks on it. They compare very favorably to The Clash on this CD, moreso than on any of their other CDs. I've bought 4 Rancid albums over the years, and ended up tiring of them (not subtle-genius enough) and trading them except THIS ONE, which I would NEVER part with!!! Yeah, the others are louder and have more anthems on 'em, but like I wrote, this is subtle-GENIUS!

Piece of Art
I feel kinda bad for writing an online review for this, since I own Let's Go, ...AOCTW, Life Won't Wait, 2000 and Indestructible and this is the only one I downloaded and burned instead of purchased, but I feel the need to review it anyway. If Rancid had been around in the late 70's, they would be considered one of the most genius and influential bands of all time, but instead they are considered a "Blatant Clash Ripoff." I don't feel this is right, as Rancid and and The Clash sound almost entirely different in my opinion.

Intro: Loud, Fast and Short, good start. 9/10
Bloodclot: Really Catchy, one of Rancids best. 10/10
Hoover Street: A bit long, but it grows on you. 8/10
Black Lung: Excellent Punk Song, love the intro. 10/10
Life Won't Wait: Fast Vocals over slow reggae music. Catchy. 9/10
New Dress: I dislike this one. 6/10
Warsaw: Only 90 seconds long and hard to understand, but one of my favorites. 10/10
Hooligans: Excellent Reggae song. 10/10
Crane Fist: Weird, but one of my favorite Rancid songs. 10/10
Leicester Square: Don't really care for this one. 7/10
Black Lung: At first I hated it, but its really good pop-ska. 8/10
Who Would've Thought: Punk Ballad, starts off slow, good song. 9/10
Cash Culture & Violence: At first I disliked it, but I love the vocal style. 8/10
Cocktails: I like the Harmonica/Punk mix. Good Pace to it. 8.5/10
The Wolf: This one is ok. 7/10
1998: Fast, Angry, Vulgar, Good Bass and one of my favorites. 10/10
Lady Liberty: Weird Rockabilly song, its kinda good. 7.5/10
Wrongful Suspicion: I love this song. 10/10
Turntables: Good punk song, fast and upbeat. 8.5/10
Something in the World: Rock song, very catchy chorus. 9/10
Corazon De Oro: Outstanding song, kind of a ballad. 10/10
Coppers: Although its long at 5 minutes, its still a relaxing reggae song. 9.5/10 ... Read more

Reviews (64)

Best Rancid Album
The 2nd official record (1994) from the Californian punx and their best album!

This classical of punk rock mix all the direct street punk sound
roots from their first album Rancid(1993) and the 7'' with techinicians that given a touch in the songs like they did later
in and out come the wolves (1996)

...and of course...this one marks too the first rancid record w/Lars F. and his amazing vocals.

There's a curiosity about 2 songs in this CD that some people won't notice: The songs Harry Bridges and Motorcycle Ride.

-Harry Bridges 1rst verse its the same verse already sung in their first cd in the song Union Blood (1RST VERSE:bloody thursady,was july5th the pigs killed three works Harry Bridges....etc)

-Motorcycle Ride first verse and 2nd verse, except for the chorus, these verses are the same 1first verse of the music TIME BOMB later recorded in and out come the wolves. Tim sings a lot faster and almoust incoprehensive (if you wanna make a move then you better come in...etc)

Amazing songs,probably the best songs ever recorded by rancid are here!

Kind of light, but better than 75% of the "punk" of today
As my title implies, I found this record to be rather light for a punk record, but I totally love this music. The music is fun, fast, and catchy, and is always a good listen. This record is more punky than ...And Out Come the Wolves (though that's not saying much), but no where near as punk as Rancid 2000 (my personal favorite).

These songs are really good, but, at first, they all kind of sound the same. It takes a few listens, but, after a while, you start to notice the uniqueness of each song. Once you realize how great of an album Let's Go is, you'll want to listen to it all the time. It's got 23 songs on it, so it never gets boring. This, ...And Out Come the Wolves, and Rancid 2000 are what I consider the essential Rancid purchases. AOCTW has a punk/ska-ish, almost poppy kind of feel, while Rancid 2000 is pure punk, and Let's Go is sort of a median between the two.

Bottom Line: Great, sort of light punk record from the 90s.

Twenty Three Tracks of Rancid Goodness
"Let's Go!" is good. Really, really good. In fact, by God, this is a great record.
Rancid have been angrier(2000's "Rancid"), more far reaching(1998's brilliant "Life Won't Wait") and more accesible(1995's "...and out come the wolves" and 2003's "Indestructible"), but I don't think they ever rocked as much as they do on this twenty three track opus.
There really aren't bad songs on "Let's Go!". They take the formula they issued on their self titled debut and make it better: anthemic 77 style punk with smart lyrics, memorable melodies and enough attitude to spare. The difference here is that the tunes feel more complete then they did on the first record. Few of the songs go over two and a half minutes, but all the songs feel like full based songs, a problem a few bands in this genre miss out on.
I could point out the songs that are worth checking out, but the problem all of them are. From "Nihlism" and the ultimate Rancid mission statement "Radio" right down to "7 Years Down", "Let's Go!" is constantly great. And ten years since its come out, its still better than 99% of the crap you're going to hear.

One of the Best....
I listened to this album night and day back in 1995. I remember, it was on sale for 5 bucks. It was new but already on sale, I said "what the hell, It's only 5 bucks". That was one of my greatest investments. I can still listen to this album and just love it. You feel those guitars and drumbeats all over. If you love Punk, or are just a music lover that can appreciate this album, buy it. If you also get a chance to see them live, check them out. They are great live and just a cool bunch of down to earth guys. I'm sure many people out there already love Rancid, but there are many who still don't dare listen. Lets help them out. This is Rancid in their prime.

if i could i would give 100 stars BEST RANCID EVER!!!!!!!!!
this is by far the one CD that shows why i love rancid. there is not one song on this CD you will skip over, guarenteed. I wish myself that i would have started here as far as rancid goes. long story short buy it, 12 dollars is by far the best bang for your buck, BUY IT! ... Read more

Reviews (57)

A Great CD to Remember Bradley By.
Some people have said that this album is terrible and a waste, but I on the other hand, totally disagree. I have loved Sublime more than any other band and I've been listening to them even before Brads death (RIP). This album shows the talent Brad had and the voice that is so hypnotizing and will always be remembered. Now that he is gone, this is about as close as we will get to hear Bradley playin' acoustic, almost as if he was in the room. Whoever said that It's Who You Know was bad, you were so wrong. That's what Brad was about, just playin' his guitar and whatever came out, came out. He was a pure genius and never will their be a musician as unique as himself.

the BEST cd
well I'm a HUGE fan of sublime. and I've been one for a very long time. I'll have to say that this is Sublime's best album. oh and the person before that said some of them are crap well he probably thought that because there are lot's of people talking in the backround of some of the songs. those songs are from The Firecracker Lounge. a place run by Gwen Stefani. and that wrong way demo, that's from there too. that performance is his best ever. it was pretty much him tellin stories all night long and playin on his accoustic. well for all you BIG sublime fans. get this CD. but if the only CD you have is the self titled one and you only like Wrong Way, Santeria, and all the big name ones...don't waste your money and find a different band. peace out

Good songs - poor recordings
This is a good selection of songs, but the sound quality of the recordings is very very poor.

Amazing CD..
This is definitely in the top two of my favorite Sublime cds. It gives a great view at the band's music that you don't get with their studio albums. Some may be a little turned off by the sound quality on a few of the tracks, but others make up greatly for this. And even with the bad quality Mary along with a cover of "Big Salty Tears" is an awesome track. The Marley Medley (including This Train, and Guava Jelly) is my favorite on the cd. A few of the tracks can be found on other cds, but the rest of the songs are well worth the buy. Buy this cd now. It's awesome.

brilliant
This album is one of my favorites of sublime. Yeah, the recording quality is bad...but who cares? The way Brad can move me with just a few notes is absolutely incredible. Somehow, despite the fact that the guys must be really messed up on most of these songs, the earnest passion of brad nowell and sublime still cuts through. a must for anyone that's a fan. ... Read more

Album Description

12 track, 1999 collection that is deleted in the US. Includes 2 videos 'What I Got' & 'Wrong Way'. Universal. ... Read more

Reviews (66)

How About Somebody makes a REAL Sublime Greatest Hits CD
Sublime is one of the best bands of all time, and to make a Greatest Hits album that only features 10 songs is a disgrace. There are so many Sublime songs left off this album that it is even hard to begin. They left off great songs such as Same in the End, April 29 1992, Waiting for my Ruca, and Dont Push, but that is not all. I am an owner of all 6 sublime albums (2nd Hand Smoke, Self-Titled, 40 oz., Robbin Da Hood, Acoustic, and Stand by your Van) and there were so many tracks that were great songs but were not as well-known but should definitely make any compilation of their best songs such as Pawn Shop, Ballad of Johnny Butt, Caress me Down, Were Only Gonna die from our own Arrogance, and Rivers of Babylon.

I think somebody should make a real Sublime CD to truly showcase all of their great songs, not just the 10 biggest radio hits.

(...)

Great, but could have been so much more...
This is a good CD for the mainstream Sublime fan.. it has their big hits like What I Got, Wrong Way, Santeria, Date Rape, etc. but sadly, these songs are missing: krs-one, Boss D.J., Caress Me Down, Same in the End, and a bunch of others... and for the person saying they weren't big until Bradley died... please... have you ever seen "Mallrats"? That was made in 1995 (a year before Bradley's death) and they played "Smoke Two Joints" in the background during a scene... another thing, saying that Long Beach Dub All Stars is a clone of Sublime... I do not think that at all, though they do cover a song written by Nowell, (Saw Red), their singer sounds nothing like Bradley, and looks nothing like him... and if he did look like him, if would be purely coincidencal... and saying they cashed in with his death by making music videos? Well, I'm sure he would have been in the music videos had be still been alive... most artists have music videos to reflect their biggest songs, and this is no exception.. they had music videos before their self-titled album, too... the remaining members of the band still need to make a living, too! Suppose you were in a band on the rise and as soon as you get your big break (big record deal like what Sublime had) and your big-label debut was about to be released, and your lead singer dies... what would you do? Would you call it quits and retire? Or would you continue doing what you love most and continue playing music in another band? Look at David Groehl (drummer) from Nirvana... after Kurt Kobain died, he took the songs he had written on the bus and between practice sessions and started up a new band (Foo Fighters) as lead guitarist/vocals with a fellow member from Nirvana and look where he's at now (though the rest of the band has evolved since then) Do you call that cashing in on Kobain's death and riding his "drummer of Nirvana" title? People need to move along and make livings just like the rest of us, so stop whining!

GREAT CD (if your new to the band)
Sublime is one of my favortie bands of all time. This cd is good if your new to Sublime but yes it doesnt have any of there other good songs besides some of these. They could have put more, and better tracks from there albums. They could have fit 20 songs on here if they wanted.
RATINGS:
1-What I Got-(2:53)-10/10
2-Wrong Way-(2:16)-10/10
3-Santeria-(3:03)-10/10
4-40 Oz. To Freedom-(3:02)-9/10
5-Smoke Two Joints-(2:53)-8/10
6-Date Rape-(3:35)-10/10
7-Saw Red-(1:57)-8/10

8-Badfish-(3:06)-9/10
9-Doin Time-(4:09)-10/10
10-Poolshark-(:57)-9/10
What I Got(VIDEO) and Wrong Way(VIDEO) are also included on this cd.

Good songs, bad cd
Sublime is my favorite band, and will always be, but putting this as Sublime's GREATEST HITS, is laughable. I honestly reccomend you all to get 40oz. to Freedom, Robbin' the Hood, and the self-titled Sublime. Putting up $$ for ten great songs isnt bad. But with Sublime, you cant package a greatest hitz cd with only 10 songs.

I mean where is Seed, Rivers of Babylon (a bob marley original), All you need, KRS-1, etc. And the biggest missing song is "April 26, 1992". That is defenately one of sublime's best, but its not on their greatest hits...

Now dont waste your money on this cd, because this will lead you to buy all their other cds. So start earlier, and buy the 3 real sublime cd's; 40oz To Freedom, Robbin' The Hood, and Sublime's best...Sublime.

Dont waste your money...
If you really want a Sublime Greatest Hits collection, your going to need to buy every one of their CDS. Almost every song the've written should be on this CD, and these 10 aren't even their 10 best... not even close, this is a rip off, dont waste your money. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This successor to the band's promising It Means Everything debut album finds Save Ferris in a similar bind to that encountered by their Orange County brethren in No Doubt. Specifically: how to follow up on the success of a ska-pop breakthrough when the style itself has faded commercially. Modified is a more uneven collection than its predecessor, even though Monique Powell (a less-mannered vocalist than Gwen Stefani) shines on the reggae-tinged title track and the band deserves credit for stretching out its musical vocabulary on the trip-hoppy "One More Try." But, like many major-label sophomore outings, the album as a whole feels underinspired and overhurried. --Bill Forman ... Read more

Reviews (54)

Someone, PLEASE, Save Ferris!
Okay, so I have to admit, I love Save Ferris, and I probably only gave this album three stars because I felt sorry for Monique and the boys. 'It Means Everything' was an incredibly energetic and fun CD, a perfect blend of bouncy ska and sleek big band-type backgrounds on some songs. I gave 'Modified' a listen and couldn't get through it! What had happened to my wonderous band? Why did their record label try to turn them into another No Doubt? Don't get me wrong; No Doubt is great too, but they were something completely different than Save Ferris to start with. If you want something that sounds like No Doubt, buy their CDs. If you want something that sounds like what Save Ferris should be, with Monique Powell's enthusiastic vocals and songs that make you want to hop up and down with joy, buy 'It Means Everything' instead. Don't waste your time with this trying-to-make-one-girl-ska-singer-sound like another one business.

All-round Great
Although many compare this album to their debut (and ultimately find it disappointing), I think it has turned out to be an all-round better piece of work. Modified gives the listener a taste of different music, from Turn It Up's upbeat ska-pop to Let Me In's extremely touching style. All around, shows that the group can be versatile, and has the best of their songs.

The best
This is the ultimate everything CD. You can work out to it, dance to it, realate to it, sing along,(I could go on forever). Modified is energy, power,fun, great vocals, and music packed in one and you don't often find CDs like this. It starts off with a bang: 'Turn it up' which is exactly what songs on this CD have become to me. The songs are just pure fun and you'll never find another CD like this. Monique Powell's voice is just awesome...no one else can sing like her. She's got a strong, happy, and undescibably good voice. The bonus track is wonderful too. Just wait a minute or so after the CD ends... you'll be so glad you did. Use your head and get this CD! You'll be mad at yourself that you didn't buy this sooner, so get shoppin'!

Just Short of True Brilliance..
I wasn't really sure what to expect from Save Ferris. It was a band I only began listening to a few months ago and only a few random things here and there- B-sides such as "Support Your Local Ska Band," their works with Reel Big Fish, and their biggest hit, the "Come On Eileen" cover- so I was very excited to try an album without knowing what to expect.

For what it's worth, the band has a very distinctive style- not a distinctive SOUND but a distinctive way of approaching a song- instead of the No Doubt cookie-cutter factory-sealed-and-pressed radio-friendly ska-pop, Save Ferris definitely do their own thing. They produce an album that covers very human and common things- deteriorating friendships, loss of love, recovery from life's dark periods- and they cover those things in a fresh and fun approach, usually upbeat and almost never too sad.

The problem is that they strive for their difference. It's not a natural sound, it's forced. They wanted to be the creative ska band, true to their ska roots on their follow up.

They fell a bit short. I haven't heard all of the first album, but there are few horns heard throughout the course of the tracks. Isn't a horn section a requirement of all proper ska bands? Did I miss something? I have to admit they make their point and they prove their creativity with tracks like "Your Friend" and "Modified," but they just don't have what it takes in other songs.

It's a good album if you want to try something uplifting and different from the bland over-stated alternative rock of today. If you're looking for something that's going to shake up your outlook on life, though, this really isn't that thought-provoking or insightful. I was disappointed.

No Complaints; An Excellent Sophomore Follow-Up
Do you like No Doubt, Letters to Cleo, Reel Big Fish or even (slight stretch) the Barenaked Ladies? If so, there isn't a chance you won't just flip over Modified, or the band who owns it's rights. You will probably also run out and buy "It Means Everything" and note, idly, that the two albums are quite different, but not so much so that you dont recognize their core sound. Both albums are great, and truly if I had to pick my favorite of the two, I like Modified better, not because it's any better or because its more ska or whatnot; i believe it's a personal choice. Either album would be a good introduction to Save Ferris. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Exactly what it's supposed to be....
The release of this new "20th Century Masters - The Best Of Sublime - The Millenium Collection" cd has it's purposes.

First off, Greatest Hits as of right now is out of print. Therefore, this album seems to have replaced Greatest Hits. In my opinion, this new best of Sublime cd should've been released instead of Greatest Hits. This new cd was set up much better than Greatest Hits. It has a really writing on Sublime's music by one of Subime's former managers inside the cd's booklet. Though the pictures found in the booklet have already been seen by most fans, the art inside and info's were set up quite nicely and organized.

This is the type of cd that you can bring to a party and play the whole thing through. Rather than bring all your Sublime cd's, this one cd manages to give enough tastes of Sublime, giving you 10 of the most appealing songs Sublime made.

What is great about this album is how many of the tracks have been remastered. There is much better quality on Badfish and Smoke Two Joints on this cd than there was on the album "40 Oz. To Freedom". What I had hoped for the song "Greatest-Hits" happened on this cd. The song was truly remastered. It can't sound any better than on this cd.

This type of cd isn't made to attract old fans to buy. These are for fans who have never bought a Sublime cd, or have only heard a few songs, or basically only want one cd and want just the best most appealing songs.

I already have had all 6 main Sublime albums released for years now. I never bought Greatest Hits, I thought it was a rip off cuz not only was it ten songs, but it was majorly overpriced.
This new best of cd has a great lower price.

The reasons I give this release 4 stars is because there are a few things that I must critique.

The cd contains 10 songs for a total of 31 minutes. There are other 20th century masters cd's that contain 12 tracks. This album should've had 12 songs on it. 10 songs just doesn't feel like enough when so much more could fit.

Date Rape, Smoke Two Joints, and Badfish were the 3 songs from 40 Oz. To Freedom that got rock radio play on certain stations. These 3 are also stand outs from the album "40 Oz. To Freedom" that no fan can really deny.

Saw Red is always a predictable choice for the fact that Gwen Stefani of No Doubt sings with Brad on this song. Though the acoustic solo version of Saw Red done just by Bradley Nowell on his acoustic guitar is much better, this punk/ska version of Saw Red has always been good. The addition of the song Greatest-Hits to this collection could bring a smile to some fans. This track is one of the fan favorites. There isn't really any "radio-friendly" type songs on Sublime's second album "Robbin' The Hood", so the compilers did what they could in choosing these two songs.

For Self-Titled, there are 4 obvious selections which are the singles (What I Got, Santeria, Wrong Way, Doin' Time). April 29, 1992 is one of the most well known Sublime songs out there. It also got its fair share of amounts of radio play on Rock stations.

It was a sin for them not to include the song "40 Oz. To Freedom" on this. The song has always been one of Sublime's stand out songs, and it was on Sublime's "Greatest Hits" cd..

Another song that is missed on this album is "Pool Shark". "Pool Shark can be considered one of the most important songs Sublime ever wrote. It is in my opinion, the most emotional song Bradley Nowell ever sang. Maybe the quite short punk version did not fit in well with this album, but they could've put in a mixed version of Pool Shark with both the acoustic and electric versions on the same track. This mix of Pool Shark was released on a certain Sublime import that mixed songs from 40 Oz. To Freedom and Robbin' The Hood. Even if they could have, maybe the they just didn't want to waste any more time on this release putting in a rare cut and just wanted to put in songs that they didn't have to do much to.

Though I do already have all the albums and I listen to them all occasionaly, I'm finding myself leaning alot towards this cd. This album contains a bunch of songs that I find myself skipping to the most when listening to a Sublime cd.

A couple of hardcore Sublime fans have asked for a Sublime box set. Though many die hard fans have wished for it, a box set may not make sense for them to release. First off all, we already have all the albums. Second, we have alot of unreleased stuff on bootlegs and such. Lastly, after 6 and a half years, there may not be a large enough fanbase to purchase a boxset, or have interest in one. Even if there is more unreleased tracks, they may be unreleased for reasons. Maybe Brad and the band didn't want to ever release certain tracks. Maybe it's that Sublime's unreleased stuff, though good, cannot match up to what they did release, unlike in the case of Nirvana.

If you're a person who has not heard that much from Sublime yet, buy this album first. It will lead you to buying their albums "Sublime" and "40 Oz. To Freedom" and then lead you to buy the rest of their albums. This best of Sublime cd is a near perfect introduction to Sublime.

Even if you're already a fan of Sublime and have all their released tracks as well as some unreleased songs, this album is still worth getting. The cover art, the pretty well chosen song selection, the noticible remastered tracks, and it's low price are enough to even attract already Sublime fans. This album is more of a collector's item for already fans.

Not bad very good
I think this is a great comp. I bought this when it first came out. I have worked at a college radio station for a long time and I never really understood why Sublime was so overrated by my friends. Even though the guy died before the band became famous, there was something my friends saw in their music. A 20th Century Masters collector I am, I went out and bought this, and discovered greatness. "What I Got" was an overplayed hit with its pointless remixes, but now I understand because of this CD that Sublime put out some good schtuff. "Doin' Time" a song I had never heard before is definitely a chill-out laid back song. "Date Rape" and "April 1992" are great ones too. Even though I am not a huge Sublime fan like many, I can see why others complain about the song selection and length of tunes. But overall, I finally saw the band's personality with this one.

Buy it now!!!!
Great CD.... short but definatly worth every penny and more

R U 4 GETTING THE CD IS ONLY 7.99 ?
I think some people would complain if they ate a terd and it tasted bad. I've never seen this CD priced higher than 10 bucks, I got it for less than that. So what do you expect. Sure I'd be willing to pay 20 something dollars for a double disc CD of SUBLIME's greatest, but until that comes out I'll listen to WHAT I GOT, REMEMBER THAT! I mean gosh didn't you turn the CD over and read the track list before you bought it? Just go get in bed and try getting up on the other side. How frugal are you anyway?

Edits?!!!
Okay There are only ten songs...And they're edited for content...if you don't want to buy all of the albums, get a copy of their greatest hits album, at least then you have the choice of explicit lyrics or not. ... Read more

Reviews (91)

This CD is simply AMAZING! One of the best ska CDs ever!
FIF are absolutely amazing and the CD is some of the best proof of that! My friend from Colorado (who actually knows them) pressured me to buy this CD 6 or 7 months ago and I was so impressed by its Christian message mixed with amazing music that I now own all their CDs. The only thing I've ever heard anyone say that's bad about their CD is that the lyrics are pointless. LOOK AGAIN! Nearly every one of their songs has a message if you truly look at it. Suckerpunch is about how God is there for us no matter who we are; Banner Year is about how the US Government betrayed the Native Americans; Handbook for a Sellout is about how people associate popularity with selling out; and Every New Day is the most powerful song on the CD about how a man's faith in God has changed over the years. The list goes on. If you're looking for a good ska band, buy this. If you're looking for a good Christian band, buy this. If you're looking for a band with a message, buy this. Simply, an incredible CD.

This is the best FIF cd ever
I never skip a song on this album so let me help you out.
Handbook for the Sellout - A great start pulls you into the album makes you keep listening. 10th best on cd.
Where is Micah? - A very well written song about their guitar player being late. 8th best on cd.
Superpowers - A funny song with weird lyrics but a great bass rythum. You'll listen to it for a while. 6th best on cd.
Fistful of Sand - A very very very extra good song. Great lyrics, great tune, only one song is better. 2nd best on cd.
Suckerpunch - Just plain funny. Also has a good tune. It's about a young 7th grade geek. 7th best on cd.
Kitty Doggy - A raw recording. Very stupid, it'll leave you puzzled.
Blue Comb '78 - A funny song about Reese's sister throwing his comb on to the highway. 9th best on cd.
Banner Year - Just plain great. 5th best on cd.
Second Season - Very good. Like a better sequel to Banner Year. 4th best on cd.
Litmus - A great song, but it all sounds the same. 12th best on cd.
Oh, Canada - Another funny/weird song about going and leaving Canada. Not to great. 11th best on cd.
Most Likely to Succeed - About the winner of the high school senior superlative. It is just plain good. Great tune and better lyrics make it 3rd best on cd.
Every New Day - THE BEST FIF SONG EVER!!! Can't describe how great it is. Best on cd.

It all began with this album
It all started when i was bored and went rummaging through my brother's CDs. As a pre-teen i hadn't found a kind of music i particularly liked but i remembered my brother getting Newest Album Ever as a present so i listened to it - and fell in love with Five Iron Frenzy. I thought it was so kool that a rock band had horn instruments. 5-Iron is definitely my favorite band and Newest Album Ever is very nearly my favorite album. You can't go wrong with the subtle humor in Suckerpunch and Superpowers and the hard rocking of Handbook For The Sellout and Fistful of Sand. Plus FIF goes all out in their love for God with Every New Day, one of the best songs i've ever heard. BUY THIS ALBUM U WILL NOT REGRET IT - SKA ALL THE WAY

very very awesome
I have been listneting to ska for a very long time and I havn't been able to find what I really like until I found five iron frenzy. This is a great CD. I love almost every track and would recommend anyone to buy this no matter what the cost. Even if you don't like ska music this is very fun and good music. Great buy

our BEST album ever!
this album is one of the best albums ever in my mind, both musically and lyrically. not only did it convey their message in a positive and ever evident way, it also successfully challenges the media, something that mainstream bands TRY and attempt today, but only come away from looking incredibly hypocritical. alas.. that is a whole other story for me! anyway.. being an avid FIF fan i would definately have to agree that this was both their "newest album ever" AND their best album ever. If you are a FIF virgin this is a great first album and contains many of the songs that are FIF classics. ... Read more