Ska music reviews

this is the cd that you must have in your Collection of Paralamas do Sucesso, All the songs in this album are good, it reminds me the good times that I had in the 80s when I was in High Scholl.

It is realy the best of Paralamas. Has songs that make us to remember the best times of this band in Brazil!

That's the best of Paralamas in just one cd.That's the "mignon" of them.

i must say, i don't own this cd but i own anthology and it's just awesome. anthology is back for the attack and their self-titled album combined. it's a better deal, as far as money is concerned because you get 20 songs for the regular price. anyway, out of the 5 songs my favorites are plan b and widowmaker. they have a great ska sound. if you like the impossibles, check out their newer cd, return, and their latest EP, 4 song brick bomb.

Fun, happy, pop punk ska...the best song is "Widowmaker" but the other ones are really good too...great EP.

These guys have been dubbed as Weezer ska by just about everyone I know. The reasons being are: A. The sing a lot about girls B. They have a nerd rock Weezer sound with ska riffs. I assure you that when you pop this cd in you'll think oh my god...its Weezer ska. THe album is solid with two different lead vocalists working on different songs. This is a nice buy for fans of ska or Weezer.

After seeing Entrain in New Bedford at the Blues Festival, I'm wondering how long it will take the world to recognize them as the greatest band since Santana (whose CD "Supernatural" was playing between sets that day) They are phenomenal, and the PERCUSSION! You've gotta hear it to believe it. Live is best, though.

I first heard cuts from this CD on WXPN in Philadelphia, then saw the band live at WXPN's Singer/Songwriter Weekend in 1999. They blew every other band away. Fortunately, the band was selling the CD at the concert, so I bought it there and then. It is one CD meant to be played LOUD. I had it playing on my van's sound system one day; an acquaintance demanded to know who it was because "That's the best music I've heard in a long time."

This CD is AWESOME! Entrain is absolutely the best band ever to play on the face of the Earth! YOU MUST TRY IT! Track number one is the best!

I bought this tape (or rather my parents did for me) while living in England way back in 1982. Although only known for their song "Our House" in the United States it's safe to say that Madness ruled the British charts in the early eighties. Released on the STIFF label in the UK "Complete Madness" represented the best of the band's early work. Songs like "Embarrasment", "Baggy Trousers", and "Night Boat to Cairo" just make me jump around the room playing air saxophone! Full of fun, catchy SKA sounds that Smash Mouth, No Doubt and other imitators only wish they could reproduce. Not for every taste but highly recomended.

This album represents a totally new sound that had not been heard previously.Forget all the other money making "best of's" this is the definitive one.It was released at a pivotal moment at the beginning of the Eighties when Punk was dead and Ska was on its way out.Going far beyond the tedious realm of Ska,Madness infused bouncy rhythms and melody with a cockney humour that became their trademark.

This is a slightly different version of the CD that is available in the UK (well the one i bought at least). The UK has the FULL One Step Beyond starting and song, as well as Our House. All the songs are brilliant, and if you have to own a Madness CD then this is a good one to own, if you can get the UK release, with the Black and White CD then even better.

for me if No Doubt had have broken up after this Song I could understand because they truly nailed a Song that was a Home-run.this Song has alot of feelings&depth to it.I like some of there songs but nothing quite hits me the same as this one.

This is the first No Doubt song I heard 4 years ago when I was in the U.S. In fact, when I heard it on the radio (not knowing what this song was called and who sang it), Gwen Stefani's vocal left me an unforgettable mark in my ear. Since then I have explored many possible resources to discover the band and the song. Still sounds great and cool! My research all over the Internet really paid off.

This is the best song ever! It is brilliant and I play it 20 times a day! I know every word and I can not find a single thing wrong with it! BUY IT NOW!

First off, there is no "Full Trucker Effect" movie, so don't look for it. Secondly, this is the best cd that these boys ever put out, and while I'm a fan of all their music, this one will stay in my cd collection and my heart forever. Listening to this today made me realize how much I miss the old lead singer.

"They Know Us at the Spa" and "Tortugas" are absolute gems.

Man, is this a good CD. Despite the fact that I still haven't found _Full Trucker Effect_, the "movie" for which this CD is a soundtrack for, this CD has a total of 16 songs (with 5 soundbites from the movie) which all are very, very good ska.

Kemuri is good, but they do not quite have the same energy as bands like Edna's Goldfish. The most important part of any punk ska album is energy, which Kemuri could use a little more of. They still have a good sound though, so I give them a 4.

I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing and hanging out with Kemuri on a stop of the Ska Against Racism Tour, and was blown away by the band's music. This is one of my favorite ska bands of all-time, and this CD definitely is at the top of my list. It had some really great rhythms in it, and the energy and force behind songs like Ohichyo, Minimum Wage, and Kanasimiyo always get me going. Some tunes have somewhat somber overtones, but it's all great. BTW, lead singer Fumio has NO ACCENT, even when he speaks, so there are no hindrances in enjoying this awesome CD!

every single song on this album is outstanding. their music is extremely catchy, and any fans of any kind of music will get a kick out of this band. the dude who said their accents could get annoying at times was wrong. i think the accents are beautiful and just add more character to this great band. i would like to see the guy who said that try to sing some songs in japanese and see what kind of "annoying" accent he gets. anyways, every single song has a totally positive message, which is great when every other band nowadays is screaming and complaining about what went wrong in their lives. this cd also has 2 songs sung in japanese. i consider this album to be one of my happy cds; whenever im done in the dumps, i can listen to it. or just the complete opposite; whenever im in an outstanding mood and need some music to match my feelings, i jsut pop this baby in my stereo. in conclusion, ANYONE can get a kik out of this band.

Don't get me wrong; The Toasters are the greatest American ska band ever. I've seen them live twice, and they do put one one good show. However, while this CD does capture some of the excitement experience at their shows, this has to be The Toasters's weakest CD.
The recording seems a little off. The horns completely overpower the rhythm section, which, at times can be a little annoying. Plus on some tracks, the horns seem completely off, most notably on 'D.L.T.B.G.Y.D.', and was it me, or did the guitar seem to be moving too fast on 'Fire In My Soul'? And while I'm sure the shows featured on this disc would have been great if you were actually there, it doesn't actually do much for anyone else.
On the plus side, Dr. Ring-Ding plays trombone on the recordings, and supplies vocals on an entertaining 'Jack Ruby Jr. Meets Dr. Ring-Ding'. The version of 'Mona' is pretty good, and I was rather pleased with 'Shocker' for some reason.
Anyhoo, if you want the true Toast experience, go see them in person, and leave the recordings to the studio albums. If you want a good recorded ska experience, I would suggest live albums from either The Scofflaws, The Slackers, or Bad Manners.

Luv,
Skibz

Ok, you wouldn't be looking at this unless you liked ska. So buy this and support a great band.

...so it makes sense for the Toasters to release a live album. The Toasters' studio sound is good, but it's a little less sweaty and heart-pounding than their live performances. Besides, the band is constantly on tour, selling out shows worldwide, so why shouldn't they profit from their hard work?

Live in London is classic Toasters taken up a notch with louder horns, crazier lyrics and a rocked out beat. The crowd talk and participation help to transport the listener to the Borderline club in London where the album was recorded in the summer of 1998.

It's nice to hear Rob "Bucket" Hingley and Jack Ruby, Jr. gasping for air because they're putting their all into the performance. A Toasters' show is just that--a performance. Killer lyrics, a solid drum beat, and a rousing horn section combine to make your body move.

Live in London is basically a "Best of" collection recorded live and in living color. It captures the Toasters' energy and serves it up in concert format-starting out hard and fast, slowing things down for a while, finishing up hard, and encoring even hard, louder and sweatier.

If you're a Toasters fan, your collection would be incomplete without this personal toast from the band to the fans. If you're still not sure about this ska craze, I challenge you to listen to this album and try to resist turning it way up and skankin' to your heart's delight. Better yet, play it at a party and watch your friends lose control as they're moved by the distinct rhythm of the East Side Beat.

Don't get me wrong; The Toasters are the greatest American ska band ever. I've seen them live twice, and they do put one one good show. However, while this CD does capture some of the excitement experience at their shows, this has to be The Toasters's weakest CD.
The recording seems a little off. The horns completely overpower the rhythm section, which, at times can be a little annoying. Plus on some tracks, the horns seem completely off, most notably on 'D.L.T.B.G.Y.D.', and was it me, or did the guitar seem to be moving too fast on 'Fire In My Soul'? And while I'm sure the shows featured on this disc would have been great if you were actually there, it doesn't actually do much for anyone else.
On the plus side, Dr. Ring-Ding plays trombone on the recordings, and supplies vocals on an entertaining 'Jack Ruby Jr. Meets Dr. Ring-Ding'. The version of 'Mona' is pretty good, and I was rather pleased with 'Shocker' for some reason.
Anyhoo, if you want the true Toast experience, go see them in person, and leave the recordings to the studio albums. If you want a good recorded ska experience, I would suggest live albums from either The Scofflaws, The Slackers, or Bad Manners.

Luv,
Skibz

Ok, you wouldn't be looking at this unless you liked ska. So buy this and support a great band.

...so it makes sense for the Toasters to release a live album. The Toasters' studio sound is good, but it's a little less sweaty and heart-pounding than their live performances. Besides, the band is constantly on tour, selling out shows worldwide, so why shouldn't they profit from their hard work?

Live in London is classic Toasters taken up a notch with louder horns, crazier lyrics and a rocked out beat. The crowd talk and participation help to transport the listener to the Borderline club in London where the album was recorded in the summer of 1998.

It's nice to hear Rob "Bucket" Hingley and Jack Ruby, Jr. gasping for air because they're putting their all into the performance. A Toasters' show is just that--a performance. Killer lyrics, a solid drum beat, and a rousing horn section combine to make your body move.

Live in London is basically a "Best of" collection recorded live and in living color. It captures the Toasters' energy and serves it up in concert format-starting out hard and fast, slowing things down for a while, finishing up hard, and encoring even hard, louder and sweatier.

If you're a Toasters fan, your collection would be incomplete without this personal toast from the band to the fans. If you're still not sure about this ska craze, I challenge you to listen to this album and try to resist turning it way up and skankin' to your heart's delight. Better yet, play it at a party and watch your friends lose control as they're moved by the distinct rhythm of the East Side Beat.

I don't usually write reviews, but felt I needed to bring the rating down on this one to save people some money, great music, but as said in other reviews, the interviews kill it. Stay away.

This is one of the most infuriating albums I have ever purchased. If you're a Madness devotee or completist, then nothing touches this box set for the breadth of material and the rareties. Also, for many years, it was the only place to find classic songs like "Baggy Trousers."

BUT...the interview segments spliced between songs make this album all but unlistenable. The interviews are fascinating ONCE, but after that, you'd probably prefer to skip them. Which is when you encounter the first problem: the interview are appended to the individual tracks. For example, "Baggy Trousers" ends, but before you can listen to the next track, you have to listen to a minute of blather.

Worse than this tho', the interviews fade in OVER THE TOP of the songs. So "Grey Day" still has 20 seconds to go, but the interview portion has already started! This happens on all the classic tracks: "Baggy Trousers", "Grey Day", "Sun & the Rain." These are the members of the band TALKING OVER THE TOP OF THE SONGS!! It's insane! Even if you wanted to make your own CDR or iPod compilation of this album, it's impossible, because people are talking over the music!

Unless you absolutely have to have this album, AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS!

Box sets can always lead to frustration when oddities, rare or live cuts stop the goodness dead. That doesn't happen here because an oddity for Madness is fairly incredible. This box set includes every single wonderful moment that you could possibly want in one fell swoop.

However, I'm docking it a notch because of the interview segments placed before/after songs. You cannot program out the interviews because they are attached to the same track. Interesting the first time you listen, but after that it's incredibly frustrating. And to make matters worse the majority of the interview clips are spread out over the first two discs... which happens to include the best songs. It would have been MUCH better if the folks who compiled this box would have put the interview segments on the end of the 3rd disc. If you don't think this will bother you then go ahead and buy this baby... it's filled cover to cover with amazing music.