Ska music reviews

This is one of the best albums I have heard in a while. Limbeck (aka Garage Monkies from the apple comercial) are an awesome up and coming band and i anticipate great stuff from them. But it is Home Grown that dominates this album. Their playing and vocals are amazing. They have come a long way from that's business. I can't wait for their next lp.

First of all, I have been a Home Grown fan for a couple of years now. However, I got this album because of Limbeck. They are an up-and-coming band that is soon to hit success. Although only having six songs, each band makes this a great ep. This is a good first album for Utility Records--good job Adam. I look forward to Limbeck's first full length and Home Grown's upcoming album, as well. Both of these bands rock!

um...the homegrown songs on this ep are nice...same old lyrics but some very hip guitar thingies. but whoa limbeck! super crazy rock and roll songs. you so need to buy this cd for those late night drives home! and its a great soundtrack to bake brownies by!!!

3rd and best,most energetic album from one of the best bands Argentina ever had.Contrary to their previous debut and sophomore records,in which they played pure HC punk with a coupla reggae-core songs,this album mixes several latin-american rythms with the most virulent hardcore ever played,resulting in the most infectious and catchy tunes they ever recorded.Political influences are markedly leftist,including Ideologies like Zapata,Sandino etc,in a certain Zach de la Rocha style.The recording is remarkably hi fi.HIGHLY RECCOMENDED.

This band is awesome you won't believe how they go from a cumbia to hardcore, or tribal or religious, I mean if you have a chance get it, you can't get more for your money than this, you won't be dissapointed and that's for sure

If you have never heard TTM this is the album to begin with. The CD is TTM at their finest and features a variety of styles from Reggae to Rock, Hip Hop to Punk, Salsa to Folkloric, Merengue to Revolutionary World Rock infused with thoughts on Che,Mandela, Zapata and Sandino. These guys have been influenced heavily by Bob Marley and sing the praises of the oppressed worldwide. The tracks are outstanding and some of the more exceptional titles are Hijo Nuestro which is a song dedicated to Sandino(check your history books) that sounds like a medley ala Guantanamera but busts into some hardcore riffs that rock. The title track Dale Aborigen is a hard core number decrying the Argentine governments treatment of its citizens and is cry for no more violence and torture. There are light humorous moments as in Scubidu that are quite catchy, if you listen carefully you'll know the last stone has been turned. Tu Alma Mia is another fine piece that sounds like the classic Mexican song Adelita from the Mexican Revolution but this is not your grandmothers or mothers version, this rocks like nothing they ever heard. An added bonus is that this Cd is enhanced and has some interesting information like interviews and concert footage, gives you a little more personal insight into TTM. These Argentinos are rockeros of the first degree and you will be pleased if you like your music eclectic and full of energy. A fine fusion and blend of styles to create a delicious Revolutionary World Rock stew for international music fans to savor.

I'm a big fan of Sublime and ever since Bradley died, I have been looking for good bands to just kinda get more of that Sublime feel and for awhile all I had found and liked was Slightly Stoopid, Pepper, LBSB, and LBAS. I searched last week, found Filibuster and have been listening to this cd non-stop since. Greatly recomended for and Sublime, Dave fan i mean virtually anyone with a good taste of music.

If you are looking for a ska cd, look somewhere else because this is not your typical "ska" band. These guys are directly influenced by Sublime hence being on "Skunk records" and similarly to Sublime, Filibuster cannot be put into any one genre.

As for the cd itself, most of it is very upbeat and fast ska with punkish lyrics. The sax/singer is very talented with a very unique, distinct, and strong voice. Awesome album.

This album is a pouring out of the soul... a fun CD to cruise with, dance with, love with, etc. I'd call the singer/saxophonist "The Ruler" anyday! It's too bad this band no longer exists, they play some great music and keep it real.

I picked this CD up at a live show of theirs. John broke his finger and switched places with the bassist, but despite that, it was a great show. When I left, I put this CD in and really enjoyed it. Great on the CD, better live.

just like all of the other reviews, when i first listened to the cd i was skeptical..after listening to it for a couple of days it quickly became one of my fave's! although they stick to the old sound in "sixteen" and track number 4(i forgot the name! oops! :) the rest of the songs seem a little harder and it sounds great! i definently reccomend this cd! i am a BIG homegrown fan and have been for a while and this cd just makes me love them more! :)

like the others who previously reviewed this, after the first listen, I wasn't too impressed by EP Phone Home. But after listening to it 6 times in one day, I can honestly say that this is a great ep. Adam's basswork is improved on this ep. The biggest difference on thnis album though is the improved harmonies. On every track, the harmonies are unbelievable. Watch for the re-worked version of no way out. First time I heard it, I thought it was horrible, but now I realize how damn good it is.

I'm not much into country. I don't like punk. But, put them together, with some witty lyrics, and I could listen to these guys all day. In fact, sometimes I do. The tunes are so catchy that I find myself singing the songs in my head as I go about my business. "She lives on the Richmond line" is a great waiting-for-my-subway-train tune. "My baby thinks she's Betty Page" is a good teasing line for friends who have that "do". "You What!" also comes in handy as an alternative to an expletive. The Smokejumpers write about urban subjects that matter to me (parking, love, lust, and mexican vacations gone awray) from an adolescent boy's perspective. Interesting and cool,raunchy and intelligent.

"Flat Tear it Up" will flat tear you a new one! These tracks read like a psycho('billy's) diary of rampaging madness from the Bay Area to a mexican jail. The double bass and "big stick" Mick's rapid fire snare drum provide the driving beat behind Tom's way-gone guitar work and the howilin' of the King Teen. If you haven't had a chance to see them live, kick yer self twice then buy "Flat Tear it Up" and be the first in line to see them in your town. This is one of the hardest working combo's out today and they play EVERYWHERE!

Are you sad that your eight-track player doesn't work so you can't listen to your extensive collection of Johnny Cash hits? Do your roommates threaten desperate acts if you play that Patsy Cline CD one more time? Did you find religion with the Rev Hortan Heat's realease of Holy Roller? Then the Smokejumpers CD Flat Tear It Up is for you. This CD is a Rockabilly romp into the white trash badlands of the Bay Area. I highly recomend this to any rock/country/life fan with a sense of humor, and then look for a live show in your area. I found the plastic Jesus on my metophorical dashboard of life after seeing "My Baby Thinks She's Bettie Page" live.

Ernest Ranglin at his best. His best collaboration also I find. This is a truly wonderful album, inventive and warm. Listen to "Anna", or "Ala Walee", those tunes will make you cry. Mind you the rest of the album is of the same quality : a Masterpiece !! Tunes are fantastic, open and imaginative, rythms roll beautifully, the music flows... Thanks to Ernest and the rest of the musicians for their wonderful work !

I don't know where to start on this...I have been a Baaba Maal fan for years, and recently turned on to Ernest with Below the Bassline. When I heard they were working together, I suspected the results would be exceptional, but this!!! Any true music lover should buy this CD, whether you are a teenage death-metal fanatic, or a 65 year old classical musician. The interplay of Ranglins' guitar with the lilting Kora throughout this collection is a musical achievement that boggles the mind. The Kora is (technically) a more "primitive" instrument than the guitar...Ranglin works around the limitations of the older technology deftly, never exposing them, only supporting and enhancing with a virtuoso's skill. The conversational interplay throughout these tracks is a testament to musicians who listen first, play second. To any teacher of music out there: give this to your students after studying it yourself, then go over it note by note...it's like a manual on how to make great music. The first time I listened to this, it sent shivers down my back and literally made me cry.

BUY THIS CD NOW... one of the best kept secrets on the music scene. Years ahead of his time, this will be an industry standard to compare others by when world music comes into it's own here in the U.S.

Ernest Ranglin at his best. His best collaboration also I find. This is a truly wonderful album, inventive and warm. Listen to "Anna", or "Ala Walee", those tunes will make you cry. Mind you the rest of the album is of the same quality : a Masterpiece !! Tunes are fantastic, open and imaginative, rythms roll beautifully, the music flows... Thanks to Ernest and the rest of the musicians for their wonderful work !

I don't know where to start on this...I have been a Baaba Maal fan for years, and recently turned on to Ernest with Below the Bassline. When I heard they were working together, I suspected the results would be exceptional, but this!!! Any true music lover should buy this CD, whether you are a teenage death-metal fanatic, or a 65 year old classical musician. The interplay of Ranglins' guitar with the lilting Kora throughout this collection is a musical achievement that boggles the mind. The Kora is (technically) a more "primitive" instrument than the guitar...Ranglin works around the limitations of the older technology deftly, never exposing them, only supporting and enhancing with a virtuoso's skill. The conversational interplay throughout these tracks is a testament to musicians who listen first, play second. To any teacher of music out there: give this to your students after studying it yourself, then go over it note by note...it's like a manual on how to make great music. The first time I listened to this, it sent shivers down my back and literally made me cry.

BUY THIS CD NOW... one of the best kept secrets on the music scene. Years ahead of his time, this will be an industry standard to compare others by when world music comes into it's own here in the U.S.

For me living in Santa Barbara and attending many concerts at the bowl (David Bowie was the last) this was a must have, even though I wasn't alive when it happened this was definetely one of the best shows that went down at the bowl. The quality is very clear and you can tell Bob was feeling it. If you are a big fan of Marley I would suggest this over his other concert albums.

Being a rabid fan, I have rushed forth committing my soul and wallet to many a live recording of this, my favorite artist of all time. My live collection has grown to include such Tuff Gong greats as Live in London '75, The Rainbow in '77 (appearing on Exodus Remastered), Babylon by Bus in 1978, as well as non-Tuff boots like Leeds '73, Rotterdam '78 and the commercial Live in Germany '80. But this album is possibly, no, definitely the best live non-Tuff Gong release I have ever heard. If you want high quality sound, stay away from those cheap Japanese issues. This is the real thing. If you're a fanatical collector like myself, check out Live in Germany '80 - great set, but the quality is not as good as Santa Barbara. While you're at it, check out anything by John Brown's Body, 10Foot Ganja Plant and The Gladiators. You will be pleased. I promise.

This album is awesome, I really like the introduction that Bob does in the beginning of the concert. I have many Imported albums of Bob and this is right up there with one of the best. We need to keep buying Bob's albums to keep his spirit alive and known to other people.Spread the message,and buy this album!

It's unfortunate that The Vapors' second album didn't have greater success. It's a much better album than the average debut album New Clear Days. David Fenton, (guitarist, vocalist, songwriter), had really fine tuned his songs into attractive, melodic numbers with smart Pop sensibilities while expanding on the creativity the New Wave era seemed to bring in abundance.

"Jimmie Jones" was the second single released from the album, and only had a brief chart life in the UK. It makes no sense to me because the first time I heard it back in 1994, (yes, I was a late comer), I instantly loved it. The band was changing their image somewhat, including headbands and other New Wave-related clothing, as seen in the video for "Jimmie Jones". At least the song had a minor bit of public acknowledgement in the UK, because the U.S. had no clue about it. Thankfully, I managed to get the video in very light rotation on VH1 Classic several years ago, and I still think it makes an occasional appearance, giving the opportunity for a new generation to discover this lost classic.
"Spiders" was the first single released, and failed to chart at all. It's a very odd and wonderful song, and a very bold choice to release as a single. In it's full length album version, the song tends to go on just a little bit too long; although the single version was a slight edit and minor remix, making that version a much better listen. The single version is on the "Turning Japanese - The Best of the Vapors" CD.
"Isolated Case" was the only song in the bands recorded output that was written by other members of the band, and it's just as good as anything else on the album.
"Civic hall" has another of those classic mid-tempo hooks that could have made for a great third single, if there was to be one.
The last half of the album is only slightly weaker than the first half, but there's not one song I'd skip.

Two of the bonus tracks are redundant, due to a mastering error. Though the excellent B side "Galleries for guns" is a must have bonus, even including a little extra at the beginning that was not pressed into the 7" version, the single versions of "Jimmie Jones" and "Daylight Titans" are identical to what is on the original album. I have the 7" of "Jimmie Jones", and it is a noticeably different mix of the song, which unfortunately remains unreleased on CD; though truthfully the album version is the better version.

Another thing is that the CD cover is printed extremely dark, muting many of the colors that were clear and bright on the LP sleeve.

Though the band was set to make a third album, EMI pulled the plug and that was that. "Magnets" could have been the first in a string a truly great albums, though with many great bands the public doesn't take too much interest and the band splits up.

Magnets is an album that at first sounds like it is not a good follow up to New Clear Days. However, after listing to it the 2nd time (back in 1984 haha), I was stunned to find out that every single song was not just great, but incredible!!!! This was one record, that I could say had not one bad song. Song writing, great guitar sounds, incredible bass playing (and sound) and of course, Dave's unique voice and song writing make this a 10 star album!! I only wished that more people could have listened to it at my age, I tried to promote it myself on my nu-wave radio show in NY, so I know that may have helped sales(a little)....but by that time the vapors were no longer :( Favorite songs: Daylight Titans, Johnnie's in love (again), Jimmy Jones, Isolated Case, Civic Hall, Silver Machines.

OK, here is the gag. Back in 1981 when I bought my second Vapors record, Magnets, I was emotionally and physically stunned by the sheer brilliance of the band. And, 23 years later, as I am playing this album in the CD format on my $15,000+ esoteric system it once again has stunned me emotionally and physically. The kids, all 4 of them, join in when dad is raising the roof with high sound pressure levels and jamming to the Vapors! God Bless the 80's!!!

P.S. If you were to endure cruel and unusual punishment by being sentenced to only getting to listen to 1 Vapors Album for the rest of your life...I would have to pick MAGNETS.

After buying Mail Order is Fun I just had to have Mail Order is Still Fun. I was right! This CD is packed with so many great songs from awesome ska/punk bands. Bands like Broadways, Slapstick,and The Wunder Years make this a great CD. Any punk/ska fan would love this CD! If you are looking to "waste" a couple of dollars from your paycheck. Buy this CD you won't feel like it was that much of a waste. Peace and Unity-Ash

Whether you're into the indie scene, or ska, or punk, or Asian people in general, 'Mail Order is Still Fun' is an awesome cd. (And if you hate it, then it was under 4 bucks anyways... no big deal.)

The best tracks on this album are "Spa" by Jonny Socko, "Korea is so far away" by Mike Park, "Trapped Like Rats in Myers Flat" by Slow Cherkin, and "Don't Sit Next to Me Just Because I'm Asian" by the B-Lee Band. Everything on here is pretty decent though. Most songs are really creative and funny as hell!

'Mail Order is Still Fun' is about an hour of fun energetic ska/punk. I can't think of any reasons NOT to buy it... so give it a listen and SUPPORT UNDERGROUND MUSIC!!!

This CD is really good, my favorites being an awesome song by The Muggs, Jamons, Slapstick, and Blue Meanies, but they are all excellent. Buy this and enjoy the low price