Ska music reviews

Titas is a colossus of Brazilian pop/rock scene and this album is the pinnacle of their career. It's a cry for freedom in the form of agressive and anarchist music. Here, Titas create an unusual form of criticizing values and institutions of modern society, but always in a VERY ironic and carnivalesc way.

The band is technically very good and the sound is most of the times heavy, though it's damn hard to describe because the album is basically idealistic and the sound is not the main theme. Most songs are indeed JOKES, that's the truth. Musically their best album from the nihilist era is Titanomaquia, which I consider a true HEAVY METAL album, with awesome guitars, drums and harsh vocals (also featuring their typical acid lyrics).

Titas is definitely the most impostant Brazilian rock band of the 80's. With this album, they summarized all youngsters' anger to society, church, politicians, police, family, etc. If you want to have brief but accurate figure of the Brazilian scenario in the mid-80's you must acquire this CD !

I'm argentinean, and I've discovered Titas thruogh this album. Brazilians are very nationalists with music. But, you may notice that Titas doesn't sound classically brazilean. If they were singing in english you couldn't tell. They make and excellent mix between different sources of music such as punk, reggae, pop, samba. I recomend these songs: Policia, Porrada, Bichos Escrotos, Familia & Homen Primata.

This is one of the BEST soca albums ever and is a must have for any soca collection!

as a Jamaican growing up listing to Byron Lee I would have to say this is the best one I love it

If you want to really dance, this is the album for you! The Best Party Music Ever!

This album is most def a classic if you are into oi or ska. I used to not like ska (Still don't like most of that poppy stuff), but this album is worth picking up. Although their other album is better (The Times), I still play this one frequently. Trust me, if you want to get into ska, especially if you are a crusty gutter dwelling punk, this is a good transition record. True rootsy ska at it's finest!

I first listened to this cd when I was on vacation with my cousin... I've grown to really like all ska, mainly because of them. They're extremely upbeat, and make have great instruments in the background. There are some songs whereyou just want to get up and dance. I would have to day, that if you like ska, you'll most likely like this band. I sure do anyway.

Ah, the skoidats, those beer drinking hooligans, with their offbeats and what have you. Punk Ska at its finest, a blend between the dropkick murphey's and the scofflaws. Definitly as good as their first release.

From a little country, a HUGE group!
Their music is so energetic that you can always see children, teenagers and middle age people in their concerts, and everybody is bouncing all the time!!!
It's a great mix of ska, rock and uruguayan murga.
A must-have record.

For a group that very few people in the US have ever heard of, La Vela Puerca is such a downright great group that this album is a perfect addition to nearly any rock, latin, ska, or eclectic whatever collection. With incredibly talented songwriting, instrumentals, and vocals, this album feels nearly perfect without feeling overly polished that can be the downfall of modern pop music. What is immediately apparent is a deep belief in MUSIC and its use as both expression and the purest form of entertainment. Not all of the songs are happy--several are almost tragic--but they all make you feel like no others can: exhilerated, happy...rejuvenated, seriously. I play this album when all others seem overplayed or tiresome, and it always stays fresh. It's something a little bit indescribable, everyone seems to love it--it's a really FUN album--but there's something else there that goes just a little deeper than your average rock album. It's truly exceptional. Here are some highlights:

Por Dentro is dark, driving, a perfect rock/ska/latin blend...and they really pull it off so that it sounds GREAT...
El Viejo, a great tune, a tragic story...
Contradecir is the first "ballad" style song that I have ever really loved, it's moody but with enough of the rock element that it's never boring or sappy, just fascinatingly rich...
Potosi takes a few listens before you like it, but it grows on you for sure...
Manana is a rock en espanol explosion, seems to be a favorite of everyone I know who's heard it, and it's extremely catchy...
Jose Sabia is a truly beautiful song, defies any sort of genre or style...
Burbujas: look, there's a bit of funk on here too!
De No Olvidar goes out with a bang, even if you don't know Spanish you'll listen enough times to be screaming along in your car!

In short, an unbelievably unique album that has so much life packed into it that it defies words. If you can get your paws on a copy, I almost guarantee that you'll love it. And listen over and over and over and over again...it never gets old.

This is a powerful album that blends many types of music. Pop, punk, jazz, reggae, murga, folk, etc. And of course, it has that negative attitude so typical of the Rio de la Plata. However, it combines it with so much energy that the songs end up lifting you up. My favorite songs are the heavily promoted "El Viejo" (a sad life story), "El huracan" (makes you feel invincible), "Contradecir" (reminds me of The Beatles), and "De no olvidar" (an old Zitarrosa song turned into punk/jazz/latin).

This is FUN music! Rowdy, enlightened, rough and perfected to make you shimmy your feet and tap your fingers. They call it yiddish-ska-punk-something music but I just think of it as "life-jolting music." I haven't enjoyed a new CD this much for a lonnnnnng time.

I'm trying to think of some way to compare these guys to anyone else and all I can come up with is: if Morrissey was no longer depressed and took over the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, who then teamed up with Devo and Lynyrd Skynyrd for a big jam session with Frank Zappa... Hmmm, yeah that about does it.

Truly original music!

another outstanding album from the long-silent camp of the fenwicks. this full-band effort features more elliptical lyrics than their earlier effort but the musicianship and bouncy energy of the first album are all here again, perhaps even more so than before ... there really isn't anyone else in the world who writes brooding lyrics quite the way Mr. Schub does ... consistently inventive, catchy and uncategorizable. Serves the function of pop music for those consistently unable to listen to any of the drivel that usually brings home the bucks.

6 years in the making.13 songs that can save your life.

Once again the Fenwicks deliver heart pounding, soul searching, lyrics along with an excellent band. The Fenwicks finally have everything in place. If you loved the duo, you'll love this group even more!

68 glorious minutes of infectious and addictive, impassioned and exuberant Afro-Celtic Yiddish Ska.

68 minutes of unhinged exuberance and infectious glee.

Yo, my boys from tha' hood is dope! Taxicab know how to spizzice up the plizzace with some boody-shakin' izzaction! Even my deala' down on 18th street be listenin to deez boys, they are in his CD rotation along with 2pac, Wu, and Busta Bust. Definitely a dizzope album with some phatty phat horns. If blaxploitation was a ska band, then these muthf#^@*as would be Dolemite!

Never has there been such a breakthough band as significant as the Taxicab Samurais. Piercing the barrier between ska & emo doesn't seem like an easy thing to do, but these fine lads do it, and do it well. This band makes want to skank & cry at the same time! A nice hybrid upbeat 4th wave, reggae roots ska, and wussy emo. Good stuff. High recommended to both the elderly & the post-mortum.

If you do not own this album yet, do yourself a favor and buy it now. Featuring ex-members of Urine (one of the most influential bands to come out of the anti-Seatlle scene to this date) this album is the first of it's kind to incorporate the "skaremobilly" sound that the Samurais have now made famous. Clearly the best non-metal band to ever come out of New Jersey.

I love this cd. Orangetree is one of the best (if not THE best) bands to come out of St.Louis and I highly recommend it! I listen to alot of ska-punk type of music and they are my all time favorite! This cd along with their other one both rock. I LOVE YOU ORANGETREE!!

i have this cd, and it has made the band my faveorite! i saw ot at a concert in early 2000 and bought this cd right away! they are my fave band and need to be well known!

I bought this cd, due to the fact that it Jason Nelsons'(ex MU330) new band. I was expecting basically another MU330 basically, however I was pleasantly surprised. This cd rocks! Hard! Not to say that MU330 does not, but these guys take it to the next level. It has quickly become the best cd in my collection... buy it!

Just yesterday I listened to this CD and was still blown away. I say still, because I brought it in winter of 1998 and haven't taken it out of rotation since! Having more than a fair share of ska compilations, this one is by far one of the best; of female or non-female vocalists! In my opinion the first half of the CD is rock solid with tracks from Metro Stylee, Franceska, and Isaac Green & the Skalars (whose track is presented here in a superior mix than what is on their LP) with a nice variety of ska "styles" including rocksteady and third wave. The second half of the CD is not at strong but contains the steller "Worried About You" by Mealticket and "Why" by Highball Holiday. The rest are intances of ok music, but bad singing (Like on "Hey" done by Viskacity). But the good tracks make up for them 10 times over. A highlight from the 90s ska revival period.

Every track is a keeper. Just good Ska from beginning to end for both the expert and the novice. "Destroy" is the shining star. It will engage you, body and soul, immediately.

It's rare to find a comp. where every single song is good! I don't think there is a bad song on there, 74 min. of rad ska!

Secrect affair are the perfect example of a brilliant pop band that were more ore less derailed by a relentlessly vindictive UK press snobbery.The blessing of time is that those reviews are dead and gone....only the music remains.This debut is a joy from beginning to end.One can still get chills listening to New Day,Glory Boys,and the extended bliss of I'm Not Free(But I'm Cheap}.The production is pristine,the songwriting is top-notch...and to these jaded ears sounds just as fresh and vibrant as it did 20+ years ago.Egad...20 + years!

Good news:they still exist,albeit with a different line-up as The Affair.

Great news:critics die and are forgotten,but music like this is timeless.

Ahhh...to be 19/20 years old in New York City when this record came out!!! If you were cool (a regular NME reader) and a Jam fanatic, then the release of this record and the movie Quadrophenia at the same time was heaven sent.

I remember walking in to a tiny NYC club downtown winter of '79 and hearing Time for Action blasting out the front door and I was captured forever. Went to see Secret Affairs first few gigs here at Hurrahs and Privates. Great shows, tons of energy and very unique. Unfortunately, their second album just couldnt deliver the goods completely (although My World was fine) and the press slagged them off by their third album.

Glory Boys is one of the great rock albums of the 1980's.

Never thought this would see the light of day on CD. I wore out my viynl copy, back when we were playing at being mods. Secret Affair definately played second fiddle to The Jam, and only because Weller & Co thought of it all first (second time around). This is a wonderful platter, its not angst ridden, a stab at genuine pop music, a nod toward the 60's but original in its concept. As a band they were too clean cut to be taken seriously by the UK music press (and unfortunately, lumped in with the rest of the Mod bandwagon) but play & write they could. From the opening title cut, to the added extra tracks this is well worth the cash, and now they've re-issued the 2 following albums, also worth a listen. An album representative of a period in time when it was truly great to be young...Keep the faith! P.S. The Greatest Hits album is a winner, the best of all 3 releases, sound as a pound...

1988 soundtrack of the film "Buster" is known by two #1 hits by Phil Collins, TWO HEARTS and GROOVY KIND OF LOVE and Phil's performance as actor playing legendary train robber Buster Edwards. This soundtrack can be enjoyed in three different ways. Here's how.

PHIL'S EXCELLENT SONGWRITING

Indeed, Phil Collin's at that time was like god creating beautiful songs one after another. GROOVY KIND OF LOVE is the excellent renditon just as he did in YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE. TWO HEARTS is one of my top favorite late 80s songs. BIG NOISE is another excellent addition to Phil's master works.

ANNE DUDLEY'S EXCELLENT ORCHESTRATION

What makes this soundtrack worthwhile is inserted instrumental tracks dubbed as "incidental links". Particularly the one inserted between TWO HEARTS and JUST ONE LOOK introduced as "Gardening By The Book" is excellent.

60s POP COMES ALIVE

60s pop legends such as the Four Tops, The Searchers, Gerry &The Pacemakers, Dusty Springfield, and Sonny & Cher comes back alive. Particularly I GOT YOU BABE sounds most familiar because of the huge cover hit by UB40 and Chrissy Hindes.

Verdict: Excellently made soundtrack but the degree of recommendataion can be mixed.
Rating: 85 out of 100
Recommeded for: Phil Collins's fans and 60s pop appreciator.

This is the excellent soundtrack album to the 1988 movie "Buster" starring Phil Collins in his feature film debut as a famed British thief. Phil also contributed to the film's soundtrack album, and the "Buster" soundtrack does have a lot of great tunes on it, not only the two big #1 hit songs from Phil, "Two Hearts" and "A Groovy Kind Of Love," but also some classic 60's tunes from the likes of Sonny & Cher, The Spencer Davis Group, Dusty Springfield, and Gerry & The Pacemakers. Phil also contributes another pair of great songs, one sung by The Four Tops ("Loco In Acapulco"), and the up-tempo, rhythmic fun of "Big Noise," while Anne Dudley composes the fine orchestral music, which is sprinkled throughout the soundtrack album (including "The Robbery," featuring Phil on drums). I'm disappointed that the movie didn't do particularly well, but Phil did give an excellent performance as Buster, and he also delivered a great little batch of tunes to the soundtrack. The "Buster" movie soundtrack is a must-own CD for any diehard Phil fan. Pick it up!

As ALWAYS you never cease to amaze me Phil!I've always loved the upbeat way you have especially taking some of the older songs of the past and creating MAGIC by totally recreating their sound with your wonderful vocals. I truly believe with 2 Hearts and your wonderful new venture YOUR BIG BAND you have the chance to bringback to life MANY sounds by enhancing them with your UNIQUE YOU! I always knew you had it in you and now so will many others! To me, Phil Collins is by far the most remarkable recording artist I have ever heard! I also happen to be just about the only one I know of who will say this now out loud....listen up Phil...Seriously...and Sincerely...Phil Collins, to me personally, is the most Handsome, and Sexy,recording artist I have ever heard! (I HAD TO SAY THAT>>>>SORRY PHIL.....) But Seriously Phil is a definite HIT (S) with me !! I don't just take him at FACE VALUE and AGAINS'T ALL ODD'S, as I DANCE INTO THE LIGHT, I OUGHTA KNOW BY NOW, EVERYDAY, that THE TIMES ARE A CHANGIN so for now we can just WAIT AND WE WONDER, if by chance, IN THE AIR TONIGHT, we can have just ONE MORE NIGHT to hear your TRUE COLORS, as Phil's voice (and this is not JUST ANOTHER STORY) as you tell us BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY, and give us ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE with your voice and talents inspiring PHIL'S BIG BAND to be SURVIVOR's because WE CAN'T TURN BACK THE YEARS even though WE FLY SO CLOSE to THE SAME MOON, DRONED, but knowing THERE'S A PLACE FOR US, NO MATTER WHO, even though we all live SEPARATE LIVES'!! Please everyone take this at FACE VALUE! Phil if the eyes are truly a mirror to the soul, than IT'S IN YOUR EYES!! Congratulations on your new BIG BAND VENTURE, as you experience your new period of Growth and GENESIS evolving and growing because even though WE CAN'T TURN BACK THE YEARS, we can All wonder just what was going on in your Studio, when you titled that wonderful, wonderful, song SUSSUDIO> DANCE WITH ME INTO THE LIGHT, PHIL, as others would certainly agree, THE TIMES truly ARE A CHANGIN!! Phil Collins is my DRUMMER that just happens to Sing....IT'S IN YOUR EYES!!!! TONIGHT...TONIGHT!