Ska music reviews

this has to be the best ska-metal cd ever. every song is catchy, and they have a lot of energy.. i'd get this disc if you dont have it, right now. any music fan will enjoy this.

maybe i'm biased cos i spent all of high school listening to thumper live (and they did put on a great live show) but holy mother of god, they are an excellent band! the live versions on this cd are way superior to the other studio cd versions, and i have never heard such a rippin' cover of "crazy train". what are you waiting for? they are better than fiona apple and christina aguilera! drop that cheesesteak, teenybopper, and listen to thumper! i promise it'll make you a better person. will someone from thumper please sleep with me?

This album has great overlooked tracks. One's such as "Try Me", "It's Alright" , "Soul Almighty", and "My Sympathy". But all the tracks are good in thier own way. And actually have good sound. But not as good as his Island Records albums. This is the best album until Catch a Fire which is my Personal favorite. This is a great overlooked album. With great songwriting lyrics from Bob Marley. Such as African Herbsman has some cuts such as "Put it On" that don't have great sound. But Soul Rebels is only overlooked because it's an Import.

This record is beyond five stars -- essential listening. Along with African Herbsman and Catch a Fire, this is the best of the Wailers. Of the three, it is my personal favorite. As with Herbsman, this one is produced by the Upsetter. However, unlike my cd copy of Herbsman, this cd has very good sound quality. You can hear all of the interesting Scratch production touches. And, just like Herbsman, Perry doesn't overdo it and end up with a murky mess. Rather, the music retains a fairly bright treble along with a deep bass sound. Very happy stuff. I always feel better after puttin it on. You have to hear "Try Me" and "Soul Almighty". I can't recommend this album enough. Every friend that I have played this for, whether reggae fan or not, has loved it.

This album has great overlooked tracks. One's such as "Try Me", "It's Alright" , "Soul Almighty", and "My Sympathy". But all the tracks are good in thier own way. And actually have good sound. But not as good as his Island Records albums. This is the best album until Catch a Fire which is my Personal favorite. This is a great overlooked album. With great songwriting lyrics from Bob Marley. Such as African Herbsman has some cuts such as "Put it On" that don't have great sound. But Soul Rebels is only overlooked because it's an Import.

This record is beyond five stars -- essential listening. Along with African Herbsman and Catch a Fire, this is the best of the Wailers. Of the three, it is my personal favorite. As with Herbsman, this one is produced by the Upsetter. However, unlike my cd copy of Herbsman, this cd has very good sound quality. You can hear all of the interesting Scratch production touches. And, just like Herbsman, Perry doesn't overdo it and end up with a murky mess. Rather, the music retains a fairly bright treble along with a deep bass sound. Very happy stuff. I always feel better after puttin it on. You have to hear "Try Me" and "Soul Almighty". I can't recommend this album enough. Every friend that I have played this for, whether reggae fan or not, has loved it.

This set is a reissue of the two albums that were released in 1971. The "Soul Revolution Part II" album, and "Soul Revolution Part II: The Rhythm album". They were released in 1971 after Soul Rebels was released. All three of these albums were produced by Lee Perry. The albums mark the best music of that period. On this box set, "Don't Rock the Boat", "Put it On", "Duppy Conqueror", "Kaya", "Stand Alone", and "Sun is Shining" are among Bob's best vocals. They're are some bonus tracks on these cd's, which are "Soul Rebel", "Mr.Brown", and their instrumentals. Excellent set of music, hard to find though. Be lucky to even find the vinyl set.

cd 1 is very early takes of some of bob's most powerful tunes. the lyrics on this album are incredibly spiritual and have inspired me in many ways. cd 2 is the instumental dub to cd 1. (the rythum tracks). this is the greatest raggae music ever recorded. lee perry brings the wailers to a level of creativety that will never be topped.

I admit it. I began to despair. Lately it seems that alot of my favorite Christian ska is saying it's farewell to the upbeat, to it's Jamaican roots, and saying hello to a more radio friendly punk influence, (who would've thought the terms radio friendly and punk would ever match?). Five Iron Frenzy are on their way out, much to the silent weeping of Christian horn fans, The Supertones have gone into a much more 70's/80's influenced beat in which the horn is just a backup, and to be quite honest I have no clue what Squad 5-0 turned out to be, (didn't they used to be ska-core?).
With this in mind I was prepared for another switch when I heard that The Insyderz were doing a new album. I placed the new CD into my car deck with dread and cranked it in hopes of a horn or two when the first song arrived. "Soundtrack to a Revolution" begins with an anthem feel of drums pounding when not very long into it a sharp horn pop is heard. My friends I heard ska again! It came in the form of punk/ska but it was still there. They do not hide their sound but revel in it as they pound out a new CD that can only make you want to shout Amen with them. There is a theme here. The Insyderz have decided to tell a needed message, "No longer will I just sit back, as this world slowly dies" and this message is not said quietly.
Is the ska there though? Is it just a new punk with ska accent? No! The ska is there in full flavor. The sound is different. There is a more urgent hardcore sound throughout, but there is much brass for the rudie to revel in. If there is doubt I refer you to the song, "Testimony." If this song doesn't make you want to skank I know of few that will.
The Insyderz state it best when they say, "I know it's hard to think and it's hard to beleive that we're back from the dead and we're back on the scene once again, yeah back from the dead" right before a gorgeous horn tone pops in during the song, "God Almighty."
I am thankful that they've returned to bring hope to a hard, hornless period. All I ask is that the boys don't wait so long between this and the next CD. I'm anxious for a tour!

It's been a really long time since the last full-length album from the insyderz and even longer since their last album with original material on it. As usual I was nervous about this album because skalleluia too! was good but very mediocre, but the boys from the motor city really surprised me. Overall this is an excellent cd. It has the signature insyderz sound that is unmistakeable. It is nothing but ska/punk/hardcore and of course some reggae for flavor. Joe uses his growly voice much more on this album than on the past few, in fact it's the most he's ever used it. This album also is the debut of new guitarist Michael Lloyd. Alan, their old cornet player from their debut album rejoined the band as well. Amazing horn parts, as always catchy ska riffs but with more electric guitar than before. The title of the album fits it perfectly because the majority of the songs on this album are almost like fight anthems. The only complaint I have is that there's only 10 songs. So, overall Soundtrack to a Revolution is an amazing ska-core album with a dash more punk this time around, but at any rate all fans of ska will enjoy this and I think hardcore fans that have been waiting for this album will be very satisfied.

This is an excellent collection of newer Ska bands. It is a wonderful way of being introduced to the Skeletones, Buck-O-Nine, Mad Caddies, The Smooths, Mustard Plug and many other groups which don't normally make it to varity Ska CDs.

This CD contains a lot of great songs from big bands along with quality smaller bands to make a great blend of ska music

A superb compilation of the A & B sides from every single released by the Specials, STEREO-TYPICAL is a a great collection for anyone who loved the band, Ska, or the semi-underground club scene in which both flourished during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Beyond making black & white both a fashion statement and a social comment, Ska, much more than Punk, was able to crack radio playlists on both sides of the Atlantic, allowing in a breath of fresh air after years of increasingly stale corporate Rock and Pop. It seemed fresh and new, yet had its roots in R&B and traditional reggae. On the dance floor Ska was hip with roots, if you follow me.

The Specials were witty, fun, fashionable, bright, had a great horn section, brains and a social conscience. Within the genre they couldn't be touched, and they sound as great now as they did in their glory days.

Whether you're new to Ska or a seasoned fan of the Specials, this 3 CD set will be a welcome addition to your CD collection. Unlike so many "out of the vaults" boxed sets we're seeing nowadays, these CDs are not full of stuff that would have been better left forgotten. This is the best and the rarest music from the most important Ska band since the birth of British Ska in 1977.

Although there is music here that some fans may have never heard, there is plenty of very famous Specials music for everyone to enjoy. In the past, you would have had to collect all the Specials regular releases and quite a few songs only available on vinyl or hard to find compliation discs to get all this music. This collection brings all of it together on 3 discs that won't leave your CD player for months.

Do yourself a favor and get Stereo-Typical now!

Best studio one roots selection commercially available. Sounds like they're not saving anything for a vol. 2. That's how I like it. Way to go!

This disc is a smoking, burning, top notch out of control assemblage of some of the most dangerous and beautiful Studio One ever committed to tape. For both seasoned gourmets and newcomers alike this disc is an absolute must. A grand survey of the Roots, Rasta side of Studio One: early pre-ska, Ska and vintage reggae. Some tracks are so heavy and deadly that caution must be exercised when listening...

The little ska band from Michigan, Telegraph, has successfully reinvented thier style from their debut ska/punk album: 10 songs and then some. Their new album: Switched on, contains a more mature sound with not one hint of ska riffs on guitar. The lyrics are deeper and more self-reflective than their earlier care-free tracks. The album does not contain one song that you will want to skip, and two short instrumentals are thrown into the mix emphasizing just how much they have progressed as artists. Tracks 1,2,3,10,11, and 14 all have the possibility of being catchy hits. They did a wonderful job reworking the coffee song and american way from 1997's quit your band sampler (although i don't like how they removed the echoing from the end of american way, it still rocks now that they removed the ska element). The album has a sound reminiscent of Weezer, but with way more feeling in the vocals. Definite must have for anyone.

of the two goldfinger albums i used to have, this is the worse of the two....their first self titled album sucked pretty bad, but this one is definately ten times worse. even worse, these guys have contributed to the rise nu-emo/screamo by stamping their ugly seal of approval on horrible groups like story of the year and bands of the likeness...picture a less mtv-drugged version of blink 182 and throw in some random ska influences along with some over preaching and you have this band.

This CD strikes me as mediocre pop-punk. The hooks are not compelling enough, the lyrics are mostly mindless, and the melodies are forgetable - just like the uninspired vocal performance. None of the tracks have the same feel as the beginning of their self-titled debut album, which was really something special. This CD seems like a watered-down Goldfinger. Oh, and where are the horns?

If you're new to Goldfinger, try their self-titled CD instead.

Quite possibly one of the strongest albums in the pop/rock section of your local music store. Track after track of catchy solid rock genious. If i had my last 15 bucks and was poised with the question of sandwich or music, not only would i go music i might even consider this album as the one to buy. Up there with Hysteria (Def Leppard), Joshua Tree (U2), Boston (Boston), Extreme II Pornograffitti (Extreme), Dead Man's Party (Oingo Boingo), (the list goes on and on), as one of the most listenable albums i have. I would have no problem putting this album in the ol' CD/Record player and giving it a listen front to back without a moments though of switching tracks. They scored big, way big. The weakest tracl in my opinion is that last track..... simply because you know that its the last one. Fork over the cash and buy it..... NOW