Ska music reviews

This is my favorite Fishbone recording. Their energy and passion come across beautifully, but are balanced by tight production that is missing from some of their later recordings. This album also features a wonderful variety of styles and moods. "Everyday Sunshine" is going to be my funeral elegy, if my wife has anything do to with it (selecting the elegy, not the timing of my funeral!). She has seen how that song moves me, makes me dance, sing, and feel good about life. It is a beautiful pairing with the hard-rocking and nihilistic "Sunless Saturday." The two songs exemplify what makes this a special album.

For anyone who walked in on Fishbone at the Truth & Soul party of 1988, the shock and disturbing qualities that now enter the landscape of The Reality of My Surroundings (TROMS) is most certainly a party let down. It's like your parents coming home earlier than expected, and reality sets in. Truth and Soul is certainly their most accessible work, and often hailed as their masterpiece. But that is only in terms of how approachable it is by the general consumer. The suburbanite and middle class citizen. The record buying public. In my opinion, with TROMS, one of the most important black bands in America's recording history set about writing their manifesto. And anyone who had heard Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet, and the pronouncement by Chuck D. in Thin Line Between Law & Rape, `' You can't take whatcha want, Dont cha know We aint got nuttin left? Cause you took the rest, We aint got jazz, rock & roll , Rappin the lose. Wit a few fat ladies left singin da blues.''

Fishbone set about taking it all back when they released their first E.P. in 1985. By TROMS, reggae, ska, funk, rock, punk, jazz, hip hop, and folk music had all been rescued from what Chuck D. saw as a detainment cell for black culture. Rescued by Team Fishbone in a daring plan. TROMS is an album that does have to be taken song by song, track by track, because it is worthy of any description of its contents. Fishbone albums are celebrations of Black History Month, in a perpetual state. The history and influence of Black society on American culture is so undeniable, but gracefully brushed under history's rug. Without Black society, there would be no rock and roll. No jazz. No soul. No rhythm and blues. America would be a virtual, cultural, wasteland. With no SPIN magazines.

At the time of TROMS, Fishbone was comprised of Angelo Moore (Vocals / Sax), Chris Dowd (Vocals / Trombone / Keyboards), Walter Kibby II (Vocals / Trumpet), Kendall Jones (Guitar / Vocals), John Bigham (Guitar - before Fishbone he was with Miles Davis), and brothers Phil Fisher `'Fish'' (Drums), and Norwood Fisher (Bass / Vocals). Whether this is their quintessential line-up is up to the listener.

Fight the Youth (K.Jones / J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher)
`'And now another story of stolen faith and tragic glory'' - Heavy Metal with a Funk edge, the opening song sets the tone for the album and its topics to be explored. It states that a generation fed with anger, will make a future where nightmares come true. This chooses to fight against that, and to inform those whose minds have been poisoned by these corruptions, that they will soon find themselves at war.

If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I believed everything I saw on television'' opens up the segmented `If I Were A ... I'd', which is scattered throughout the album. This first part questions the life believed `reality' as told by media and commercial advertisers. The final solution is to be a Cop, or succinctly put here, a Power Trippin' Robot. So far this album would make those who thought Truth & Soul was a friendly bunch of people throwing a party, realise something quite quickly. Party's over. Sped up James Brown.

So Many Millions (J.N.Fisher / A. Moore)
`'Your education will do me no good, in my neighbourhood'' - Musically like Parliament / Funkadelic on a Bad Trip, So Many Millions illustrates with no holds barred, the problems of growing up Black in America. How can education be of any service, when the only thing it teaches about Black people is about their enslavement, and then their emancipation. They are like a footnote to someone else's history. Meanwhile, Dizzy Gillespie can't get into a club to play Be Bop because of its rules, and Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers are refused entry into Studio 54, where their songs are in heavy rotation. So little changes over too long a time.

Asswhippin' (Fishbone)
Relentless Jungle drums underscore the public whipping of the screaming.

Housework (W.Kibby / A.Moore / K.Jones / J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher)
`'Pops is gone and Mom's workin' 5 and 6 days a week'' - No options outside of what your friends and you can get up to while you're not at school, doing chores at home, having to start working because life isn't being good to you and yours,where you is. Everything explored in So Many Millions is summed up here, in the Ska mode. With bits of Gospel, Ragtime and Rock thrown in. This song might remind buyers of Truth & Soul of what they were expecting to find.

Deathmarch (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
A visit to New Orleans along the way. (Instrumental)

Behavior Control Technician (J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher)
`'Sheltering will restrict your baby's mind'' - Heavy Metal Funk with a good nod to George Clinton. Question Authority or remain a Little Zombie. Ordered Chaos music.

If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I were a Kernel(sic) in the United States Marine Corps `' - namedrops Vietnam, Nicaragua, lying, cheating, the trading of hostages for missiles, corporate wars.

Pressure (A.Moore / K.Jones)
`'Fear is the curse and today's word is pressure'' - Frenetic Ska Punk Chaos. Fishbone caught `pressure' musically for all to hear.

Junkies Prayer (A.Moore / C.Dowd / K.Jones / J.N.Fisher / B.West)
`'My pusher who art in the Krack House'' - truly one of the most disturbing pieces on TROMS, a loop of a laughing man, a lone tambourine, bongos, all underscore the twin readings (Left speaker / Right speaker) of the junkies prayer. ``Yea though I walk through the valleys of Harlem, Bronx, Manhattan . . . `' . Nightmare vision.

Pray To The Junkiemaker (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'You're on the road to the Tombstone Commode'' - The happy go lucky Reggae / Ska signified by the music harkens back to Truth & Soul Fishbone, but this is merely an extension of Junkies Prayer. An anti-drug statement accented with brutal honesty, it might be one of Angelo Moore's best vocals on the album.

Everyday Sunshine (Chris Dowd)
`'And no one wants or needs, nor sign of greed, could rule our soul'' - One of the songs that was released as a single from TROMS, Chris Dowd's `Sunshine' steps back to `Truth & Soul' accessibility, and is paralleled later by Kendall Jones's `Sunless Saturday'. The music is pure Soul / Gospel, with leanings toward Sly & The Family Stone. It almost becomes a Baptist Revival by its end.


If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I were a society'' - attacks the whole condition in which human beings are ignored for the sake of the ruling majority, and the powers that be. `Majority society just ain't right for me'.

Naz-tee May'en (J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher / A.Moore / K.Jones)
`'Aint nuthin' I'd rather be doin', than sweatin', chewin' and spewin'.'' - An ode to heterosexual fornication. The music can be described as `Fun Funk', very up and jolly. It's almost Bubblegum Funk.

Babyhead (Walter Kibby II)
`''Givin' up the goo to the bones groove'' - If the previous song approached the subject with a sense of humour, this song is an altogether different story. This is not Barry White's bedroom of romantic seduction. It's somewhere in his basement, or some part of the house you didn't know he had. Quite a few Fishbone fans don't rate this song highly. I personally think it's great. Descends from Light Cosmic Syrup into Heavy Metal Molasses.

If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I had a choice'' - concludes the If I Were A . . . I'd series. Switches the power back to the person, who ends up doing the same things everyone else is doing, but at least knows it.

Those Days Are Gone (C.Dowd / J.N.Fisher)
`I had a dream once. There was a wall inside my head. You all had put it there.'' - Psychedelic Hard Rock that swirls around your head if one's wearing headphones. Another accessible track for those who enjoyed Truth & Soul, totally disturbed by what they had heard on TROMS so far.

Sunless Saturday (Kendall Jones)
`Perhaps the charcoal grey and brown around me, is just the mirror image of my tainted soul?' - Jones's `Sunless Saturday' was the other single released from TROMS. An acoustic opening makes its way into heavy metal thrash. It is giving up hope personified, where the person doesn't see any chance of sunlight returning to his world. It's a prayer amongst pestilence.

This album stands as a document and diary of one of America's most important bands, who mixed almost 100 years of African-American musical culture into one form, called Fishbone. Purchase the album just to say `I own a Fishbone album'.

Fishbone is an absolutely amazing band. They are the complete package- awesome albums, legendary live shows, and a one-of-a-kind and charismatic frontman (frontmen depending on what Fishbone era we're talking about). "The Reality of My Surroundings" is probably my favorite album from Fishbone- it is the bridge from the old-skool, more 80s sounding pop/ska/alternative rock (remember when alternative rock really was alternative) to the darker, heavier, more abrasive albums that they released after this. If you're looking for a funky, catchy yet musically impressive Fishbone album I recommend "Truth and Soul". If you're looking for a more aggressive Fishbone album, I recommend "Give a Monkey a Brian and He'll Swear He's The Center of The Universe". If you're looking for a Fishbone album that has all of these elements, buy this album! Seriously, Fishbone is one of the most original, impressive, and most-underrated bands of modern music. They appeal to all different types of musical tastes. They Rock.

This is my favorite Fishbone recording. Their energy and passion come across beautifully, but are balanced by tight production that is missing from some of their later recordings. This album also features a wonderful variety of styles and moods. "Everyday Sunshine" is going to be my funeral elegy, if my wife has anything do to with it (selecting the elegy, not the timing of my funeral!). She has seen how that song moves me, makes me dance, sing, and feel good about life. It is a beautiful pairing with the hard-rocking and nihilistic "Sunless Saturday." The two songs exemplify what makes this a special album.

For anyone who walked in on Fishbone at the Truth & Soul party of 1988, the shock and disturbing qualities that now enter the landscape of The Reality of My Surroundings (TROMS) is most certainly a party let down. It's like your parents coming home earlier than expected, and reality sets in. Truth and Soul is certainly their most accessible work, and often hailed as their masterpiece. But that is only in terms of how approachable it is by the general consumer. The suburbanite and middle class citizen. The record buying public. In my opinion, with TROMS, one of the most important black bands in America's recording history set about writing their manifesto. And anyone who had heard Public Enemy's Fear of a Black Planet, and the pronouncement by Chuck D. in Thin Line Between Law & Rape, `' You can't take whatcha want, Dont cha know We aint got nuttin left? Cause you took the rest, We aint got jazz, rock & roll , Rappin the lose. Wit a few fat ladies left singin da blues.''

Fishbone set about taking it all back when they released their first E.P. in 1985. By TROMS, reggae, ska, funk, rock, punk, jazz, hip hop, and folk music had all been rescued from what Chuck D. saw as a detainment cell for black culture. Rescued by Team Fishbone in a daring plan. TROMS is an album that does have to be taken song by song, track by track, because it is worthy of any description of its contents. Fishbone albums are celebrations of Black History Month, in a perpetual state. The history and influence of Black society on American culture is so undeniable, but gracefully brushed under history's rug. Without Black society, there would be no rock and roll. No jazz. No soul. No rhythm and blues. America would be a virtual, cultural, wasteland. With no SPIN magazines.

At the time of TROMS, Fishbone was comprised of Angelo Moore (Vocals / Sax), Chris Dowd (Vocals / Trombone / Keyboards), Walter Kibby II (Vocals / Trumpet), Kendall Jones (Guitar / Vocals), John Bigham (Guitar - before Fishbone he was with Miles Davis), and brothers Phil Fisher `'Fish'' (Drums), and Norwood Fisher (Bass / Vocals). Whether this is their quintessential line-up is up to the listener.

Fight the Youth (K.Jones / J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher)
`'And now another story of stolen faith and tragic glory'' - Heavy Metal with a Funk edge, the opening song sets the tone for the album and its topics to be explored. It states that a generation fed with anger, will make a future where nightmares come true. This chooses to fight against that, and to inform those whose minds have been poisoned by these corruptions, that they will soon find themselves at war.

If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I believed everything I saw on television'' opens up the segmented `If I Were A ... I'd', which is scattered throughout the album. This first part questions the life believed `reality' as told by media and commercial advertisers. The final solution is to be a Cop, or succinctly put here, a Power Trippin' Robot. So far this album would make those who thought Truth & Soul was a friendly bunch of people throwing a party, realise something quite quickly. Party's over. Sped up James Brown.

So Many Millions (J.N.Fisher / A. Moore)
`'Your education will do me no good, in my neighbourhood'' - Musically like Parliament / Funkadelic on a Bad Trip, So Many Millions illustrates with no holds barred, the problems of growing up Black in America. How can education be of any service, when the only thing it teaches about Black people is about their enslavement, and then their emancipation. They are like a footnote to someone else's history. Meanwhile, Dizzy Gillespie can't get into a club to play Be Bop because of its rules, and Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers are refused entry into Studio 54, where their songs are in heavy rotation. So little changes over too long a time.

Asswhippin' (Fishbone)
Relentless Jungle drums underscore the public whipping of the screaming.

Housework (W.Kibby / A.Moore / K.Jones / J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher)
`'Pops is gone and Mom's workin' 5 and 6 days a week'' - No options outside of what your friends and you can get up to while you're not at school, doing chores at home, having to start working because life isn't being good to you and yours,where you is. Everything explored in So Many Millions is summed up here, in the Ska mode. With bits of Gospel, Ragtime and Rock thrown in. This song might remind buyers of Truth & Soul of what they were expecting to find.

Deathmarch (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
A visit to New Orleans along the way. (Instrumental)

Behavior Control Technician (J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher)
`'Sheltering will restrict your baby's mind'' - Heavy Metal Funk with a good nod to George Clinton. Question Authority or remain a Little Zombie. Ordered Chaos music.

If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I were a Kernel(sic) in the United States Marine Corps `' - namedrops Vietnam, Nicaragua, lying, cheating, the trading of hostages for missiles, corporate wars.

Pressure (A.Moore / K.Jones)
`'Fear is the curse and today's word is pressure'' - Frenetic Ska Punk Chaos. Fishbone caught `pressure' musically for all to hear.

Junkies Prayer (A.Moore / C.Dowd / K.Jones / J.N.Fisher / B.West)
`'My pusher who art in the Krack House'' - truly one of the most disturbing pieces on TROMS, a loop of a laughing man, a lone tambourine, bongos, all underscore the twin readings (Left speaker / Right speaker) of the junkies prayer. ``Yea though I walk through the valleys of Harlem, Bronx, Manhattan . . . `' . Nightmare vision.

Pray To The Junkiemaker (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'You're on the road to the Tombstone Commode'' - The happy go lucky Reggae / Ska signified by the music harkens back to Truth & Soul Fishbone, but this is merely an extension of Junkies Prayer. An anti-drug statement accented with brutal honesty, it might be one of Angelo Moore's best vocals on the album.

Everyday Sunshine (Chris Dowd)
`'And no one wants or needs, nor sign of greed, could rule our soul'' - One of the songs that was released as a single from TROMS, Chris Dowd's `Sunshine' steps back to `Truth & Soul' accessibility, and is paralleled later by Kendall Jones's `Sunless Saturday'. The music is pure Soul / Gospel, with leanings toward Sly & The Family Stone. It almost becomes a Baptist Revival by its end.


If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I were a society'' - attacks the whole condition in which human beings are ignored for the sake of the ruling majority, and the powers that be. `Majority society just ain't right for me'.

Naz-tee May'en (J.N.Fisher / P.Fisher / A.Moore / K.Jones)
`'Aint nuthin' I'd rather be doin', than sweatin', chewin' and spewin'.'' - An ode to heterosexual fornication. The music can be described as `Fun Funk', very up and jolly. It's almost Bubblegum Funk.

Babyhead (Walter Kibby II)
`''Givin' up the goo to the bones groove'' - If the previous song approached the subject with a sense of humour, this song is an altogether different story. This is not Barry White's bedroom of romantic seduction. It's somewhere in his basement, or some part of the house you didn't know he had. Quite a few Fishbone fans don't rate this song highly. I personally think it's great. Descends from Light Cosmic Syrup into Heavy Metal Molasses.

If I Were A . . I'd (A.Moore / C.Dowd)
`'If I had a choice'' - concludes the If I Were A . . . I'd series. Switches the power back to the person, who ends up doing the same things everyone else is doing, but at least knows it.

Those Days Are Gone (C.Dowd / J.N.Fisher)
`I had a dream once. There was a wall inside my head. You all had put it there.'' - Psychedelic Hard Rock that swirls around your head if one's wearing headphones. Another accessible track for those who enjoyed Truth & Soul, totally disturbed by what they had heard on TROMS so far.

Sunless Saturday (Kendall Jones)
`Perhaps the charcoal grey and brown around me, is just the mirror image of my tainted soul?' - Jones's `Sunless Saturday' was the other single released from TROMS. An acoustic opening makes its way into heavy metal thrash. It is giving up hope personified, where the person doesn't see any chance of sunlight returning to his world. It's a prayer amongst pestilence.

This album stands as a document and diary of one of America's most important bands, who mixed almost 100 years of African-American musical culture into one form, called Fishbone. Purchase the album just to say `I own a Fishbone album'.

Fishbone is an absolutely amazing band. They are the complete package- awesome albums, legendary live shows, and a one-of-a-kind and charismatic frontman (frontmen depending on what Fishbone era we're talking about). "The Reality of My Surroundings" is probably my favorite album from Fishbone- it is the bridge from the old-skool, more 80s sounding pop/ska/alternative rock (remember when alternative rock really was alternative) to the darker, heavier, more abrasive albums that they released after this. If you're looking for a funky, catchy yet musically impressive Fishbone album I recommend "Truth and Soul". If you're looking for a more aggressive Fishbone album, I recommend "Give a Monkey a Brian and He'll Swear He's The Center of The Universe". If you're looking for a Fishbone album that has all of these elements, buy this album! Seriously, Fishbone is one of the most original, impressive, and most-underrated bands of modern music. They appeal to all different types of musical tastes. They Rock.

This album was one of my very first ska albums. Very energetic horns, unique percussion style, good vocals, everything. I bought it in 1997 and unbeknownst to me at the time, my cousin was in high school with one of the horn players in Southern CA. I got to see the Hippos live once in Dallas, and they are fantastic both on and off stage. Their 2nd release - Heads Are Gonna Roll - is also a great CD, where their musical maturity really shines through. As of now they are broken up, but did manage to release a 3rd album because of an overwhelming number of requests (sometimes even bitter demands!) from their fans. This is incredible; I've never heard of any band putting out a new release after splitting up. It makes a good collector's item, but is somewhat evolved and has virtually no ska influence. Stick to Forget the World for your ska fix, and be sure to check out the band's updated website - www.thehippos.com. Peace.

If you dont want to pay alot for this album go to the vagrant website so you can pick it up brand new for 10 bucks 13 with shippings. I have no idea why it is so expensive on here but it isnt even a rare cd so just go pick it up with out getting screwed. Long live cheap music, peace

If you only own one ska cd this definately should be it. A large variety of songs with many different themes (some love songs, serious and funny songs too). The title track for the cd "Forget the World," I think is the best ska song ever written both for the lyrics and the musical content. Overall the song writing on this cd is tremendous. Well worth putting out the money to get a hold of this music!!!

This album just isnt the same as Keasbey nights. It seems that songs aren't as catchy or as good as mostly every song on Keasbey Nights. Its still an allright follow up to their debut album.

Ska/Ska-core/Ska-punk, whatever the hell it is called, this is an incredible cd. Not necessarily my "type" of music, but a CD this good can be enjoyed by more than just ska fans.

Deftly avoiding the sophomore jinx, a restructured Catch 22 (sans original members Jamie Egan, Tomas Kalnoky, and Josh Ansley, adding bassist Pat Kays, guitarist Pat Calpin, horn player Mike Soprano, and Jeff Anderson on vocals) returns to the ska-punk sound that made 1997's "Keasbey Nights" a standout.
"Alone In A Crowd" builds on the darker, more violent themes of the band's earlier work, slamming death, regret, failure, abuse, neglect, and violence into thirty-three minutes (minus three minutes of dead air hiding a bonus track) of pure energy. Some of the tracks ("What Goes Around Comes Around", "Point The Blame", "Arm To Arm") easily equal or even surpass the "Keasbey"-era work, and the album never drags. A punked-out cover of the Beach Boys' "Sloop John B" adds a needed spot of brightness to the album's major thematic movement, the tale of two young lovers caught up in murder and mayhem in middle America. This album is reckless, ruthless, and an absolute blast to listen to. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Five stars isn't enough.

Don't get me wrong, I mean I like this cd and all. In fact, it's probably one of my favorite Suicide Machines cd. But, I just don't think "ska-punk" is a good combo. Maybe it's just my opinion...Burn it from a friend or borrow/steal it or something. It's not really worth the money.

With their second album, The Sucide Machines take a much more punk type approach rather than the blended ska/punk/revival 3rd wave type of style on DBD. However, no complaints emerging from here. Also unlike "Destruction by Definition's" 'fun' idea of the CD, "Battle Hymns" gives me more of an 'in your face' vibe, which has been mentioned be for. Although the tracks on this disc may be short, they will keep you wanting more until you reach the end of the CD. Sadly, this is the band's last album with drummer, Derek Grant, who had a very exciting and blazing-fast touch ( he is now with the Alkaline Trio, hahahaha! ). Ryan, the new drummer, is almost too fundamental at times, not having what Derek brought to the table as a Suicide Machine. This would also be the bands last album, for a while anyway, with the ska/punk type of feel throughout. I, personally, still love the other albums, but some people seem to think the next two albums, the self-titled and "Steal this Record", are out of place. WARNING - when played loud this CD may result in broken windows. Thank you for your time.

This album is not for everyone. Each SM CD has been so different from the last, so, this one may not appeal to those who liked the self titled album (I didn't). However, this album exemplifies what punk rock SHOULD be, but isn't. While I may be alone in this, when I hear this CD, I am taken back 15 or so years. While, yes, this disk, has a very political message, it is one that is positive. The message is about unity and breaking down racial walls. Songs like "black and white world" or "hating hate" adequately send this message, and it's loud and clear to these ears.

This album was good and all but it just seems like they grabbed a handful of songs and threw them on a CD. The songs featured are not the best by the bands.

Come on people.

I can't understand you don't get bored with compilations like these. It's fun to discover new bands but you can't base your judgement on one song only so you need to find another source still to find out if you really found a new band.
Ok, this is not the worse out there. There are worse compilations, but well. Some are better. Punk-O-Rama 2 and 3 are better than this one, so I'd say buy them IF you want to buy a compilation. I prefer EP's and albums though.

Also, why is Tom Waits on this compilation? Yes, I know why; because's he on Epitaph...but isn't this called PUNK o rama?

I know most reviews say that this is not the best Punk O Rama volume. But I'll have to disagree. It's the best.
You can always rely on good songs by NOFX and Pennywise.
But the highlights of this CD are 1998 by Rancid (very catchy song in the typical Rancid way), Faster than the World by Pulley (a good fast song), Hopeless Romantic by Bouncing Souls, Think the World by All, and Getaway by Ten Foot Pole (all three really good pop punk songs).
The only song I ever skip on this CD is Big in Japan by Tom Waits. That song's annoying!
Get this CD. You won't regret it as you listen to it over and over again.

The Aquabats cd Vol-two Myths and legens is the best. I had a blast listening to it. In my opion it is their best cd yet. I absoloty think it is rad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Aquabats have saved the world once again! "Myths, Legends . . . " is a great compilation of various Aquabat music.
Here are some reviews of the songs:

Robot Theme Song: A short and catchy song with no lyrics.

Hey Luno: This is on my top-five list for this CD. It's about a cartoon flying horse, and has the surfer-rock feel. The horn section in this song is awesome.

Pool Party: A carefree song about, well, a pool party. It's very catchy.

Pizza Day: Another one on my top five list. It's got some witty lyrics. The song is about school nostalgia. I like the horn riffs.

Dear Spike: This song would be number six if I had a top ten. It's about one of the band members getting a cadet package (for more info, visit www.theaquabats.com).

I Fell Asleep On My Arm: I think that some people have been interpreting this song incorrectly. This is not meant to be more Korn for people. It's a satire, not some pit-moshing song. It's pretty funny when you compare it to real Korn/Limpbizkit songs.

Radiation Song: "The radiation in the ground makes a lovely, bubbly sound." The song opens up with that line, and many more funny lyrics.

Adventure Today: My favorite song on the album, hands down. It's based on the Goonies, of all things. The guitars, lyrics, and horns are all great. This is a great song!

The Baker: This sounds like it's from "Les Miserables." It's got a horn solo at the beginning, and it's about a baker and why he bakes his bread.

Danger Woman: Another one of my favorites. No horns, but some catchy lines. It's Danger woman!

Worms Make Dirt: This is a synth-heavy song about how worms do their thing. Although silly, it's a good song.

Sandy Face: This song has some very funny lyrics. However, it's the song that doesn't do much for me on this CD.

Wild Sea: Remember the song "Chemical Bomb"? Well, this has the same melody, with different lyrics and a more "rock-ish" feel. It's a great closing song, and it's one of my favorites.

So, there you have it. All thirteen songs. This album has the most variety out of all their CDs so far. Don't let that keep you from not buying this album!

This is the first Aquabats CD I purchased. The only in fact. And I love this CD. Everything on here is amazing. This cd covers everything a good ska cd should. The completley senseless(pool party), important issues (pizza day) and parody (I feel asleep on my arm). For the reviewer who said that fans of pop, rap, rock, or techno may not get into this cd, thats bull doody. I love Rock. And some pop and techno is alright. Rap sucks, but thats not my point. He said something about loving Korn. Korn is an awesome band. I think any fan of rock has to hear I Fell Asleep on My Arm. It parodies the styles of Rage Against the Machine, Limp Bizkit, and Korn. That songs makes me want to get up and mosh more than most songs rock bands play.

Here's the lowdown: There's two really good songs on this album ("Send You Back", "Throw A Bomb") and the rest is passable filler.

Midwest Madness. Thats all I have to say about mustard plug. This is a great ska band that can really turn out great tunes. This is a definately a harder version of the mighty mighty bosstones and others. great band. Lolita is a great song along with throw a bomb.

About seven years ago, I got dragged to the Reptile House, a little dive on the east side of Grand Rapids, MI, to hear a local band play. Little did I know that Mustard Plug would grow into the very mature band that they are today. I have since joined the military, and I travel the globe carrying cargo for the Air Force. I have found Mustard Plug albums in music shops in southern California, rural Georgia, Yokota, Frankfurt, London and Crete (of all places). This band seems to only get better with each album, and has gained a following world-wide. They are almost complete unknowns outside of Ska circles, but their influence in the realm of Ska is truly universal. To all fans of Less Than Jake, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the Mad Caddies and other great Ska bands, I highly recommend Mustard Plug. You will not be disappointed with the energy and thrill of hearing this band or better yet, seeing them live. Pick up "Evildoers Beware" also, if for no other reason than the "Beer Song" anthem that finally landed them on MTV.

I would give this cd 10 stars. Fishbone, from go, have been that intense band that EVERYBODY needs to experience. With all of that energy on stage and can still hold the beat! This is the ORIGINAL line-up for the 'Boners. I TRULY miss everyone else (with the exception of Angelo, who continues to hold Fishbone). Even Dirty Walt is gone. I thought he would never leave!. Fish (drummer) is now in Wicked Wisdom with Jada. Kendall's group, Seedy Arkestra, has a cd called Puzzle. Reggae-ish. Nice and mello. Walt has a cd called Dirty Walt and the Sanitation. Funky and dirty. That's all I will say. Rest of the fellers, yo no se? Favorite songs: Slow Movin' Bus (Howard Beach Party), Change, Freddie's Dead, Bonin' in the Boneyard,-Damn, might as well just say the WHOLE cd!

This Fish bone cd is awsome, it is strange at first, i dident realy like it at first, and now that i have listen to it more then once i love it!
I tell you to buy this cd NOW!!!!!!!
(i am a huge fishbone fan)

I am selling cds on Az, but, this one's being pulled. This is one of the best records to come out of Los Angeles, ever. It's dismaying to read that it wasn't that popular; when I first heard it, a bunch of folks I knew thought Fishbone was huge. Guess they were in some kind of bubble.

Fishbone is one of those leftfield bands from LA that's hard to classify. Like other Los Angeles bands like Oingo Boingo, Frank Zappa, War, Ozomatli, Faith No More, RATM, and RHCP (and now, Burning Star), Fishbone resists categorization, but works in many categories. The songs still sound fresh.

I heard the bone was back performing again last year around LA. Maybe the world will catch up to them.

This album broke many mainstream listeners to the MMB in 1994. Unfortunately, these younger listners must not of heard the real MMB albums prior, which are much more fun, energetic, and skacore. This album contains overproduced, sappy, depressing songs made for commerical audiences leaving behind the better days of the MMB. All the elements of a band selling out are here: a hit single, a slow ballad (ska style), and a cleaned up polished look for MTV. All of the TANG MMB albums are worth buying with More Noise being my favorite. I can't imagine what type of person would actual enjoy listening to tracks on this album like "pictures to prove it" or "jump thru the hoops" or what the band was thinking when they recorded these slow and uninspiring songs. THis album led many hardcore fans to leave the band as live shows lost thier energy and posers began touting this album as great. What a sham. The best song on this album "dogs and chaplains" is a third time remake of a classic first appearing on Devils Night Out on TANG.

This album did not hold a candle to "Don't Know How to Party" when it dropped in 94'. They also toured off this sell-out slab of stale sardines for 6 robotic years afterwards. If you are interested in getting into the Bosstones do not buy this. If you are a mild Bosstones fan and do not own this, don't buy this. If you are 30 years old like me with fond memories of a fun little band, you look back at this ugly yellow album and laugh. It was the beginning of the end...

This CD was amazing.It is probably the Bosstones best(besides Let's Face It).

Kinder Words-The opening song and I wouldn't pick any other song on the CD for the opener.With its incredible horn part and great guitar, it's truly an amzing song.

Sad Silence-Good song,I especially liked the ending.

Hell of a Hat-GREAT horn part!Its awesome how they can start soft and gradually explode into horns and screaming in this song.

Pictures to Prove It-This song is ok. Not as good as some other songs on the CD, but still a great addition to the album.

We Should Talk-Awesome song. Great proof that hard rock and horns can still be mixed together and sound great.

A Dollar and A Dream-This song is good, but its overall softness kind of breaks the mood of the rest of the CD.Still pretty good though.

Stand Off-Another great song.The trombone intro is THE COOLEST!!

365 Days-Awesome song that displays Dicky's amazing vocal talents and still has a great horn part.

Toxic Toast-If there were a list of the top 3 snogs on this CD, this song would be on it.Amazing piano and trombone solos.MMB CLASSIC!!!

Bronzing the Garbage-Great song with good vocals and trumpets.

Dogs and Chapains-Incredible song-fast paced and energetic.

Jump Through the Hoops-What better way to end the CD that with an awesome song like this.You'll be whistling this tune forever. It may be the last, but certainly not the least.

Overall, a great CD and I highly recommend it to any punk or ska fan, as it clearly excells in both areas.