Ska music reviews

01. Wide Awake
02. State O Mind
03. Fat & Married
04. Curse
05. Since the Shortlong's Gone
06. La
07. Got Caught
08. Rok
09. Nothin's Alright
10. Johnny Dumbjokes
11. Hang Tuff Hold Tight
12. Cursed Again
13. Get Away From That Table
14. So Far
15. Fried Chicken
16. The Punisher / Downtown
17. Hot Dogs
18. Inside Me
19. Chumps on Parade (bonus track)

When I purchased this album back in '98 I had never heard of this band. I went to a local store and bought "Hello Rockview" which is a very popular ska album. I was chatting with the owner about good ska albums and he pointed this album out. It was only five dollars so I picked it up.

I was surprised when I first heard some of these songs. The horns were great and the music was fun and uplifting. Standouts include "Wide Awake", "Fat and Married", "Got Caught", and " Get Away From That Table." There are a lot of great songs on this album but those were the best.

Mu330 didn't just have all One and a half and two minute songs. Some of there songs were over three minutes long which gives this cd more lasting power. The only thing I disliked about this album was there were a couple of songs out of place and kind of dumb, like "Hot Dogs", and "Rok".

Overall this is a great ska album but it's a bit different so try not to shut this out the first time you here this.

Mu330 has their own distinct style of ska. Every album seems to show different facets of Mu330. Now this cd is pretty decent. There are some songs that i enjoy alot, like Short-Long, Hang-Tuff, Hold Tight, and Got Caught. Now, I know this is supposed to be a fun album, but sometimes it can get too annoying and disorganized. if you don't have their self-titled album or Press, get those first.

This last Dingees album represents very well what they are made of, every tune represents some unique and fresh,also very well on the albums final mix, its got the balance beetween the punk, ska and reggae The Dingees are distinguished by

This album sounds so much like The Clash it's ridiculous. Ridiculous in a good way. Comparable to London Calling, Sandinista!, or Rancid's Life Won't Wait. I'm so glad I bought this album. Almost all Christian bands, even the good ones, deliver albums with music inferior to their secular contemporaries but that is NOT the case with Crucial Conspiracy.

THIS ALBUM IS GREAT, THE BEST ALBUM BY THE DINGEES IF I MAY SAY SO. SOME REAL STRANGE CHILLED OUT REGGAE WITH A TOUCH OF DUB HERE N THERE, TUNES ON THIS ALBUM, AND SOME GREAT PUNK N SKA SONGS OF COARSE, GREAT SONGS. BUY THIS RIGHT NOW. FER FANS OF CLASH, FISHBONE, KING TUBBY, SPECIALS.......

The only reason I'd give this particular CD 4 stars is cause of how awesome it is to see First Grade Crush live. There's just so much energy put into it, both from the band and the enthused crowds. But this CD has a great variety of songs on it, and I just think you'll fall in love with it if their style is your thang. Over and Out! Go see em on tour with Big D and the Kids Table! mwuhahaha

I love these guys. Especially the bone. I think his name is Don or Bob or something. But they rock!!!! Live, I thought I was going to freek! They're just so cool up there, without shirts and all. But then their lyrics are so deep too. This album is better than the White Album and anything the Pixies ever did put together. Everyone must see them live. Even if you live 100 miles away, you should go and see them like twice. Okay bye.

A friend of mine told me about jump up records so i went to their website and i listened to an mp3 by first grade crush and i loved it and i bought the cd and i cant stop listening to it. ska and punk are the best and i cant wait til they tour this summer so i can finally see them live.

Words cannot describe the life changing experience i have undergone by listening to this recording. I have thrown away all other CD's and im using thier music as my mantra-Ba whom shuka boka da whom bow bow (taken from the bow bow song)

WOW WOW WOW how can ya not dig this crazy cool cd. ska mixed with great pop sencibilities... a bit of old style jamacian ska mixed together with some police-ish reggae and you come close to what one groovy coconut sound like... i vote pizza for two as ska song of the year this is a must buy for all those kids who think they know what ska is....well it isnt mighty might bosstones and it isnt edna's goldfish it's ONE GROOVY COCONUT

There is punk SKA. There is traditional Ska There is flat Ska.

And this is wonderful Ska. Traditional enough to please the none punk crowd, but still refreshing and breaking new ground. This is what modern Ska should be. Good beats, clear refreshing lyrics which don't take them self too seriously. I hope this band puts out more stuff.

This Cd is Mu330s best cd in my opinion my favorate songs are 32 cents and stagnant water

gotta be mu330's best album. great stuff. every song on this album is very well written. the two trombone sound kicks ass (yes, this coming from a trumpet player). I can't really name my favorite songs on this album because they all kick so much ass. Make sure this is your first Mu330 album. go get it now

I was really debating whether or not I should of used 4 stars or 5. Mu330 has come a really long way. I loved 'Press', and 'Chumps On Parade' is one of my favorite albums of all time. I did not enjoy 'Crab Rangoon' (but LOVED "Ireland"), I just thought it was way too pop. If that was the road they were heading down, I wasn't looking forward to the next album that much. Would I quickly abandon them like I did with Less Than Jake, or would my loyalty to them override my dislike of their new sound, like The Mighty Mighty BossToneS?
Overall, this album is quite spectacular. Although Mu330 describes themselves as "indie" in the booklet (as indie has now become more of a genre than just a small record label), they haven't really abandoned their ska roots. Although their songs definitely have an emo-esque quality to them, Dan has yet to abandon those tinny-sounding ska riffs, which, unlike other ska-gone-emo bands, don't sound that bad backdropped against this emo.
Dan's voice still kicks ass, and his guitar playing is still up to par. Chris is back with his wacky bass lines that seem to be all over the neck. Ted, the magnificent drummer that he is, didn't seem to stand out too much in this album. There really was no song where I stopped and thought 'Hey, I like this drum bit' or 'Nice bass line'. Actually, the bass could be used more, but I'm a bass player who likes it up front and everywhere, so what do I know?
Rob and Gerry, however, are damn good trombone players. They add something to the album that you just can't describe, but you can't live without. Brilliance!

"Vow Vow" kicks off the album, and does nothing more. Just fast start.
"Favorite Show" is one of the good ones, with good horns, and makes me think about how good television is.
"Pool Party" is undeniably catchy, but for some reason, I just don't connect with it.
"Stagnant Water" is another okay song. It's nice, but nothing more.
"Hot Cheese" is a bit faster and catchier, so therefore, I like it a bit more, but it's a bit short.
"Quick" is anything but. I like the emotion that Dan projects into his performance in this one. Why? I don't know.
"San Francisco" is not meant to be an important song, but just a fun little fast-paced tune.
"Rocket Fuel" really sounds like a Skankin' Pickle song. Is it just me?
"Stick It" was a song I didn't really think much of before, but now, I love it. Huh.
"Lincoln" is perhaps the best song here. The happy yet sad horn line makes me want to cry and the lyrics are undescribable.
"Baby Rats" is catchy at some points, but nothing more.
"Float Trip" is one of my favorites. It's just...it's just a good song. I don't have to give a reason.
Same thing with "Hoops".
And finally, "32 cents" starts out with a cool ska riff, and is actually something I wouldn't be embarrassed to call a 'ska song'.

Believe it or not, I actually liked this album a lot more than I should. I'm not saying it's the best Mu330 album, for this and 'Chumps On Parade' or 'Press' shouldn't be on the same list together. This is not ska-core, this is best described as "ska-influenced-emo-with-horns".
Whatever the...it is, I like it.

This disc is the first and the last one for my Prince Buster collection. The sound is terrible, I understand that this musician recorded its music more than 40 years, but there is no intention for remastering the original records. The music as well as the lyrics is not that good. I would rather recommend ska musicians like The Skatalites.

I was having an early drink last week and there was a dj spinning some unusual stuff (for Australia) and suddenly I heard
"Al Capones guns don't argue" I was off my stool and swinging my hips and clicking my tongue chu chucca chu chucca, just as I did when I was 14 playing my Mums old copy of Al Capone b/w One step beyond (just as she had when she first bought it in 1964)
I remember the specials/Madness/Selector etc well and went to a couple of ska/2 tone concerts in 1980, but non of those bands come anywhere near the originals. These songs are timeless and have more rhythm than there milk and water copies from the late 70's early 80's. If you like ska, buy it.
It's a once off buy.

Without a doubt, PRINCE BUSTER is the almighty father of the SKA-BLUE BEAT style (NOTE: of course, LAUREL AITKEN is the godfather of SKA). These tunes are the original soundtrack for any REAL MOD or SKINHEAD and that fact cannot be denied. I have a copy of a PRINCE BUSTER live show in London from 1967 and it is absolutely awesome. If you can find this recording, please grab it. It will be worth every cent you spend on it. I also recommend the SEQUEL to this CD. The only thing that sucks about these CDs is the fact that they don't have Prince Buster's original recording of ONE STEP BEYOND. However, there is another listing for a CD that does include this recording. Check out all the PRINCE BUSTER listing on this website. Also, TROJAN RECORDS is releasing a double CD of SKA classics (original and neo-ska classics). Happy listening...............PRINCE BUSTER rules!

I unashamedly give the lyrics 5 stars, not just because I agree with the message but because they say things that aren't often expressed so succinctly or with this particular spin. It makes me think every time I listen and challenges me regularly. The music is great and appeals to so many more people than their previous albums. It's very well done and just different from your average record.

I was not a big fan of the last couple of Supertones albums, especially "Hi-Fi Revival." But this one has really struck a chord with me. While some of it, especially the single "We Shall Overcome", does hearken back to the first two Supertones albums, I felt like this one took the Supertones formula and threw in a strong sense of pop melody. I really like the new style of background vocals being used here. A couple of examples: "Cult of Cool" and "I Will Follow" are definitely Supertones songs, but neither quite feel like anything they've done before. The former has a killer sing-along chorus, and the latter is an up-tempo reggae (instead of down tempo like the old "There's No Life Away From You." And unlike on "Hi-Fi Revival", which was also trying something new, it works here across the boards. Not every song is a classic, but there are no skippers either. Which brings me to what is probably my favorite track on here, "Dream of Two Cities." This is completely unlike anything they've done, but man oh man is it amazing. I mean, the whole track is great, but especially the choral chant "As we bring down Babylon," It's great music, but it has also inspired me, challenged me to live less for the world and more for eternity, fueled prayer, and inspired visions of people marching away from the world...I don't know. I just love this track so much I may use it in a short film (I work as a short film director.) Oh, and the song is only really impressive if you PLAY IT LOUD! Anyway, though probably not the Tones' number 1 album of all time, I love this CD way more than I expected. Check it out. You'll be surprised.

All of the Supertones' albums are great worship music, and this one is no exception! "The Cult of Cool" is a slap in America's face! WE NEED THAT!!! It's not about us...isn't not about MTV...IT'S ABOUT GOD! What else can I say? "I hope the Prince of Peace is coming soon!!!"

Look ya'll I was looking through my friends dads collection of promo CDs from when he was running his own radio station, anyways so what do I spy? The original promo for 40 oz to freedom, Boring Nation, and a CD that I have never heard of or seen before. It had the old sublime symbol in a circle with a red line going through it. Behind the red line was a tobasco bottle. Unfortunately the ink that they used to prin the cover of the CD (Not the insert the actual CD) was defective and the reason that they are so rare is because it will seep through and make the CD unplayable, unless you game doctor them! Unfortunately the Game DR. rubs away the very bottom layer of te CD thus negating any value they had, but who cares they are all awesome! Sublime is wicked, R.I.P. Bradley Nowell!

This album is for anyone who enjoyed 40 oz to Freedom, Greatest Hits, or even the self-titled cd. This is probably better for the hard-core Sublime fans,though. Because it has some tracks where Bradley is just freestyling or going off on some Marley tune(Trenchtown Rock). I personally love the reggae influenced songs the best, so I think this is a great cd. If the only Sublime cd you've heard is the self-titled one, I suggest you try 40 oz to Freedom. ENJOY!

anyone whose says this album is not good is out of it sure if the only album you know by sublime is the selftitle album this one is going to sound different thats because they took songs from other albums this a greatest hits album in a way. So if you say this isn't their best you don't know what your talking about. All of sublimes albums are the best. You crazy fools

Alright,the honor system,i got 10 minutes to ogikubo station and i have to admit their music video for fools gold was very impressive.But unfortunately, nothing else on this album is like that.That song is great because it's fast,it doesn't repeat itself once,and it has one intense buildup.I was expecting more songs like that but surprisingly, there were none.I've noticed that the honor system get A LOT of praise for their guitar work and i can't figure out why.All of these songs to be dissonant and stagnante, but above all they're just bitter and nothing else.The lyrics on this album are a bit overwrought as well.Listen to the braodways instead their songs are much more inspiring.

This cd is great. I live in chicago and saw the honor system at one of my first real shows ever, but didn't hear anything recorded until much later. It's more chill than the broadways, but with a very thoughtfull sound. Get it, you won't get sick of it.

it just doesn't stand, much like the lawrence arms albums. if you took the best songs by both bands and combined them on one lp, it still wouldn't even equal a broadways album. the honor system is dan's band, and is a lot more layed back and polished sounding. i can't think of one aggressive part on this whole album however, and the lyrics aren't as motivating. it's essential to any broadways/slapstick/tricky dick/lawrence arms fans, but not for the uninitiated.

CPD is one of my favorite jazz groups, i like thier style and everything, i knew they were good when i first listened to Suite Zoot Riot. I loike most of thier songs on this cd. espicialy Diamond Light Boogie. others I Like Are/ God Is A Spider, Swingin' With Tiger Woods, Soul Cadillac, Irish Whisky & Bleeding Ceremony. Good Songs.

If You Liked This Cd Check out Thier Other CDs/ Zoot Suit Riot, Zoot Suit Riot: The Swingin' Hits Of The Cherry Poppin Daddies, Rapid City6 Muscel Car, Kids On The Street, Ferociously Stoned & Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

Although they were partially responsible for reviving the swing craze back in the late 90's, The Cherry Poppin' Daddies were versatile in their musical craftsmanship. The band's 2000 CD, "Soul Caddy," proves this. Instead of capitalizing on the hits of 1997's "Zoot Suit Riot," the group concocted a sonic cornucopia of many musical genres. "Swingin' with Tiger Woods" and "So Long Toots" are the only authentic swing tracks on the album, and both of them greatly glisten like a martini glass. "The Saddest Thing I Know" offers record buyers a sampling of smooth jazz. "Soul Cadillac," with its synthetic organ and sliding trumpets, is a carefree dance tune where frontman Steve Perry plays a 1950's teen heartthrob. "Stay, Don't Just Stay" also evokes the feel of that decade, for the track is set in a perfect suburban neighborhood complete with a dog and a white picket fence. "My Mistake" is an electric mix of techno, pop, and 1970's funk. The ska track, "End of the Night," is interesting; here, Perry is trying to reconnect with his estranged father, who he had first introduced as an abusive alcoholic in "Drunk Daddy." The infectious "Diamond Light Boogie" brings forth the futuristic, bubblegum groove of a sci-fi B-movie. "God is a Spider" is a bizarre and disturbing track about suicide; the song incorporates blaring trumpets with hard rock guitars, and the rhythm scurries like the legs of a centipede. "Grand Mal" is an offering of alternative, acoustic rock. The lyrics of this particular tune are absurd as they involve a girl who hears banjos when seeing her boyfriend naked. "Irish Whiskey" is a bittersweet punk anthem about friendship and sacrifice. "Bleeding Ceremony" is probably the strangest track of all. It graphically unveils the private pains of self-mutilation while teetering to the brink of full-blown nu metal. Fans who had become accustomed to the Cherry Poppin' Daddies' swing sound may be turned off by this track, since it seems far too radical for the band to travel this route.
Overall, "Soul Caddy" is excellent in its execution. Not only did the Cherry Poppin' Daddies retain the rhythms of "Zoot Suit Riot," but they also expanded their sound into new territories by, ironically, diving into the box of nostalgia.

I am not an experienced swinger. I heard the first couple of songs about a year ago (they were "Zoot Suit Riot", "Drunk Daddy" and "Master & Slave" from CPD) but now I listen to swing music throughout my free time.
I loved Zoot Suit Riot, though it contained only swing songs. I am a lot more satisfied with Soul Caddy, because it comes with a very wide variety of songs from punk rock (Irish Whiskey, God Is a Spider) through classic swingers, (So Long, Toots!, Big Swing) a tender love song (Saddest Thing I Know) rock & roll (Diamond Light Boogie) to an even metal-like song with very negative lyrics (Bleeding Ceremony). By the way the afore mentioned God Is A Spider is one of the best numbers I have ever heard!
This album is colorful, an exciting listening. Its only problem is that it's way too short for my taste. I suggest you to give it a try.