Ska music reviews

When I first bought this cd it was because my friend recommended it, and i didnt think it was anything special. But now it rocks my world! It's glued to my stereo, and i think my friends are gonna stab me in the ear soon because i listen to it so damn much. If your looking for something with a great beat and hot lyrics you have to buy this and At Ease! Yea so thats my story

I discovered the Gadjits on my own and they are really enjoyable. If you like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Slow Gherkin, Dance Hall Crashers, or the ska in general, consider picking up this CD or At Ease (I've not heard their other CDs). If you want a more of punk angle I'd look else where. If you want clever lyrics and some cool music, this CD gets a thumbs up.

Have fun. Super G.

In 1977, England�s musical landscape was being shaped by The Clash, Elvis Costello, and The Who. In the U.S., AC/DC was breaking and Kiss was the number one band; the underground was being led by The Stooges and Johnny Thunders. At the same time, in a well-manicured suburb of Kansas City called Leawood, The Gadjits� main singer and songwriter Brandon Phillips was born. Fourteen years later Brandon would lead his younger brothers, Adam (9) and Zach (11) into a seedy bar in Kansas City to play The Gadjits� first gig to a handful of barflies and Harley riders. From that moment on, The Gadjits would spend the next ten years in a van gigging the punk rock circuit, instead of attending classes at Leawood High.

The band�s truant officer, so to speak, would be Rancid�s Tim Armstrong, who signed the band to his Epitaph/Hellcat label during The Gadjits� teen years. The band�s sound, embraced and directed by Armstrong, was made up of a hybrid of rock steady and punk that fit loosely into ska�s 3rd Wave, which was in full swing at the time. As the young Gadjit brothers exposed themselves to the rich history of rumor, glory, and romance of life on the road, they developed into a smart and savvy rock and roll band. A band so true to the life that they had made for themselves, they would risk it all and no longer play the blue beats that once perked the kids� ears. Instead they would write and perform a perfect blend of American roots, blues, and rock and roll. The change in musical direction was so severe that Hellcat passed on the band�s new sound, leaving the band in limbo for over a year. It wasn�t until February of 2001 that THICK Records� mainstay and frontman of the Blue Meanies, Billy Spunke, became so enamored with the band during a short tour with The Gadjits that he brought them aboard the eclectic THICK Records.

Now one year later, THICK Records proudly releases �Today Is My Day,� a record written, recorded, and mixed by the band in their Leawood house. Joined by Mike Alexander (Revolvers) on second guitar and Ehren Starks on keys, The Gadjits open the garage door to a new sound that captures the true essence of rock and roll�s classics. It�s not the sound of today�s rock resurgence, i.e. The Strokes and The White Stripes, but a revival following their own instincts instead of the current trends; proving once again that the kids truly are alright.

I love Chris Murray, this cd sounds just like his live stuff. Check him out at the Knitting Factory tuesday nights in L.A.

This is a great CD. Totally great lyrics. He's awesome live, and I personally like the 4track adventures of venice shoreline chris more. Live is just incredible. If you ever have the chance, see him live. This is a good buy. I recommend it.

Another excellent, sincere album. Chris has been around, seen what there is to see, and gone back to the source; this gives the musician and the music depth and credibility like the great poets Tom Waits and Leonard Cohen, but here's the best part - its ska!! I could go on and on about how important it is that Chris chose to make this kind of music, but instead I think I'll just listen to it again, and again. Thanks for another great album Chris, and keep 'em coming.

I'd recomend this CD because it is cheep, and perhaps it can help you find a Christian alternative band on here you like. The songs are good choices from thrie respective CD's, and it's worth the price!

Okay, I don't have this CD but I recognize Value Pac, Plankeye, and OC Supertones.... The Value Pac song is the best one on their, and that's far from their best song, you should look further into them at fourdoor.com, where their CD is on sale WAY before Jan 1 2010!! also Supertones song is hoppin ska stuff, and plankeye is allright, but Fanmail (new group by singer of plankeye) is even better than that!

this cd is the best. it has a couple songs i don't like, but thats okay. plankeye, value pac, and the oc supertones are the best groups on this cd. i should've given it 4 stars, but i love the supertones so it earned a 5!!! SUPERTONES STRIKE BACK!!!

Good punk compilations are hard to come by nowadays, with the latest submerging of pop/punk i.e. Blink 182. This compilation is a very good one for fans of the old punk and some of the better new punk. It features all the classic punk bands, such as, Suicidal Tendencies, The Vandals, X, Black Flag, Social Distortion and The Muffs. There is only a couple things bad about this, and those are that, one, the disc doesnt contain The Misfits or The Ramones, two of the best punk bands ever. This is an absolute atrocity (sp). Also the other bad thing is that some of the punk bands on this disc I have never even heard of, they could have put Misfits in place of The Stooges and The Ramones in place of Agent Orange. But still even with these two flaws the compilation still stands out as the best punk compilation so ever.

All i have to say about this cd is wow! this is probably one of, if not the best compilation. The mix of the vandals, the ataris, suicide machines, mxpx, social d, less than jake, it's amazing, its like the best cd i own, so my suggestion is that you go buy it now, if even only like punk a little, this is for you

If you are into heavy duty punk rock this cd is for you. My friend bought it and the first time I listen to it I thought it was ok but then I listen it again and I loved it. Since then I listen it everyday

i just bought this cd last night.......and have listened to about 5 times already...........it's fantastic!

Anyone who loves the ska should definitely purchase this CD. This SoCal ska band is one of the best live acts ever, and since you can't see them live all the time, you need this one to listen to in your car.

This album rocks! It is definitely worth your time! The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that the album does not do justice to the energy of the live shows. Check it out!

I'm 45, living in France, I like jazz a little bit and rock +++. My son makes me discover the new age of ska. But Mighty M Bosstones and Less than jake are sometimes too hard for me. The NYSJE is just what I like! Please, try french ska (Ruda Salska, Spook and the Guay), you'll love it.

The New York Ska Jazz Ensemble is a great band with members from the Toasters, Scofflows, and The Pietasters...and it's sure to get you off your feet. The songs are tight...and the musicians are great. Definitly one of my faveorites. It's a wonderful blend of both ska and jazz all in one...my fave. :)

This is the third(I believe) release from the NYSJE. With the horn players coming from the great Third Wave ska band the Toasters, and many other great musicians this is one of the most talented ska bands out there today. This album has many catchy tunes which you will be singing all day. I once listened to number 3 about 8 times before school started one day, and i was singing all till lunch and couldn't wait till i could hear it again then.

I'm 45, living in France, I like jazz a little bit and rock +++. My son makes me discover the new age of ska. But Mighty M Bosstones and Less than jake are sometimes too hard for me. The NYSJE is just what I like! Please, try french ska (Ruda Salska, Spook and the Guay), you'll love it.

The New York Ska Jazz Ensemble is a great band with members from the Toasters, Scofflows, and The Pietasters...and it's sure to get you off your feet. The songs are tight...and the musicians are great. Definitly one of my faveorites. It's a wonderful blend of both ska and jazz all in one...my fave. :)

This is the third(I believe) release from the NYSJE. With the horn players coming from the great Third Wave ska band the Toasters, and many other great musicians this is one of the most talented ska bands out there today. This album has many catchy tunes which you will be singing all day. I once listened to number 3 about 8 times before school started one day, and i was singing all till lunch and couldn't wait till i could hear it again then.

I first heard the Skatalites on the "Story of Jamaican Music" box and got 'Guns of Navarone' stuck in my head for days. Now with this disc we hear that the Jamaican equivalent of Booker T and the MG's can still skank into the late night. It's great to hear them with good studio production, but the feeling is very live. It feels like an anniversary party for the band, and the welcome guests from the jazz community add to the good times. Unless you go back to the original recordings, this is an excellent first disc to get of the Skatalites. And a great party disc for any collection!

The problem I have with this band is one album seems pretty much like the next. They are great live and very enjoyable on disk. This album has the benifit of vocals which many of there other albums don't. The vocals make a wonderful difference.

This is the first Skatalites CD I've purchased. A couple of months ago I never knew that ska exsisted out side of the 3rd wave, but I'm glad I know more now. This is an excellent CD, conducted by the originators of ska. Every track is jazzy and up beat and they refrain from repition by making every song sound different (which seems difficult for some 3rd wave bands). This is a tight CD and I'm sure that any ska lover who picks it up won't be dissapointed.

To have this album is to have a fine jewel. It was Sunsplash in its classic roots era, before dancehall had taken its toll on the people. The Gladiators and IV's sets are distinct and different. It was a bit difficult to get the mood of the crowd as the engineers faded that out of the CD, but you can hear some of them. The sound is not the greatest, but you are able to feel the live momentum of the music especially when Gladiators' Albert Griffiths goes into rub-a-dub mode. The songs end sometimes flat, but nonetheless you get the gist of some great reggae music. IV's set was not the best I've heard live, at times was a bit dull, but their wicked tune, "Friday Evening" "Licks & Kicks" do them justice.

Raw,live & free.If you like isreal vibration/the gladiators,this is the mother of all live cd's,a clean recording with the best these two bands have to offer.You will find yourself shopping for more live reggae after you hear this one.

This album has some of the best music ever. It is one of my all time favorites. If you like the Gladiators, Izzy Vibes, or reggae, then you will love this album. You can't listen to this album and stay still, it makes you want to move.

this is a great recording of a historical concert that will go down in jamaican history as one of bob marleys triumphant moments . he brought on stage with him prime minister michael manley , the incumbent , and the opposition leader edward seaga . the political parties had been battling in the streets of kingston killing shootings were a daily occurence . marley had them both shake hands and then above his head all three joined hands in a peace truce . it was not long before that marley had been shot in an assaination attempt . courage and wisdom are his legacy as much as any song . jah live !!

This live recording not only made history but the sound is not that bad compared to other live japanese records. The best live jamming version ever recorded. Also recomend Dortmund gemrany 80,rotterdam. Live at the Lyceum in London also has unrealesed songs like who colt the game who make the whole cd worth buying.

Well this is one of the forst CDs I have bought as an import and it is GREAT!!! The first track is by the best my favriot LION OF JUDAH which to my knowlege you cant get anywhere in the US. The only draw back is that they do not have the ONE LOVE Track in which Bob called up the heads of the two political parties of Jamacia and sang this great song.