Ska music reviews

After the Slim's show in November w/ MSI, i got this CD and as a whole its pretty good. Bassist Jean Baudin certainly shines out w/ his custom 9 - string bass in most songs. Probably the best song by Nuclear Rabbit "My Girl's Got Guts" is on this album along w/ the screaming "Crane to the Head". I haven't heard Mutopia yet, but start off w/ this Nuclear Rabbit CD

if nb can't be rightly praised for their originality why not the way they immitate the chops and vocals of mr bungle? i'm lucky to come across this band because like many fans of bungle's ou818, easter bunny, etc., disco volante and california was a bit of a disappointment. i would recommend this band instead of system of a down or the more lackluster bungle clone, tub ring, whose bungle-esque experimentation with odd time signatures and genre bending sound contrived and un-organic. check out vicuna brings you back to the mad ska heyday of mr. bungle!

THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE MR. BUNGLE!!!, as others on previous reviews have ignorantly said and Nuclear Rabbit is in fact more original and creative than Mr. Bungle. This is simply the greatest album in the world- period. I have not heard a band as creative and original as Nuclear Rabbit, and this is their best. This music will make all other music sound boring and bland. This is by far the most animated and alive band, and album, I have ever heard. This band has been around since 1989, releasing their first demo in 1990, and this is the peak of their prowess, as they always succeed in satisfying my sonic desires. No band has a bass tone like Jean Baudin does on this album, and the vocalist puts Mike Patton to shame, as he is more animated (the most animated vocalist I've heard) and more creative and original than Mike Patton.

It blows my mind at the ignorance of comparing these geniuses to Mr. Bungle, who are in many ways opposite- Mr. Bungle uses keyboards, electronics and tons of sampling- this band is completely raw.

The vocalist Greg Parrish becomes the characters of the songs he creates, and this band comes up with ideas unsurpassed in originality. My favorites songs are:

The Pimp the Bitch and the Magic Beans
5th Grade Alchemy
Coloring Book Man
The Return of Agent Embryo
Miss Dimples

This band has a new album released in 2003 called "Mutopia" which isn't nearly as good as this album, though still has a few great songs. For those who don't know, the guitarist on this album, Jason Branyan (he also formerly had a band called Whorange), has a duo (in which he does guitar, vocals, bass and drums and his girlfried does vocals, bugle and cello) called Tinklepotty and they have 4 cd's.

If you don't like or appreciate this album then something is wrong with you.

-Gisgo

This is a very unusuall reggae album as it sticks with the reggae most of the way through and you can hear elements of all sorts of genres flying about. If you're a fan of reggae music then you will love this album but strictly speaking it can appeal to anybody. The first time i heard King Django was on a hellcat compilation that was'nt too good and it was one of the only tracks that stood out. I was suprised when i bought this album as it makes you think about other cultures and countrys different to us and the over all feel from the album is like listning to the music while at the beach so it's a good album especially for those with an over active imagination. I also like the inclusion of the various instruments throughout the album. It's a great album that i was lucky to come upon and i strongly recommend anything by king django to date.

I've heard about King Django ever since a buddy of mine spun a 12" of "Seventh Day" at a toaster's gig a year or so ago. I was transfixed by the beautiful coming together of ska, hard dub, and klezmer music.

It sounds almost cheesy to say that music can truly unite cultures and peoples, but its so true. That night, people of all creeds, cultures, races, and socio-ethnic backgrounds all grooved as one to King Django. It didn't matter that the lyrics were mostly in Hebrew. It was the tight grooves that united everyone.

I have since turned on at least 25 people I know to this lp, and they in turn have spread it around. Its klezmer, its hard dub, its dancehall, some ska..but most of all, its great!

This disk astonishes me everytime I listen to it. Just when it seems like a bone-deep ska album, the klezmer influences rise to the top. There are new takes on temple and Hebrew school cliches that make you sit up and pay attention. The obvious passion brought to bear on this music is evident in every bar. A tour-de-force of musical expression. I know of no other disk which remotely resembles this one.

Being a horn player myself, I really like this CD. I am a huge fan of RBF ever since I can remember and saw that this group consisted of three of them. The CD is has 11 songs, each different, though connected. After the 11 tracks there are bonus recordings in low quality, some live and interesting. The songs are catchy and are done with quality. I can't get them out of my head. I didn't like all of the movie quotes however, because it took away from the songs. It's a shame I never saw them in concert because they sound like a well put together band.

I never met these guys in my life, ohh god the album is good though. haha sometimes I think back to when i never saw them or met them because their dumb RBF shows are always sold out in my town, and just wonder....... something that i can't remember right now, but, yeah it is very good.

I never met these guys in my life, ohh god the album is good though. haha sometimes I think back to when i never saw them or met them because their dumb RBF shows are always sold out in my town, and just wonder....... something that i can't remember right now, but, yeah it is very good.

This cd is so so good. Mr Charisma, Mum changed the locks, the whole cd is awesome. I hated frenzal, but when one of my friends forced me into listening to this i loved it. ITs kick A$$.

Well frenzal rhomb have to be the best punk band ever the songs are fast and if u love headbanging go for this one. U have to check out the lyrics of some of these songs they are absolutely hilarious. "i believe the words of your best friend how he likened u to a steaming turd, and when he said that he wished that u were dead it was the most inntelligent thing anyones ever said" "i could take a cash machine and run down the street, thats if i had some muscles and was quick on my feet" and more a must buy

this is the best album from frenzal, who are without any doubt by far the best band ever to come out of australia. this is an amazingly awesome cd, but try and get the version that comes with the live cd mongrel cos thats awesome as well. the best songs are constable care, ship of beers and get f*cked you f*cking f*ckwit. its much better than their new album a mans not a camel

This cd is so so good. Mr Charisma, Mum changed the locks, the whole cd is awesome. I hated frenzal, but when one of my friends forced me into listening to this i loved it. ITs kick A$$.

Well frenzal rhomb have to be the best punk band ever the songs are fast and if u love headbanging go for this one. U have to check out the lyrics of some of these songs they are absolutely hilarious. "i believe the words of your best friend how he likened u to a steaming turd, and when he said that he wished that u were dead it was the most inntelligent thing anyones ever said" "i could take a cash machine and run down the street, thats if i had some muscles and was quick on my feet" and more a must buy

this is the best album from frenzal, who are without any doubt by far the best band ever to come out of australia. this is an amazingly awesome cd, but try and get the version that comes with the live cd mongrel cos thats awesome as well. the best songs are constable care, ship of beers and get f*cked you f*cking f*ckwit. its much better than their new album a mans not a camel

Knowing that The Zambonis are buddies with Harry and The Potters, you can automatically assume that they will rock. And they do, as long as you like hockey. If not, the album can appear stupid and confusing. Except for "Hockey Monkey," of course. It was recently the #1 alternative song on the Sirius Sattelite Radio station, "AltNation." But honestly, the album is pretty hard not to like, with its mix of different styles of music, from game chants to ska tunes to pop hits.

I love minor-league hockey, which is what the Zambonis sing about, so this disc was a must-own for me. The standout songs on this CD are "Johnny got Suspended" (for wearing an Islanders sucks t-shirt, oh yes he did), "Bob Marley and the Hartford Whalers" (big ups for mentioning the Quebec Nordiques too) and the super cute "Hockey Monkey" - although "The Wait" best describes fans of my local team! Personally, I love the ska flavor of "The Breakaway" - it is my favorite song on this CD. I also like the little chants and stuff they put on here, like "Hextall" and "Drop That Puck". It's hella fun to listen to in the car on the way to the game (we always end up singing along) or in the summer, personally when I miss the ice most.

I happen to live in CT, where hockey is a big thing, so big, that Dave Zamboni (The lead singer of this band), is the MC for the Bridgeport Soundtigers (Islanders affiliate AHL team). This CD is great! It's got the catchy tune "Hockey Monkey", which is just a funny song. If you like hockey, then you will LOVE this CD!

Hey you!!!!!!!!!, lately Madness have come to my mind due to young advertisers for alcoholic beverages that are currently trying to introduce good taste in music to the depressing likes youth have in this days in Mexico (or maybe this advertisers are snob and try to impress ignorant fools i dont know), one of the first memories i have in music in my life is definitelly with Madness, actually i think it was the first one, before Beatles, before Zep, before Presley before Kiss or any other artist. I should have been like seven or eight years old when i liked to watch the Madness videos that were transmited saturday morning between cartoons, before all that space were filled with advertising as today, i liked that band when i was a child and i love them today cuts like "just another day" , "nigth boat to Cairo", "Michael Caine" ,"my girl" and of course "one step beyond" are timeless classics , band such as The Mighty Mighty Bostons and many others cant deny Madness influence they were plenty funny and genious, One Step Beyond is the debut album actually neither themselves were capable to achieve a bigger sucess after this one but the roots of ska punk are there untill the end of time.
HM

I remember first listening to this and loving every single second of it. I just listened to it about 10 minutes ago and loved every single second of it even harder.

The album starts out with a powerful track "One Step Beyond", that's 2:18 of pure two-tone skanking music. It's one of the few total instrumental tracks that I really really like. Madness produces another complete track like that later on in the album (which is better than One Step Beyond), entitled "Swan Lake".

Every tune is as melodic, catchy, and unnecessarily goofy as the last one. "'Goofy'? Is that bad?" you might be saying. Nope. Madness keeps ska simple and pleasurable, every song on this entire album keeps it fun and pleasurable to listen to, just what they interperated ska to be.

There is no doubt in my mind, that this is one of the greatest (probably the second or third greatest, with The Specials leading) album made for two-tone fans. And it's definitely one of my favorite albums of all time.

Buy this CD at any price. You will not regret it. It's melodic, fun, and timeless. One Step Beyond is their best. I don't think they ever repeated the magic that is on this CD, but their second release "Absolutely" album is very good as well, and should not be overlooked. I think I may even like it more than The Specials first effort. Is that blasphemy?

Hey you!!!!!!!!!, lately Madness have come to my mind due to young advertisers for alcoholic beverages that are currently trying to introduce good taste in music to the depressing likes youth have in this days in Mexico (or maybe this advertisers are snob and try to impress ignorant fools i dont know), one of the first memories i have in music in my life is definitelly with Madness, actually i think it was the first one, before Beatles, before Zep, before Presley before Kiss or any other artist. I should have been like seven or eight years old when i liked to watch the Madness videos that were transmited saturday morning between cartoons, before all that space were filled with advertising as today, i liked that band when i was a child and i love them today cuts like "just another day" , "nigth boat to Cairo", "Michael Caine" ,"my girl" and of course "one step beyond" are timeless classics , band such as The Mighty Mighty Bostons and many others cant deny Madness influence they were plenty funny and genious, One Step Beyond is the debut album actually neither themselves were capable to achieve a bigger sucess after this one but the roots of ska punk are there untill the end of time.
HM

I remember first listening to this and loving every single second of it. I just listened to it about 10 minutes ago and loved every single second of it even harder.

The album starts out with a powerful track "One Step Beyond", that's 2:18 of pure two-tone skanking music. It's one of the few total instrumental tracks that I really really like. Madness produces another complete track like that later on in the album (which is better than One Step Beyond), entitled "Swan Lake".

Every tune is as melodic, catchy, and unnecessarily goofy as the last one. "'Goofy'? Is that bad?" you might be saying. Nope. Madness keeps ska simple and pleasurable, every song on this entire album keeps it fun and pleasurable to listen to, just what they interperated ska to be.

There is no doubt in my mind, that this is one of the greatest (probably the second or third greatest, with The Specials leading) album made for two-tone fans. And it's definitely one of my favorite albums of all time.

Buy this CD at any price. You will not regret it. It's melodic, fun, and timeless. One Step Beyond is their best. I don't think they ever repeated the magic that is on this CD, but their second release "Absolutely" album is very good as well, and should not be overlooked. I think I may even like it more than The Specials first effort. Is that blasphemy?

I saw this band on a local Pittsburgh talk show. I found them to be original with a great sound and had to hear more. The album rocks and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for some great fun music.

The Buzz Poets are a Pittsburgh band, and they are freakin' cool. This is their best CD (I have it signed by them, WOOOO!), and the self-titled album is also really good. I LOVE the
disco-esque track One More Dance, it's my fave on the album. Me and my friend used to sing thier songs on the football bus (i was a band geek, YAY!), and of course no one knew what we were singing. Good times...Anyway, this is a great band, especially live. They serve a good show, great stage presense. And all the guys are so sweet! One of the rare sincere bands who really do it all for the fans!

I love the Buzz Poets. They are an amazing band. I think this cd is their best. It shows every side of them from punk, to rap, and to general rock. I sugest you buy it. I have seen them a couple times live, and their live shows blow you away. They put on a great show. I also meet them, and they are really nice guys. Everyone check them out. Mad props to the Buzz Poets...

they may "hails from Frank Sinatra's hometown of Hoboken, New Jersey" and sing his song, but that does not mean that they are good at it. this band ruins the songs entirely and has no sense of the romance that sinatra put in his songs. don't waste your money on a cover band.

wow this album really gives me the feeling of the time of sinatra...it makes me wanna dance and sing sinatras song....this album is really good....i love sinatra and i love this guys.....

.... but even though I'm related to a member of the band, I still think everyone needs to hear this CD! I'll admit I haven't been a fan of all of his projects, but since seeing Skanatra play in Hoboken in 1998, with the uncompromised NY skyline in the background, I've been converting everyone I know into Skanatra addicts!