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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Truth And Soul

Fishbone

1988

Buy At Rough Trade
Truth And Soul
Album Summary

Truth and Soul is the second album by American funk-rock and ska band Fishbone. It was released on September 13, 1988. As is typical of the band's history of music the album features a wide array of genres including punk, ska, reggae, soul, funk, and blues. Additionally, Truth and Soul includes the band's earliest foray into hard rock and heavy metal music. The album begins with a cover version of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead", originally from the soundtrack to the film Super Fly.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.94

Votes

10056
Genres
Metal
Funk
Reggae

Reviews

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Fri May 28 2021
4

The black ska band from the 80s that all the white ska bands from the 90s copied. Are we surprised? One of my favorite things about this whole 1001 albums thing is finding all the predecessors and progenitors. I like how *FUN* this album is. It's sassy, it's naughty, it's just some boys playing around on their trombones. It probably gets a 4.5 from me. 4 seems too low (I've really been tossing out 4s a little too easily), but 5 seems a bit too high. It's not as polished as it could be.

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Fri Jul 16 2021
4

Fuck me, what an assault on every one of my senses this is. I guess you aren't supposed to take it seriously, so I won't. A helter-skelter of magic, colour and bonin' in the boneyard. One of those 80s albums where they just threw everything at it and hoped for the best. Freddie's dead. Wild. Truth and Soul.

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Sun Dec 05 2021
5

Fishbone does something new and unexpected on TRUTH AND SOUL (…he notes about this 33 year old album…) mixing metal, ska, soul, funk and punk with reckless abandon creating something fresh, surprising and really fun! I already knew the opening song “Freddie’s Dead,” but definitely not this funk/metal version. A great cover that retains the spirit of the original but is definitely their own. “Ma and Pa” is one of the best songs about divorce I’ve ever heard. I loved the little calliope-like descending note thing suggestive of a carnival. This interesting little embellishment reappears in later songs. The horn-forward, jaunty “Question of Life” is a ska/funk song exploring the relationship between God and man with some great saxophone. A funky fun look at a heavy subject! “Pouring Rain” is one of the albums slower songs that took a couple of listens for me to fully appreciate. “Deep Inside” goes full punk-metal-ska rebellion complete with screams challenging the squares (“plus you’ve got a blender by General Motors and a Tonka toy up your ass”). “Mighty Long Way” could almost be a great 80s TV theme in a good way (some of my favorite songs are 80s TV themes!). Great lead guitar and an upbeat, positive message about friendship. “Bonin’ in the “Boneyard” opens with fantastic funk bass and horns and comes complete with dog bark breaks. This song really smokes - made me really want to see Fishbone perform live! Funk and metal come together in the service of societal inequality in “One Day.” Great little sonic embellishments pepper this song — tick-tock sounds, a pinball-type effect, traffic noises — along with a surprising but really cool metal guitar solo. Looking for a ska/metal/punk/funk/out-of-control-carousel song warning quite directly of what is currently happening in the US? Then have a look at the sublime “Subliminal Fascism.” Incredible! “Slow Bus Movin’” addresses racism in America with a great chorus and some B-52s-esque backups. ‘Round and around and around they go, bus been going mighty slow, Brothers in the back seat come to the front, People gettin' hostile wanna kill someone.” It’s been 33 years. This bus been going mighty slow indeed. Another highly-topical fantastic-sounding song “Ghetto Soundwave” tackles police shootings and poverty in Fishbone’s funk/ska style. Fantastic song. TRUTH AND SOUL sticks the landing on a message of hope with ”Change.” A sharp sonic departure from the rest of the album, this mostly acoustic guitar song would make a perfect campaign theme. Fishbone is inarguably an incredibly talented group effortlessly able to blend a wide range of styles with great hooks and interesting, highly topical lyrics. It is filled with musical surprises that make the album even better. TRUTH AND SOUL is a great time and I will be back for more!

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Sat Jul 17 2021
3

This is an weird mix of rock and ska/reggae, but once you get used to it it's actually rather pleasant. It was unexpected, fun to listen to, and I ended up liking more than I expected.

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Sun Dec 05 2021
5

Excuse me, I am too busy to write any notes about this album because I'm building a time machine so I can go kick my college-age self in the hiney and tell her to pick up a Fishbone cassette or two. She would have really loved this album. Listening to this was a wild ride! Such a range of styles. No two songs are alike: there were spoodly metal guitar solos, some funky ass bass, soulful keys and horns, ska rhythms and danceable beats, and some swoon-inducing twelve-string guitar. Fun tunes with lyrics to match but also upbeat songs that belie their serious social justice lyrical content. I had a great time listening to this and will listen again and again to make up for lost time.

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Thu Mar 25 2021
4

I have loved this band for a long time now, and the fact that they were around for the punk scene in the late 80's early 90's here in los angeles is amazing. great music, amazing band

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Thu May 06 2021
4

Fun lyrics. Political. Mix of Rock/Funk/Ska/and more. Enjoyed!

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Thu Dec 30 2021
4

This album is a roller coaster ride. You would never guess that it was all the same album. My favorites are the ska song Ma and Pa and the funk tune Bonin in The Boneyard - btw, what a song name! The guitarist sounds like he is simultaneously trying to sound like Earl Slick and Eddie Van Halen. This of course isn’t possible but he sounds good trying. Some of the stuff, like Subliminal Fascism, doesn’t work for me but that comes with the territory with so much genre hoping. The next tune Slow Bus Movin' brings me back. The one bizarre thing is that the bass seems to be mixed way too far in the background. Many of these genres need the bass more up front. I tried to bring it forward as best I could with my amp but that doesn’t negate the production. Perhaps it’s due for remastering.

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Mon Jul 04 2022
4

Fishbone are one of the best live bands I have ever seen; they play a wide ranging and eclectic range of styles (metal, punk, funk, ska, etc) with versatility and high energy. With a solid rock core, augmented with multiple singers, keys and brass, they blew the audience away in the early 90s. This album is where they first starting bringing the metal elements into their sound, and really becoming what Fishbone are. They are also starting to turn their minds to more political material, with more lyrical concern particularly on race issues (although there are still plenty of party tunes on here). That said, the common wisdom on Fishbone is that their records never really captured the incredible live band they were, and this album (which I really enjoy) shows that partially to be true. They are a bit stilted in the studio, and the recording is not all it could be. Interestingly, I had just been listening to Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies immediately before switching to playing this, and this sounds tinny and thin by way of comparison with Bob Ezrin's 70s production. It could be an artifact of the period in which it was recorded, and/or modest recording budget. Their next record, Reality of my Surroundings, has a much fuller sound, and they are the better for it. But this belongs on the list as an example f a truly eclectic band that could bring the goods in any style they brought their mind to.

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Thu Oct 20 2022
4

Very 80s movies soundtrack to begin with but each song seemed to change genre, really interesting and fun

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Fri Oct 13 2023
4

Of the four albums I would imagine being on the list, this is probably the least likely. It is a really good album, with some great stuff (the cover of "Freddie's Dead" is a great opener, and "Bonin' In The Boneyard" is just WOW that bass solo!). It's just that the albums that represent Fishbone more I would pick their title EP or "The Reality of My Surroundings." There are a couple of songs that are a bit... okay. "Ma and Pa" and "Pouring Rain" are okay, they'd be the weak spots. But the stronger songs are really good: "Questions of Life" (will I not pass the test?) or "Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party)" (the vocals are a little cheesy-sounding, but it's still effective.) "Reality" is the album that really got me into Fishbone, so it's hard for me not to recommend that one. "Give A Monkey A Brain..." has some of their hardest stuff ("Servitude" is such a different song from ALL of "Truth and Soul"). But I guess "Truth and Soul" is a good place to start. I do like the album a lot, I just don't know if THAT is the one I'd pick to put in the 1001.

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Mon Jan 18 2021
3

Pleasent surprise. Sounds like King X and Faith No More. I had no idea that band existed.

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Sat Jul 17 2021
3

Yeah, it's funky. Seem like the kinda band that would kill it on Saturday night at Womad.

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Fri Dec 01 2023
3

No. 53/1001 Freddie's Dead 3/5 Ma and Pa 4/5 Question of Life 4/5 Pouring Rain 4/5 Deep Inside 3/5 Mighty Long Way 4/5 Bonin' in the Boneyard 4/5 One Day 4/5 Subliminal Facism 2/5 Slow Bus Movin' 2/5 Ghetto Soundwave 3/5 Change 4/5 Average: 3,42 Just a fun album to listen to.

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Fri May 28 2021
2

Not a band I’m familiar with and after listening to this I feel I’ve not been missing out much. A poor man’s Meatloaf, if there is such a thing it’s Fishbone. I realize I may have offended 2 sets of fans with that and for that I’m sorry.

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Wed Sep 29 2021
2

An interesting mix of Reggae and rock influences that tries but misses the mark. Marred by overlong arrangements, dated synths, and questionable vocals.

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Thu Jul 13 2023
2

Pretty horrible, hated most of this. Constipated metal funk, evidently the inspiration for many dreadful bands that followed. Obviously good musicians so just scrapes a 2. Boo

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Fri Mar 11 2022
1

This fusion of rock, metal, punk, ska and jazz produces the worst of all worlds. Cringe-worthy

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Sun Apr 04 2021
5

Me encanta el disco, tiene una mezcla de estilos perfectamente combinada, y teniendo tanto Ska es un logro mayúsculo.

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Fri Mar 26 2021
5

I’m pretty sure this album sucks to most people, and my memories listening to it were fantastic. Love this one!

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Thu Apr 07 2022
5

One of the first all-black crossover bands, and one of the most influential for the generations to come. A blast. Lovely.

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Wed Jun 29 2022
5

Loving the funky ska vibes and the frantic bass.

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Thu Aug 04 2022
5

Such a fun album! Fishbone is fantastic, a mix of so many genres making a unique sound.

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Wed Aug 10 2022
5

Wow there’s loads going on here and I really like most of it. I’m already recommending it to people, I can’t understand why this has less than 3 stars?

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Fri Dec 02 2022
5

Despite my sordid past in the scene, I had fears of hearing “ska” again after all these years, but of course this was different. It was more punk than ska, and everything I loved about the scene back then.

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Wed Mar 08 2023
5

Zeer gevarieerd plaatje. Had er nog nooit van gehoord maar vind het fantastisch

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Sun Mar 26 2023
5

Amazing. Wonderful energy, great composition. Well constructed and with a powerful message.

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Wed Apr 12 2023
5

This felt like proto-ska! I loved the whole thing. Anything rock adjacent with brass is wonderful to me.

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Tue May 02 2023
5

Totally T-boned by Fishbone! Bonin' in the Boneyard is boney.

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Wed May 03 2023
5

10/10 quirky as fuck, but an extremely well done, incredibly fun album that flies right by

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Sun May 28 2023
5

I expected this to be bad because of the average global rating of 3.BUT NO.THIS SHIT IS AMAZING.Its funky its rock its got great hooks.Great guitar solos.Trumpets.Energy everything I like.Its great.And all the songs are under 6 minutes so it never feels like a drag.

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Thu Aug 10 2023
5

fucking incredible album. one of the best funk rock albums i’ve ever heard. great lyrics, strong vocals, and great variation in the instrumentals. no track sounded the same. amazing.

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Fri Sep 08 2023
5

goddamn this goes so hard. it’s an education in itself of the relationships between funk, ska, punk, and metal, and it also bangs. really really fun listen, everyone on their a game hitting the perfect notes. slow bus movin is a highlight in an album full of highlights.

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Tue Sep 26 2023
5

What a wild ride! Fusion of ska/soul/funk/rock/punk. Hadn't heard before, loved every minute. Aomeone buy the bass player a drink! 10/10

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Fri Oct 20 2023
5

WHERE HAS THIS ALBUM BEEN ALL MY LIFE??? Funk, prog rock, ska, punk, metal...my word this band was created in a lab for me. Favorite tracks: Ma and Pa, Bonin' in the Boneyard

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Thu Nov 09 2023
5

What a roller coaster!!! Punk, ska, soul, rock.... Not a poor song on there. A great listen...

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Sun Nov 26 2023
5

What a surprise. This album is so good. I wish I had known about Fishbone earlier because this album is such a fantastic combo of funk and rock.

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Sun Nov 26 2023
5

Iunno what this was but I loved it

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Thu Dec 07 2023
5

This was a mix of Rock, Skah, Funk. Very eclectic, much like my musical taste. I listened to it twice.

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Wed Dec 20 2023
5

Mega banger!! An insane mix of so many genres. Punk, ska, reggae, soul, funk, blues, you got it all. Some of the bass line so flea like. It's so creative and so diverse. Hats off. 9/10

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Wed Jan 31 2024
5

Freddie's Dead - Weird intro, weird voice, weird riff, perfect. Ma and Pa - Sounds like a funny circus, not a scary one. Question Of Life - This song didn't have to go this hard. Pouring Rain - Trumpets with weird rock, a genius yet unexpected combination. Deep Inside - The name is clickbait, it wasn't deep enough. Mighty Long Way - BEAUTIFUL RIFF AND KEYS. Bonin' In the Boneyard - The bass, drums, keys and brass are just amazing. One Day - As always, the bass is the best thing here. The guitar solo must be the best part of the album. Subliminal Fascism - Punk ish and and powerful keys. Slow Bus Movin' - Now this sounds like a combination of pirates and rednecks, jus' like PRIMUS. Ghetto Soundwave - Idk, somethin' about the trumpets feels off, the rest is fine. Change - A really good ending for the album. Top 3 One Day Question Of Life Mighty Long Way I would rate this with 4.5, well, a 5

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Sun Feb 04 2024
5

Fishbone - Truth and Soul What a fabulous album! Punk, ska, heavy metal, it's all here. I first heard of Fishbone from the movie and soundtrack to Say Anything. Even though I didn't know much about them at the beginning of their career, I got there in the end! 5/5

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Mon Feb 26 2024
5

Ska, punk...diversión total!!!

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Fri Mar 01 2024
5

What a fun album! I haven't listened to these guys in too long, but it was and is such a fun assault to the senses. You hear the first notes and smile. Within seconds, you're tapping your feet. Eventually you just have to get up and move around! There is stored energy in these tracks which must be released. Bonin In The Boneyard explodes. Gotta love funky ass bass.

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Fri Mar 08 2024
5

streets got freddie rest in peace man :( if you look past how freddie brutally died for this album, im fucking with this heavy rn shit got me like 🕺🕺🕺🕺 just a fun album really you can see me bonin' in the backyard... i think if you dont like this ur probably just racist i cant lie 4.6/5

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Fri Mar 08 2024
5

shits gas there’s no denying it some serious tracks throughout it was gonna give it a 5 but there’s something about it that felt kinda slow actually it’s better than a 4 but not quite a 5 so gonna give it a 5

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Fri Mar 08 2024
5

I had never heard of this band and was very pleasantly surprised.

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Wed Sep 16 2020
4

Ska, punk band from the 80's that sounds nothing like 80's music.

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Thu Nov 05 2020
4

All over the place musically. kinda jam band like

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Mon Feb 15 2021
4

Surprisingly very good. Probably a great live band

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Wed May 19 2021
4

Funk-rock muy curioso y animado.

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Thu Mar 25 2021
4

On first impression, I thought they were Sublime. THEN I thought they were a better Sublime. I've really grown to like and appreciate these guys. I get Phish vibes in here too. They are a cool group overall- how have I not heard of them? Change, slow bus, and bonin' are my favorites.

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Wed Apr 21 2021
4

C'est UNE des grosses découvertes de mon projet, quel album !

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Wed Jun 02 2021
4

Such a tough one. I listened through multiple times convinced myself I loved several tracks. When I went back though only a couple really stuck. Freddie's dead was such a great progressive track for the late 80s

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Thu May 13 2021
4

Fun! Surprised I had never listened thru before.

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Thu Jul 29 2021
4

Cool blend of funk, reggae, and hard rock!

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Fri Aug 20 2021
4

Like a mix of ska with rock and something almost psychedelic at times. Weird but fun.

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Wed Sep 08 2021
4

I actually like this. It has a unique sound but it's upbeat and exciting. You go, Fishbone.

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Wed Sep 29 2021
4

Fantastic, great variety of songs, feels like a band at the top of their game.

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Wed Oct 13 2021
4

I enjoyed this more than I was expecting. There are a lot of genres packed into this album spanning funk, ska, and some metal and new wave influences. The lyrics reflect a punk ethic and the music is energetic and joyous

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Sun Dec 05 2021
4

By name, I thought that maybe I had heard of this band before. Once I started listening, I realized that I was familiar with some tracks from this band, but not this album in its entirety. I am a bit ambivalent about it. The funk-rock style and the kind of cheekiness in their tone would normally appeal to me, but today it just kind of missed the spot. Actually, listening to this album just made me want to seek out something more funky (which I did). I even gave it a couple of listens thinking that maybe it just needs to grow on me...but two listens wasn't enough for the roots to set in. I will try it again on a different day and give it the benefit of the doubt for my rating.

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Fri Dec 17 2021
4

Great mix of genre, I really liked a lot of the songs on this. Favorite track: "Ma and Pa"

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Fri Dec 17 2021
4

I loved the funk/soul/ska/rock vibe of this album! Each song had a little bit of something different to it. A very fun listen, some great brass moments throughout which is always a plus.

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Thu Jan 13 2022
4

A lot funkier than I expected!

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Fri Jan 14 2022
4

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Ma and pa

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Fri Jan 14 2022
4

I don't think I know this band, though I feel like I've seen that fish skeleton before. The album cover looks very late 80's/early 90's. So here we go. The album roars out of the gate with Freddie's Dead. The opening riff makes me want to hear more. I love the heavy duty bass and funky vibe, reminds me of Faith No More. The next song has a more island / reggae feel. By the third song we are full ska. I am so sorry this is the first time I'm hearing Fishbone. Some of the little flourishes a little too 80's, and a few of the songs are a little less successful for me (Pouring Rain, Bonin' In the Boneyard). But in the main, this is great stuff. PS after the album was done Spotify helpfully played Two Timin' Woman a collaboration between Little Richard and Fishbone. Bullseye on that one, Spotify, thank you. :)

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Wed Mar 02 2022
4

Had not heard anything by this band before and what a surprise this album is. A fair few changes across the tracks all for the good.

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Fri Mar 11 2022
4

Very interesting funk/metal/ska hybrid. Never heard of these guys before but they kinda slap!

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Thu Mar 17 2022
4

If this album was just the single of "Cry Baby" I'd still probably give it 4 stars. But I like enough of the other ones to cement my vote like a zeppelin made of lead. But good comp to Joe Cocker, Craig! I had never thought of that, but now it's all I can think of. Also, somebody buy me a Benz.

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Thu Mar 17 2022
4

Having read the band described as punk-funk-reggae-metal I was filled with dread. Am I just a snob? Nonetheless, this is a four star album that I'll most likely never listen to again. Kicking off an album with a funk metal cover from Curtis Mayfield's best album is a ballsy move - but, as is shown again and again, Fishbone have the chops to pull it off. I found this to be a lot of fun whilst pottering about my kitchen - a mini-riot of genres and styles painted in bold technicolour. Evidently they're great musicians. However, it doesn't stick - this is fun in the vein of a fairground waltzer ride; good craic whilst it lasts.

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Wed May 11 2022
4

A band with Ska, funk and metal influences turns out to be very fun. Favourites: "Freddie's Dead", "Ma and Pa", "Boninx In the Boneyard"

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Sun May 22 2022
4

Unexpected delight. Lashings of ska, funk, rock, pop, and Prince, with a strong DIY punk aesthetic. Funny, witty and for once an album with social commentary that doesn’t feel forced. They threw everything including the kitchen sink at this record and most of it stuck.

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Thu Jun 02 2022
4

This one was fun, ska with an 80s vibe

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Wed Jun 22 2022
4

I’d never heard of Fishbone or “Truth and Soul” before, so had no idea what to expect from this. What a hidden gem it is. I really appreciate the eclecticism on this record, with the band willing to give all sorts of styles a go. Ska? Throw some of it in with “Ma and Pa”. Social commentary? Try it out, in multiple places. Open with a heavy rocking Curtis Mayfield cover? Sure, why not- set the tone with “Freddie’s Dead”. It helps craft a real sense of playfulness, inclusivity and spirit. The bottom line, though, is that “Truth and Soul” is one hell of a party. The stand-out track, “Bonin in the Boneyard”, has all the zest and pomp of early ‘80s Prince, with a prominent rubbery bassline, aggressive horns and call-and-response vocals. I defy anyone working through this list not to be stopped in their tracks by it and start bopping along. There’s also “Question of Life” and the swinging “Mighty Long Way”, which can get away with being a bit hammy when they’re so much fun. When the tempo is dialled back, the results are a bit more mixed: “Pouring Rain” is overlong and completely breaks momentum, but “Change” is a beautifully understated closer. “Truth and Soul” may be greater than the sum of its parts, but as a whole package its a really enjoyable record. Already looking forward to revisiting.

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Wed Jun 22 2022
4

Unusual in a good way! I like the weird harmonies and creativity, I'll be revisiting this one

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Wed Jun 29 2022
4

This album had a little bit of everything. Certainly more inline with my tastes

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Wed Jul 06 2022
4

RHCP out- Fishbone’d Fishbone, but they’re still fun to listen to occasionally

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Sun Jul 24 2022
4

Wasn't expecting to like this! "Freddie's Dead," "Question of Life," "Pouring Rain," "Bonin' in the Boneyard," and "Deep Inside" are definitely my faves

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Thu Sep 01 2022
4

Liked this more than I thought. Good listen.

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Fri Sep 09 2022
4

Funk-rock muy curioso y animado.

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Thu Oct 06 2022
4

Highlights: Freddies Dead, change, ma and pa. The album is a little all over the place but the instrumentals are always exciting and its a fun and interesting album that is enjoyable to listen to

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Wed Oct 12 2022
4

C’est cool. Belle énergie. Beaucoup de talent. La prouesse technique prend quelques fois le dessus sur la musique et c’est dommage. Ça vieilli plutôt bien. En fait, ça sonne 8-10 ans en avance sur son temps.

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Thu Oct 13 2022
4

thus far, this 1001 albums list has not contained very much ska--which is already a genre that gets ignored too often. but this is some original ska, before it took off in the nineties and aughts. but more than that, fishbone did some creative work with playing ska with metal an funk, starting off from the opening track being a cover. i'd describe many of these songs as snappy. it's gotta be the trumpet's frequent and dominating presence! the trombone and saxophone helps, too. there's a lot of smoothness here, too. even though there's some metal in here, the album still comes across as a smooth and easy listen. something this album excelled in was making every song creative and original. it never felt repetitive, boring, or stagnant.

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Thu Oct 13 2022
4

Freddie's Dead from the album is a classic protest song

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Thu Oct 20 2022
4

A really good funky ska-ish album. Enjoyed almost every song and will definitely listen to their other albums.

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Thu Oct 27 2022
4

an odd mix of genres but thouroughly enjoyed

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