Truth And Soul

New to me. After the very-late-90s fusion of Nitin Sawhney yesterday, this is some very-late-80s fusion, with occasionally fun but mostly mixed results. The metal-soul fusion cover of Freddie's Dead /really/ doesn't work, and kind of gets everything about the original (unimpeachable) track wrong. At its best when funky (see, and I can't believe I have to write these words, 'Bonin' in the Boneyard'). The ska of 'Ma and Pa' is good. At its worst when metal, but isn't everything?

glad to see this on the list; we could all use a bit more ska in our lives, even if it’s not the most amazing album

A little bit Sublime, a little bit Tears for Fears, and somehow a little bit Chumbawamba? No song is particularly memorable, but I had a good time

Jack of all trades and master of none. Reading some comments I figure high schooler me would have enjoyed the eclectic mix and energy but I was listening to the Specials if I wanted Ska, Bob Burning Spear Raggamuffin for Reggae, funk was all Parliament, etc.

The music is super good and tasty bass riffs but the singing brought it down for me. Lyrical content was good, I’ll come back to a few songs.

there's a lot going on. I don't think I'm cool enough for ska, and I'm a sax player. Or I was a sax player, when I was cooler. 2 stars

Het klinkt een beetje alsof ze zich niet op één stijl wilden toeleggen om zo maximaal commercieel succes te kunnen oogsten. Vies laagje 80s erover, een wat commercieel geluid en een mix van stijlen. Normaal vind ik wel eens te bewonderen als een band verschillende geluiden laat horen, maar in dit geval voelt het wat viezig. Ik denk dat mijn lichte afkeer voor de jaren 80 sound dit nog wat benadrukt. Het is me iets teveel een vervelende mix van dingen die ik niet heel gaaf vind. En toch kan ik het prima uitzitten omdat het ook weer allemaal niet zo heel spannend in elkaar zit. 2,5 ster. Ik maak er 2 van omdat ik toch een beetje een zure hater ben.

Favorite Track: Ma and Pa

Not what I was expecting, but not bad

Jesus, this genre blending is absolutely whack. And don't get me wrong, I love myself some absolutely absurd genre combos, there's something so cool about a song having so many different styles all at the same time that feels like it should work, except that I think this one takes that too far. This feels like it shouldn't work, and it also just straight up doesn't work. I think part of the problem is that it tries way too hard to fully commit to every genre it's trying all at the same time, the best way to approach trying to pull off this style is to use small elements of various genres and put them together, but this feels like a full on ska album at the same time that it's a full on funk album and a full on punk album. Which if it just took a few small features of each of those genres and blended them together, it really could have been something quite interesting. But because it tries to use each genre completely, it's just a complete mess.

Uma mistura de ska com rock e punk. Bom álbum!

No, this was no good. It was like the band did not know what they wanted the album to be and all the choices they made were the wrong ones. From the first song on there was no flow which was just exasperated by not good songs. Give it a miss.

I really don't like this. There are elements in each of these songs that I generally enjoy, but everything all together just...doesn't work for me at all. Oof.

There were moments I liked, but it left very little impression on me after I was done listening (even the second time!).

Cool Ska/Metal/Funk!

I almost bailed at one point. Not my thing at all. Is this a stupid album trying to be serious or a serious album being stupid?

groovy

Wow, powerful

Very cool music with wide array of differing styles. Upbeat, funky, mellow, hard rock. Something for everyone! Never heard of this band-but will listen again!

Musical ADHD. Crazy in all the good ways.

Not sure how this made this list - there are way more talented ska bands out there. Like a good wedding band.

Very of its time, very average

Love the mixture of genres included in the album: punk, ska, reggae, soul, funk, blues, hard rock, and heavy metal. A lot of fun songs in this album. Ma and Pa, Deep Inside, and Slow Bus Movin' were my favourites.

Still great

One night in college I was up studying, or barely studying, and watching old SNL reruns. Why? Who knows. But there are two strong musical memories I have from watching TV late at night while barely studying during that period of my life. One was seeing Poe perform Angry Johnny on 120 Minutes. The other was that night. That night SNL announced this band called Fishbone. And then the TV was taken over by this band. This band of guys sprawling across the floor, running around like mad men, chrome canes and drumsets wrapped in caution tape. Keyboards flying and the sound. The sound! It was loud and funky and soaring vocals and it was amazing. It was stop whatever you're doing and pay attention amazing. Is Sunless Saturday on this album? No, no it's not. Was that performance related to this album? No, no it wasn't. But that was my introduction to Fishbone. I don't understand the low ranking for this album. It's an absolute banger of a classic. Funky, fast, slow, loud, angry, soft, fun, and topical. It's everything. And it doesn't get enough credit, just like the band itself. Ma and Pa, Ghetto Soundwave, Freddie's Dead - this album is on point from beginning to end (and to go out on Change). Not a bad song in the bunch.

Well. I didn't know I needed a funk/ska version of Freddie's Dead in my life this badly. After that extremely high start, this became a little less good, but still fun, energetic and endearing. I don't know that ska is really a genre that needs rescuing hugely, but this certainly upped my opinion on what ska music can be (i.e. it can be...not dreadful).

Thoroughly mid, easy listening but essentially forgettable album. Had a few fun ska moments, and I was initially intrigued by the cover. I was hoping this would be hip hop (had no idea about the band at all) and was sorely disappointed. This is OK but barely a drop in the ocean for me. I doubt I'll listen to this again. Middest of the mid ska. I've already forgotten it.

My cousin’s favorite band! I thought they were okay.

Mye bra her

At the start I thought I was going to like this much more than I did. It somehow sounded similar but all over the place. They should have stuck with one style rather than feeling the need to try them all on for size. The production has not aged well and sounds very very 80s. There is fun to be had here though. I like the horns and the ska and I bet they are a blast live

Good musicianship, lots of genres, fun and exhuberent

Surprisingly good mix of funk rock

i don't really know how to feel about an album this varied across its style as it is simply Weird. this feels like less a genre blend and more a genre cacophony because as an album this does not exactly flow or congeal together in my view. tracks are wildly hit or miss for me depending on whichever particular musical leaning they opt for. unsurprisingly i dislike the ska-tinged tracks, but the funkier tracks like "bonin' in the boneyard" with its disgustingly good bassline or the eclectic tracks like "one day" with its delicious guitar tone are a delight, though the repetitiveness of much of the lyricism does weigh on me over the course of the album. on the other hand, i appreciate how thematically forward it is in terms of its social commentary, so on the whole this is a very mixed bag.

Ooo, I'm suprised I haven't heard this before. I really enjoy this! Sure the lyrics can repeat a little bit too much, some of the choruses are 3 words repeated four or five times, but if you can overlook that this is a gem. I can hear how influential this album is for ska, and yet at the same time I feel this is quite a unique album. Whilst I like some of the more "fun" songs (even though even the songs that sound fun to me still have pretty social-oriented lyrics like Freddy's Dead or Mighty Long Way), I really liked songs like Pouring Rain. There's a crazy amount of range in these songs and I think they mostly all hit. Going from Pouring Rain to Deep Inside (a song which I wish was longer) gives a whiplash that left me suprised at how well it all worked. It's almost let down a star by a weaker second half, but I really enjoyed the high points enough I gotta give it a 5

A little bit of everything here but funk and energy prevail. Infectious to a fault. Only real complaint is that it never really gels and just goes from one style to the next with little worry about what came before or what comes next. Original and obviously influential.

bastante guay

Get this right after RHCP really highlights how annoying RHCP are. This is pretty good! It’s not my favorite because I tend to shut down when I hear ska or ska inspired music but this is better than a lot of others I’ve heard in the genre

On a binge right now because I haven’t listened to a lot of music, so I’m probably biting out but aside from the closer, what the fuck was this album?

If someone described this album to me it would sound like something I generally really like: ska, with layers of punk and rock inspiration, but extra funky with a political message. Yet somehow this album really doesn't come together for me. I think if I saw there guys live in a festival setting it would probably be a great high energy show. This album feels like it suffered from production style / recording techniques of the time, cheesy effects, digital sounding drums and over the top guitar solos. There is probably something here and if I sifted through their catalog more, but this wasn't it.

I saw that this was listed as metal, funk, and reggae and got incredibly excited, but right out of the gate I realized it might not actually be a fun mash up of genres I was imagining. I'm not a fan of the genre of metal on the cover of Freddie's Dead; much too 80s metal/pop oriented for me. Luckily, they follow up Freddie's Dead with some fun ska tracks and excellent horns and the album really gets going. Then the punk comes out on Deep Inside! Bonin' in the Boneyard and One Day are the genre mash-ups I was hoping for; funky, metal, reggae tracks that work really well. And then more punk/metal on Subliminal Fascism! Overall, this is a fun ska record with a really interesting blend of genres and influences, but there's maybe a bit too much 80s production for my taste and a couple tracks fall a bit flat. Personally, I prefer the Bad Brains blend of reggae/punk/metal, but it's not surprising to see that both bands travelled in similar circles.

Quite liked this. Something a bit different

I do like subliminal fascism.

Somehow this manages to be cheesy 80s (at times) and ska (like mighty mighty mighty bosstones). Not into this. Super skippable.

Not bad. Sounds like early RHCP.

90s ska punk, pretty benign, not bad but nothing stood out

Placeholder 3. Need to come back to this again

Was definitely into this in the 90’s. Killer live performance too!

It grew on me

If Talking Heads played weddings. Start high, stay high!

This was a lot of fun. This seems like a bad that would have been amazing to see perform live. Apparently one of the main people was in a cult or something? Raise your hand if you haven’t been in a cult. BE HONEST.

Fun, but didn’t really grab me.

It was OK. Not a relisten, but I didn’t hate it.

Fun and talented group

Lot of really cool songs in here about the broader state of the world on top of generally being fun to listen to? Not too many albums achieve that balance between enjoyability and depth in their contents... great listen!

Esmamuljed võivad väga petlikud olla, eriti seda albumit kuulates. Plaat algab metal looga, aga käib läbi hoopis punki, funki, ska, rock ja soul muusika. Päris vägev kuulamine ja see kuidagi mõjub värske hingetõmbena. Mulle täitsa meeldis, 3.9/5.

You would think as a massive fan of Ska I would be a bit more interested in Fishbone than I actually am, seeing how they arguably paved the way for Third-Wave Ska to become mainstream in the early 90s. While there are some moments I enjoyed on Truth and Soul, the majority of it was either ignorable or gave me the major ick. Starting out with a pretty soulless cover of Freddie's Dead didn't make my first impression very good, so it took me a while to recover and get into the record at all. Outside of the context of the record Ma and Pa is a perfectly fine song; it's easily understandable why it was the biggest hit, though far from the best on the record. Bonin' in the Boneyard and Ghetto Soundwave were the two tracks that I would say actively held my attention for their duration. With how early this record is I can't dock them too many points for the brass sounding like plastic; very few Ska bands then or since have learned how to properly record their trumpets. I can dock them points however for an incredibly discordant sound that makes me unsure of what exactly their aim was with this record. The harmonies sound ugly, and the questionable lead vocal choices on most tracks do not compliment that nicely whatsoever. Regardless, I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't into what they had going on Ghetto Soundwave or a few other tracks on the record; some kudos where they are deserved.

Not something I'd normally dig, but this was super chaotic (in a good way) and fun to listen to.

It's fun, but it's OVER THE TOP. Like... It's just too much ska, too much politics, but not enough funk and not enough hooks. Like... chill out and let's have a little fun with this.

silly ska. good fun.

Think the only real enjoyment I got from it is novelty, the idea of listening to this more than once makes me a bit ill

decent

Liked it!

Funk Rock Ska Metal, very good

I got to listen to these guys for the first time at warped tour last year. Lots of fun. Fun (black!) ska and ahead of its time. 4*

Solid early alternative album no skips

I didn't know I needed an album with a mix of metal, hard rock, ska, reggae, funk and soul in my life, but now I want more of this!

Nope. Not a fan. Very boring. Glad it’s over

Reggae meets Metallica to create an entertaining, fun album. The band certainly seemed to be having a lot of fun creating this record, which is highly energetic and has elements of both ska and hard rock, albeit with a "goofy" feel. Of particular note is some guitar-driven rock/funk and a thumping bass, although the band showcases its versatility throughout, from the horn-drenched ska of "Ma and Pa" to the aggressive punk of "Subliminal Fascism". Meanwhile, lyrics reflect on topics such as racism and family.

Saw Fishbone in 2022 at a free park concert in Denver. An event that attracts really young kids and is treated as a family event. They were not ready for Fishbone lmao. hell, I wasn't either.

With a strong and striking opener, this album manages to fit a lot of musical variety into its tracks. The elements of playfulness and seriousness are well balanced to make the variety interesting without being distracting.

Favorite track(s): Ma and Pa, Bonin' in the Boneyard, Ghetto Soundwave

Exhausting.

fine

Didn’t grab me as much as I thought it would. Funk ‘n metal is still a combination of genres I enjoy though.

What a mish mash. Starts with a dull heavy rock track, proceeds to sound like George Michael doing reggae, then jazz funk, back to heavy rock, rockabilly... A fair smattering of dull pop sounds and horrible screeching guitar solos appear throughout. As well as George Michael, attempts are made to sound like James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne.... all dished up with sound alike instrumental performances and production sounds. Fishbone seem like a band you'd find at a wedding offering energetic dance tunes, ballads for the slow dancing, heavy brass section because somebody's dad can knock out a few covers and then, inexplicably, includes some hard rock that clears the dance floor. Sometimes they want to be The Who, Thin Lizzie, Prince and lord knows who else. It's all over the place with very little originality but I'll give them some points for effort and the sheer audacity of making an album that attempts to deliver such a range of sounds-a-like tracks. They are the band that so many teenage boys would be thrilled to be at their High School dance. They are also clearly enjoying themselves enormously - maybe for some people this is an album that condenses all sorts of genres and styles saving them the bother of listening more widely. In that case it can perhaps be seen as good value!

This was pleasant, but not particularly memorable. Just felt a bit unfocused, trying its hand at too many genres - some hit, some didn't. Certainly much better than yesterday’s Hawkwind, though.

Kinda just became background noise after the first couple songs.

Is such a weird record, but so interesting listening all together. Is a band who said fuck it we will mix genre but we will make it make sense. Very interesting and 80’s but the good aspects of the 80s

Not my type of music but at least I can now say I listened to a Fishbone record

Felt rather long, but not terrible

Never heard of them before. A bunch of genres but I don't like most of them.

Not sure when I’d listen to this

Hard metal? Ska? Who knows what it is. But I'm vibin'. I loved the first track and was expecting a more grungy metal album. But then it went ska and all over the place. Fun album. 3.5 stars. rounded up to 4.

Super fun, but have to be in mood. I remember having a fishbone shirt when I was younger (like 8), but had no idea who they were.

Such a weird album! It goes all over the place, and they were obviously having a ton of fun. I enjoyed it. 7/10 Quite Likable

-another album which has left me with a feeling of confusion and uncertainty as to what the vision was supposed to be -i’m all for experimentation but i guess it’s a little hard for me to enjoy. rap punk ska dub whatever. too consistently?? sorry -Favorites: Ma and Pa, Pouring Rain, Ghetto Soundwave

So much going on on this album, jumping from one style to another. It doesn't lend itself to a coherent piece of work. It is almost like a soundtrack to a modern musical theatre.

Great ska band!!! Good album all around. Mix of electric guitar, trumpets, electric piano, upbeat drumming. All the songs are good, couldn’t really pick one song out.

Cool album. Lots to love about this, mainly the variety between the songs I enjoyed.

Lots of variety in this album. I think there's a song or two for anybody here. Not something I could come back to, but mostly a good time while listening to it.

Funk metal with a sardonic and biting edge.

I’ve come to learn this about myself and also hate this about myself, but I think I actually really like ska music.

Funky college music grove - a little too one flavor for me tho.

Previously unknown. Knew the band, not this album. Another that was probably more interesting at the time.

The Funk/Ska/Punk/Metal band, Fishbone. it's an interesting album but all over the place genre-wise so it's hard to nail down a rating. i have some friends that love the late 80's Southern California "Chili Pepper/Jane's Addiction/Fishbone" type music, me, it's ok with some winners (Jane's Addiction's "Ritual de lo Habitual" and RHCP's "Blood Sugar Sex Magic" (which i am sure is on the list somewhere), but Fishbone's eclectic style isnt for me. i did get a kick out of "Bonin in the Boneyard"...

I absolutely loved this album. My one friend introduced me to the song "Bonin' in the Boneyard" about two years ago and it became my favorite non-Funkadelic funk song. This whole album was great though. Great vocals (multiple lead singers I think?!). Great bass. The production was straight late 80s. This is exactly what Rush sounded like during that era too. Fun listen.

I liked it. Bonin in the boneyard was upbeat as was the rest of the alblum. It deserves to be in the top 1001 alblums.

This was meh

Finally a fun one , seems like a really cool group of people

Was not really into this one. There was a ska song towards the beginning that was pretty good

Böyle şeyleri çok dinlediğim için galiba aşırı iyi değilse beğenmiyorum…

eglenceliydi bence baya???? acilisi cok çekiyordu en azindan mesela????

ça va rock basique

Plein de styles qui se mélangent c’est intéressant ! Pas mal de funk, mais aussi hard rock et rock tout classique

⭐⭐ Inte min stil alls. Produktionen känns väldigt daterad och stökig. Rock men inslag av funk, soul och till och med baktakt. Tydligt skickliga musiker men känns som man vill imponera och visa allt man kan men det blir bara ofokuserat. Gissr att dessa har varit förebildee för senare New metalband. Det här är inte något jag kommer lyssna på igen.

When I saw this album this morning I was transported to February 1987 to Fair Park Theater in Dallas where I saw the Beastie Boys play on the License to Ill tour. I was 12 years old. I was on the 2nd row from the stage and Murphy’s Law plays. They were a hardcore band from NYC that’s still around but then the next group gets on stage. A group of black dudes some with Mohawks and they were playing and it was the most mind blowing experience a 12 year old kid could have. They had a few songs at the time. They played their very first single “Party at Ground Zero”. It was amazing. I became a fan that day. I waited and waited and finally this album was released. It opens with Freddie’s Dead and I’m in love with this album. It’s perfect. At the time I didn’t know it was a cover but I think they did Curtis Mayfield justice. Ma and Pa a song about works. All these songs work on this album. It was had social commentary with Slow Bus Movin’. Fishbone is a band that can’t be pigeonholed into one category and that’s what made this album perfect.

Did not age well - this was probably revolutionary at the time but seems weak now

Fun ska/punk album, another first for me by a new band

I just could not get this one to click. Probably a 3 but I've been handing out too many stars lately.

Lots of energy on this one, plenty of funk influence, but don't think I'd put it in that category alone.

1. Freddie's Dead - 6 Instrumentally this is great and reminds me a lot of Duran Duran. Lyrically this song makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. 2. Ma and Pa - 6 Lyrically better than Freddie's Dead and instrumentally fun as well. Nothing out-of-this-world phenomenal but nothing bad either. 3. Question of Life - 7 Fun track. Solid lyrics and the way the line that questions if one will pass the test is unique in every rendition of the chorus. It's an awesome feature that elevates the tone of the track. 4. Pouring Rain - 7 Lyrically very good. It reminds me oddly of a Sade track in the way it's very smooth and has some pronounced brass on it. Really good track. 5. Deep Inside - 3 Not huge on the sound of the vocals, especially the background ones. Everything else about this track is ok but it's a departure from what has been enjoyable about the album so far. 6. Mighty Long Way - 7 Good opening rift that really creates a lot of enjoyment in the track. Guitar is definitely the highlight but the rest of the track is also solid and the lyrics are pretty good too. The compliment of brass is also appreciate on this track. 7. Bonin' In The Boneyard - 8 Fun track. The bass on this is really enjoyable. Lyrically the track is a lot of fun as well. Just a great, upbeat, and fun song. 8. One Day - 2 We are waitening on some better lyrics. Very repetitive and annoying track. Instrumentally it's alright but lyrically it's super weak and it goes from preaching to half singing to singing and all the way back. 9. Subliminal Fascism - 1 Just an awful track. 10. Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party) - 5 Not a bad song. Lyrcially strong, I'm overall just not a huge fan of the style of track that it is. 11. Ghetto Soundwave - 6 The message is important but it's a rather odd choice of pitch and tone for the track. Overall it's not bad. 12. Change - 6 Solid message and a decent song. Really good way to end the album. Average Rating: 5.33 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 2.67 Rounded Up: 3 Stars

- emotional rollercoaster - meme si y’a un gros mix de plusieurs styles, ça reste fluide et je vais définitivement réécouter plusieurs chansons - avec l’originalité de leur son et l’influence certaine de celle-ci j’ai pas le choix de donner un 4/5

😐

I had heard of Fishbone but do not recall listening to their music. It was somewhat entertaining. I think this music would be best heard in person. It’s ok.

Another "new to me" album, and rather enjoyable. 3.5/5

This is the first I’ve ever heard of Fishbone! Truth and Soul is a protest record of everything - ska, hard rock, reggae, punk, funk, 80’s-insert-wave-here. This is important social commentary. This is an uprising playing on the sun deck of a Carnival cruise ship. Maybe that’s the intent; the band swings to the tune of fighting fascism in a way that you could passively sip a frozen daiquiri to. Each member is incredibly talented and their ability to switch between styles is done with impressive fluency. My one criticism is that Bonin’ in the Boneyard, albeit a wild funky ride, feels out of place with the rest of these powerful tracks. The album closes with a full 180 with the thoughtful, hopeful acoustic guitar ballad, Change. Fishbone has made rebellion accessible

No

Where has this album been all my life omg I love my people

1,9 - Unglaublich stressig. Am Anfang gibt es noch ein paar gute Songs, aber danach musste ich doch ab und zu skippen. Highlights: Ma and Pa, Pouring Rain

OK.

Manche Songs gefallen besser, andere weniger. Insgesamt zu kunterbunt

Variety alone gives this value. Didn't completely hold me but still good

Surprisingly I've never listened to a Fishbone album. I've got a deep abiding love for ska music. I gave this one three listens and didn't really feel hooked by anything on the album. Instrumentation was tight and I dug it. Don't know if I'll revisit the album but happy knowing it exists.

Surprisingly chaotic, but in a fun way. Wild mix of ska, funk, soul, and punk rock. I'm usually not a ska guy, but I can see myself revisiting this album in the future just to once again hear how much fun the band had recording it.

Lots of good funk, with LOTS of different flavors mixed in - ska, reggae, late-'80s guitar rock, classic soul, punk, and I even feel like I hear some Frank Zappa influence here and there. There's something for everyone here, and I dig it. I don't know if this broke any new ground, but these guys sound like they'd be a helluva lot of fun at a party.

I know and like Fishbone - this album just didn;'tt hit tho

Great mix of funk, punk and ska. Their version of Freddie’s dead is one of my favorite covers of all time. Honest opinion is I prefer nuttasauras fossil fuel’in the donkey

I was listening to this as I arrived in Southern California from the cold, gloomy northeast and it fit perfectly. It’s strongest when the horns are prominent, and the tracks that aren’t as ska-ey are weaker as a result, but the strong parts are what you come away with.

What is this? I have never heard of this band. A terrible 80s cock rock cover of Curtis Mayfield? what have I done to deserve this? Enjoying this more now that it's gone ska. But ultimately not my thing.

C'est effectivement très varié et péchu. On sent bien où la mano negra est venue puiser l'inspiration.

Fantastic! A great mix of rock, ska and funk. Will definitely revisit.

I swear this is the album they wrote for the Heathcliffe movie they didn't make (knockoff Garfield the Cat),

Definitely music that would be in a 80s or 90s rom com or cheesy comedy.

I really enjoyed this one, funky and punky, only one song I didn't really enjoy but it flowed with the rest so I'll take it.

better than expected

Listened to whilst making tea

I wasn't much into this until it got into more ska towards the end

A mix of rock reggae and ska, all of these songs are individually good. The album may not be cohesive, but it sure is a fun listen

Pārāk regejīgi, but i can see the appeal

mostly skips pero las primeras dos que bangers

Ehhhh i found this to be a little generic and boring, but maybe it was good for the time. 1.5 but i cant do decimals

Weird and all over the place.

there's some fuckin poetry going on here boys on first listen, i didn't think there was much cohesion through the album but on a second/third listen, this is fuckin gorgeous - a lovely blend of funk, soul, rock, reggae, gospel and ska bonin' in the boneyard's bassline is straight up disrespectful to me, the listener. double kicks on a late 1980s funk album? there's some disgusting triple time fills in the first 40 seconds, they do got me boning in the boneyard but i have no bone nor yard. absolutely the standout track

Not my type

A bit chaotic in parts but good craic

Sucked

Mostly ass.

This one took me by surprise, there's so much depth to the instrumentation and it actually makes this particular genre extremely interesting.

Genre bending fun.

I had more fun with this than expected.

A cool vibe, definitely some tracks I gravitate to more than others. “Question of Life” “Pouring rain”

Ooohhhh, this was fun. Another great discovery thanks to this list.

Part punk, ska, metal. Some social commentary. An interesting one time listen.

Ugh. For as much talent as Fishbone has, and for as many styles as they seem to tie together, they can’t write a song that I want to listen to. 2/5

350/1089 - I first heard Fishbone in grade school and I really liked the song "Ugly" which has the lyric "your mind is twisted and your brain is raped." Anyways during recess one day, I called a mean kid a "rape brain" and got in a lot of trouble. 5 stars.

There are some good songs here, but nothing really stands out for me. 3 stars or C+.

Truth and Soul is chaotic in the best possible way, an album that feels like it might fly apart at any moment but somehow holds together through sheer force of personality. It jumps aggressively between funk, punk, ska, soul, metal, and straight-up noise, refusing to settle or smooth anything out. Instead of sounding confused, it sounds wired, like a band with too many ideas and absolutely no interest in filtering them. What makes it work is the conviction behind it. Fishbone attack every style as if it is the only one that matters, and that intensity gives the album real momentum. The grooves hit hard, the riffs bite, and the political anger feels raw rather than posed. Even when things get messy or overwhelming, there is a sense that the band means every second of it. The humour, the rage, and the musical skill all coexist without cancelling each other out. It falls just short of a full five because the relentless energy can be exhausting, and not every idea lands with the same impact. Still, that excess is part of the album’s character rather than a flaw to be ironed out

Punchy and slappin', technically interesting ska and reggae music. Very unique and enjoyable, especially when it leans towards rock. Mighty Long Way was a great song with some excellent guitar work. All songs have incredible bass.

eh it was okay i wasn’t hooked in the first few songs and got bored

I think this album is too much of a gimmicky for me. I have to praise it for being a chaotic amalgamation of funk rock, ska punk and some elements from other styles like metal or pop. There are fast rhythms and guitars, slow moments, silly voices, trumpets, funky bass and much more. But as much fun as it sounds, I feel very impassive and uninterested about everything going on. There were even sometimes that I even hated it, but the last listen I gave it, I felt impartial. I think the thing that I like the least are the vocals and the silly noises they make. So that's it, I don't really have anything more to say about it. I was thinking of giving 2 stars, but I'm going with a very low 3 instead due to the high variety of the album.

Great time I had with this album, I was dancing and at the same time, gone in the soundscapes

Whatever

Weird and varied, some of it sounds good enough, I guess it's a light 3 It goes from being Jane's Addiction to becoming a ska punk album within the first two tracks and I would be put-off by that if Ma and Pa weren't as fun and catchy as it is

I'm not really into ska. During my pop punk phase there was a definite overlap into ska music, and some of it I enjoyed but a lot was tough. This album has a lot of the things I like about the genre, but I'm still lukewarm on it

eh

Yes, I know - I do like to complain about this list at times - but this time I'm very grateful to come across a band I followed extensively during the late '80s and early '90s, and somehow completely forgot about. Unlike the RHCP or Faith No More, or even Living Colour, Fishbone never made it to the mainstream, but they were just as, if not even more, good. They were doing the funk-metal-ska-punk fusion before almost anyone, and with more skill and energy than most of the bands who got more famous doing similar things. This album is such a gem, and although the production is a bit flat, Truth and Soul is raw and powerful, and it's precious to rediscover. I immediately started downloading the albums that once belonged to my collection, to ensure that this party will continue for the coming days! 5/5

This really grew on me. Eclectic mix of different styles and genres all jammed into one album with some surprisingly good songs within. Although they weren't all hits

Creative album, feels playful and easy to listen to. Will have to give it a second listen.

i think i get ska now. i like it, smooth and frantic at the same time, i like it

Definitely a fun album. More dynamic than any other ska album I’ve ever listened to. A good job mixing in other styles like hardcore. Catchy, upbeat, enjoyable.

This one was a lot of fun. Great bass lines. Every somg was different. I really enjoyed this one

Ah, Fishbone. One of the most influential yet often overlooked bands out there. I’ve loved this album (and them as a band!) since I first heard it in recent years. Caught them at a festival, the rain was coming down during their set, but the whole crowd was dancing even as we were getting soaked. Snagged a rain-soaked setlist from them, one of the coolest concert collectibles I own.

I’d heard of Fishbone before, but I’m not sure I ever listened to any of their music. Their music is hard to describe. The group started out as a ska and funk band, but by their second album, Truth and Soul, they added more metal to their sound, and their lyrics touched on more social issues than their first album. After their first album, it seems guitarist Kendall Jones thought maybe the band was a bit too “cartoonish” and needed to write more socially conscious issues. Fishbone is a band consisting of black men. Meanwhile, Jones was getting into metal and started giving some of their songs a hard metal edge. For the most part, this album is really good. I was a bit surprised. I’m not the biggest ska lover, but the mixing of genres really does keep you on your toes. Fishbone employs a horn section, which I’m in favor of always. The horn blasts really punch up the ska vibe for me. One of the problems with this album and I think it was mentioned when the album came out, is there are almost too many genres of music on the album. It feels almost like a compilation album. There’s no real flow as you go from a slow reggae groove to hard charging metal groove. For instance, Bonin’ In the Boneyard sounds like a Prince song. While Slwo Movin' Bus has a country groove to it, or at least what a ska metal band thinks of as a country groove. It reminds me of the Vandals' Urban Struggle. With the variety of sounds, I think the album needs a good dozen listens before things start to flow well. Lyrically, the band has their “cartoon” time, but they also have thoughtful lyrics about the things going on in the world in 1988. Yes, 1988. It doesn’t sound like 1988, which is good. It definitely has that '90s hard rock production. I can tell you I already added this album to my playlist of the 1,001 Albums I’ve listened to and liked, or at least wanted to hear more of. I think if you’re a fan of late '80s to early '90s hard rock and hair metal, you’ll probably enjoy this album. One of the highlights for me is the song One Day. It has an incredible guitar solo that is as good as anything that came out of the hair metal years. Plus, the song has a Korn sound to me. It’s weird. This is another album I'm not sure is an all-timer and needs to be heard, but I’m glad it was on the list because I doubt I would have ever heard it. And if anything I’ve written in this dreck tickles your fancy, you might like it too.

I cued it up and hit play and it quickly receded into the background and was over before I knew it - which means it was neither great nor horrible

Metal-ska!? Nej tack, jag undanber mig och fördömer detta å det grövsta

Några funky låtar svänger ändå en aning. Men jag har svårt för när musiker försöker vara lite crazy. Och funk metal-inslagen är gräsliga. Svag tvåa.

Väljer att dela mina anteckningar istället för en sammanhållen text. Spretar antagligen lika mycket som dagens album. Freddies dead, bra låtval för cover. Dock riktigt dåligt utfört. Ibland bra groove Vill bland in allt för många ingredienser. Prince syntar som låter funk, ett plus. Bonin in the boneyard svänger fint. Metall riffen kunde vi varit utan. Får soppan att smaka surt. Deep inside, usel Svag tvåa

Efter den inledande slakten av Freddie's Dead är allt hopp ute.

I like the variety of genres and the playfulness of the album. I’m not sold on the songs, though. I appreciate the musicianship and them being one of the forerunners in the funk rock movement, but the songs aren’t as good as I’d hopes. They’re at their best when they enter FNM territory, such as in Bonin’ in the Boneyard and Subliminal Fascism

Metal funk y mil géneros más, en la línea de los injustamente olvidados Colour Party. Abrir con Freddie's Dead de Curtis Mayfield es toda una declaración de principios. Llevarla a su terreno, otra. Ma and Pa, mete Ska. No son Mano Negra ni los Fabulosos Cadillacs o Café Tacuba, pero tampoco está mal. Tampoco son los RHCP pues carecen de su sentido de la diversión y carsima. Question of Life sí que suena a patchanka, pero no termina de convencer. El cambio entre Pouring Inside y Deep Inside es enorme, mucho mejor la segunda. Bonin´ in the boneyard también es de lo mejor del lote junto con la country Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party). Siguen mezclando estilos, fusión que se llamaba entonces hasta que finalizan con ese rayo resplandecientemente acústico que es Change y podría cantar George Michael. Influyentes y pioneros, pero otros lo hicieron mejor y tuvieron más éxito.

Pretty fun. Pretty dated.

It's ok, nothing more

504/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑

Very groovy and funky. It’s like glam rock mixed with funk, punk, and ska. I guess this could also be considered alternative rock in some ways. What a fusion of genres and styles. The air instruments combined with the funky bass lines are insane, I’ve never heard such a diverse mix of styles come together and make this much sense. Such an incredible range. No two songs are alike, there are almost rock ’n’ roll/metal guitar solos, some funky bass, soulful keys and horns, ska rhythms and danceable beats, and even some swoon inducing twelve string guitar. My favourites are Freddie's Dead, Ma and Pa, Boning in the Boneyard and Change.

Quite playful and energetic. I like the sound and rhythms. There's a lot of freedom and experimentation which works for the most part. 7/10

1.5

I was expecting this to be far more fun than it was.

Great record.

I was already familiar with this album. I like this album. It is a bit hard to classify because it touches on many genres, but everything seems to at least be considered rock. This album is catchy and has great instrumentation. It is a fun listen and I would listen again for sure.

I genuinely had no idea what I was listening to at first. Amazing creativity and mashup of genres, and I like the politics. The music didn't connect for me personally though.

Here's a blast from the past. Saw these guys at some dive in the early 90s and haven't heard them since. It's a good record, not mind blowing, but it's a fun listen and music is supposed to be fun, right? In a more just (not racist) world, Fishbone would have been massive stars and the RHCP would have been a niche cult band

Not heard this. Know the band name but couldnt tell you a song. Opened up the album and plaed first somg - oh right, this band. I probaly ahould have explored this band more. Tight, bit of funk and soul, guitar heavy, bit punk like, seems like the kind of thing i’d like. But second song in and there is something crowded and hurried about the songs that turns me off - song 2 is the yakity sax of tight funk/soul/reggae. Were they on goey or coke? Track 4 must be the come down. Slower. Not too bad. Then back at in track 5. If you played me track 5 and said this was a Motley crew type band, I’d believe you. If you played me track 6 and said this was a Huey Lewis and the News type band. I’d believe you. I think that’s my issue. They seem to be trying to cram too much in. Must listen to their later albums. Track 7 a bit better in that it commits to a funk style so feels a bit more coherent. But the relentless upbeat party band feel lacks a bit of texture. Good musicians (guitar style a bit widdly widdly for my liking but good player) but i dont know, i dont like it like i should. There’s little coherence -here’s track 9, it’s our punk style - so that doesnt raise it to an all time great album for me. It seems like an album looking to broaden their audience or show off how versatile they are. Track 10 is their version of country, but again the production is in your face - percussion goes to 11 and stays there. Now track 12 feels like their sound and style. Groovy, upbeat, nice use of harmonies, some whacka whacka funk rhythm guitar. For the 80s it is ahead of its time i guess (and i know where Warren and Funkadelic ripped off the idea from, but them ska/reggae and punk mixed were a thing since the clash ot any rude boy nfluwnced British punk band). Fast forward and you get pop punk (mosyly pop) bands like no doubt took it up and were very popular (still didnt work for me though). So why do i like living colour and not this? Bet id like them if i saw them live.

I love me some Fishbone. Pure fun!

Very fun!

I’ve been in love with this album since junior high school. I still am.

Yeah this was fun. Only knew Ma & Pa

All over the place, yet somehow homogenous. Fun and funky. No single song stood out particularly much to me though. An incredibly interesting listen, very much enjoyed it.

It’s okay enough, a little much for me but it’s not bad.

Being forced to listen to "Freddie's Dead" RIGHT AFTER the anniversary of Freddie Mercury's death was way too traumatizing

This was really good. Never heard them prior.

Mama Mia vilken resa ... Puh! Från metall till soul via ska. Vansinnes tempo men ändå tajt och välspelat. Som en afroamerikansk version av Thin Lizzy. Fast med sämre sånginsatser. Konstig produktion också. Soul bygger på rytmsektionen då kan man inte gömma den. Men en fyra är det värt.

Nice

Wow that was really great, such a good mix of genres. PUNK?!!! It literally comes out of nowhere but it’s done so well. Of course the other songs are done so well as well but less punky obviously. I feel like this could easily be a mess of genres in each song or just having one song dedicated to a specific one like 10Cc or something (no shade to them, they do that quite well) but it blends together seamlessly with the funk, reggae, soul, blues and even ska working together in a really fun and energetic way (eclectic even). I guess the punk doesn’t blend so well as it kind of jumps out at you from nowhere but it only makes those two occasions more crazy. There’s also the more heavy rock ones like the first song, these ones don’t fit the overall sound as much but they were still great and carry over a bit to the other songs in guitar riff form. I love albums that change it up every song like this and do it so good. My only criticisms are that sometimes the production sounds a little flat to what it should sound like ( the guitar tone sometimes and some of the drums for example) but that’s probably more to do with the time it was released. I also wasn’t a massive fan of the last song but it was a good message to end it on and changed it up again. Favourites: all but the last. Overall, 8/10 (very close to a 9 but not quite polished enough).

Rather aptly this is the musical equivalent of Rachel Reeves (AKA Rachel from Accounts) 2025 Labour budget delivered today. The media are calling it a smorgasbord of tax increases just like the abundance of difference genres on this album. So it is as welcome as the extra taxes I will have to pay over the next few years. 2/5 26/11/25

Just not it man

Fun and some early sounds of what came much later 4/5

Honestly there were some great jams in there. Mighty Long Way was probably my favorite and one that I'll be adding to regular rotation. There was one song that was little too reggae for me, and a few other weird ones, but otherwise I liked it.

Great

An interesting listen for sure. Had elements of ska, garage rock, funk....I didn't hate it, but don't think I'd listen to it again.

These guys are the rock equivalent of Insane Clown Posse. There's entirely too much going on and it's just noisy. I can't put my finger on why but I was extremely put off by it.

Surprisingly good. Ska records fail more than they succeed but this one was highly energetic, had good lyrics and was very diverse.

Very interesting! I'm not super into this, but I appreciate the artistry.

They're really good. I had a great time listening to this. 4 stars.

Not for me

Pretty fun! Recognized the second song on this album.

Had some moments I liked Will I listen to again: 34%

This album was insanely annoying to me. The funk rock element mixed with the singers voice made it hard to enjoy any song o this album.

I had never heard of Fishbone or their album Truth and Soul before today, but I’m really glad this challenge brought it my way. The album is a cool mix of ska and reggae, and while my first impression was that it might be a novelty record, it actually grew on me the more I listened. There’s a real energy and uniqueness to it, and by the end I found it a fun and refreshing listen. Favourite track: Ma and Pa — a genuinely fun song. Least favourite track: Freddie’s Dead threw me off at first and made me think I wouldn’t enjoy the album. It felt like a novelty track, but thankfully my first impression didn’t hold. Album artwork: Simple but effective; I quite like it.

Very catchy! This is the first ska sound I have heard, but the album has a ton of different sounds. I love the combination. Bonin' in the Boneyard was especially enjoyable. Slow Bus Movin' was very fun and unique- a completely different sound than the other songs.

First listen

Funky beats, and the vocals go and ruin it.

Starting off the album with my favorite song off of Superfly was brilliant and set a great tone for the album, and “Change” was such an interesting way to end the album. There’s not much ska on this list, so this was much appreciated. It was socially conscious while also maintaining fun (and funk). The instrumentals were fantastic and honestly it was so nice and refreshing to hear something there’s very little of on the list. Desperately glad to hear something different, though there should definitely be more like this on the list. Definitely recommend.

CRAP

Whiplash from the multitude of genres

Oh yeah, this is great! I wasn't expecting it to be so funky. One Day and Change are my favorites.

When I think ska, I don’t think Van Halen solos and hair metal wails. I was pleasantly surprised to hear much of this here! Of course, you get ample ‘normal’ ska as well.

It’s tough to put this one in a box, as it encompasses a lot of diverse musical styles. Generally,I liked the energy of the album, but still just didn’t like it that much, with the exception of Mighty Long Way. I wouldn’t bother listening to the record again, but if I heard it played somewhere, I would be okay with it. Works out to another 3 star album for me.

Not my

Not a huge fan of ska. 4/10

It was a solid 2.5, but as you know, no half points available.

Man this album has so many different sounds on it which I quite enjoy. It made listening to the album for the first time really entertaining because I had no idea what to expect ever. This was cool. Not every song hit for me but most of them did. There were some cheesy moments which is fine. I'm okay with some cheese but they did stand out. There were some really cool basslines in there. Bonin' in the Boneyard was so sick.

I was super into ska and ska punk as a teenager. Its really formative music for me, so I obviously had a blast with this record. Fishbone was always on the periphery of the ska punk that I was really into, but I always felt like they were better musicians and had more depth than most of the contemporaries. I think the fusion of the genres is what they excel at. This is really such a "LA band." It feels like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Descendents but with really ramped up to be a true ska act. I also think that the Bad Brains influence is undeniable. They were really pulling from HR and Dr. Know with their sound. What I like most of this record is kind of how maximalist it is. Some songs are super heavy, where others are kind of "cheesy" classic ska. They don't hold back either way. They also really lean heavy into funk, pop and metal in a way that really on RHCPs have ever been able to pull off. This record was fun!

Not for me

I really don't know what I was expecting but this was unexpected less cringy than I though a ska album would be. Hard to believe this was 1988. There's a punk edge here that's also really good. I can see some 90s punk bands would've pulled from here.

I expected all ska for some reason.. better than I thought it would be!

Never heard of them. Bit of a mixture to say the least. All over the place. Can’t think why they’re on this list.

Late 80s funk rock and ska. Plus metal. Fun mash-up of genres. Actually black ska, copied a lot.

Damn good album. Fishbone is criminally underrated.

This was a real solid album. Enjoyed it.

Well, that's a lot. A lot of genre, a lot of power, and some acustic rock. I'd say that I love a lot of the parts of this album but it doesn't really hold together that well. Should be divided into playlists. 4/5

I feel that on paper i should like this, but when i listened i really did NOT like that much 2.5/5

I liked the music and the vibe, really enjoyed this. It d be a 3.5 for me.

Enjoyable funky grungy sound. Enjoyed this

Not sure what this is about, hard to categorise Indy but no real charm or flavour.

Pure 80s trash rock.

I liked this, the eclectic mix of genres.

I loved the mixture of funk, soul, punk, rock. This was an interesting album. I liked the musicianship that was involved. Why some people hated it, I don't know. I don't know why they scored it so low either. It's a 5 for me!

I couldn’t help drawing parallels while listening to Truth and Soul. Fishbone’s intensity and unpredictability stirred the same feeling I get from Frank Zappa’s best work, that sense of organized chaos where every note has purpose even when it sounds like it shouldn’t. The difference lies in the roots. Fishbone builds from ska and funk, where rhythm is rebellion and joy is the weapon. Zappa’s world grows out of jazz and blues, translating rebellion into composition and satire into precision. As a record, Truth and Soul carries moments of brilliance, with complex horn layers, grooves that twist without breaking, and lyrics that turn political and playful at once. Yet, when placed next to Zappa, the scale of vision shifts. Fishbone took rebellion and made it danceable. Zappa took rebellion and made it symphonic. And while Fishbone’s approach hits the body, Zappa’s reaches deeper into the structure of the music itself. Still, the comparison isn’t about hierarchy but curiosity, tracing how two different languages can express the same restless and creative defiance.

I've never listened to this album (51). The kind of music that gets more irritating as time goes by, especially due to the bone-dry drum mixing.

Pretty solid, some really interesting concepts. Not sure how often I'd revisit it.

"Bonin In the Boneyard" is still the best song on here, but also found I enjoyed "Ma and Pa" "Freddie's Dead" "Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party)" and "Subliminal Fascism" generally this was more metal-y than I was expecting.

*1988. *Sounds like Guns N Roses and Metallica. But also there's like a soul or R&B component. *It was fun and cool at times, but forgettable and all over the place. RATING - 5.5/10

Quite the all over the place album, some songs were really captivating while I couldn’t wait for others to be over. Not sure if I’d revisit aka music on my own time, but there’s enough here that I enjoyed to make this a 3/5.

I enjoyed the beginning and the end of the record. It was a fun fusion of styles with catchy melodies and dated production. Rating: 3.4

Catchy, would listen again

2/5

This was mental. Crazy bass, crazy horns, crazy double kick pedal, crazy genre flips, crazy '70s musical energy and I am here for all of it. Jampacked with mental content but very tight. Just needs better production, particularly on the drums and guitar. 7.5 / 10 Best track/s: Bonin' In The Boneyard, One Day, Ghetto Soundwave

Overall: 8/10 This is a great ska album with heavy metal influence. I love how many genres they're able to mash up here, and the funkiest basslines known to man can be found on this album. So much fun. Fav Song: Bonin' in the Boneyard

Fun and funky album. Pretty danceable too, not something heard very much in more modern music. Does sound a bit dated now so this could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on whether you want to feel the nostalgia of the 90’s or not

A large segment of my teenage life has this album as it's soundtrack. It still holds up. It still works. It still rocks.

Album #950 I was not previously aware of Fishbone. I figured they were another obscure British band. The album starts out with Freddie's Dead, a song that sounded somewhat familiar, but I didn't know why until I looked it up later. Pretty good, sounded kinda glam rock. Then they get into ska and funk territory. What kind of band is this? I was digging the music, but the political messaging, I couldn't care less about. It was surprisingly good overall. I liked the mixing of genres, which kept the music fresh. I'll give it another listen in the future.

I hated this

Pretty decent album truth be told. Ska probably isn’t really my thing, but it wasn’t a hard listen at all and I generally enjoyed it.

I’m an old fan of fishbone, it’s been a while since I listened to them. This album brought back memories, it started a stream of old music that was in my rotation

This is like if you took the funk metal and ska parts of Mr Bungle, threw in a little bit of reggae and made an entire album of that sound instead of switching genres every 30 seconds. As a bass player, I can also appreciate some bass wankery like on Bonin' in the Boneyard too This is fun, I was vaguely familiar with Fishbone and had an impression that I wouldn't like them much. Some tracks are a bit crap, like Subliminal Fascism and Slow Bus Movin' but this was a good listen. 3.5 Highlights: Pouring Rain, Ghetto Soundwave

Truly electric, truly bonkers. It’s Bad Brains, it’s Funkadelic, it’s Chic, it’s Curtis Mayfield, it’s … Charles & Eddie? And then it’s the next song. Whacky dispatches from a group of musicians who, and pretty palpably, honestly couldn’t give a fuck what you think about it. “One Day” (“Who says a funk band can’t play speed metal?”, am I right?) absolutely shreds, and carries that squeezed sounding high gain, phased guitar tone that never fails to grab me; “Subliminal Fascism” is probably the most perturbing hardcore punk song I’ve ever heard; “Bonin’ in the Bonyard” is point blank hilarious. This is fun in a place where self-seriousness otherwise rules; an episode of Looney Tunes in a world of Disney. It’s an outrageous album, and an even greater outrage I’d never heard of it before today.

They definitely bring the funk. Cool album with infectious bass lines.

Hey! I discovered another band I never knew about before. This album is great fun to listen to, and very eclectic. That's not always a plus for me, but in this case, it definitely is. I look forward to listening to more of Fishbone's material.

Fishbone is a band that I first found through a video game: NBA2K8 on the Xbox 360. The song "Skankin' To The Beat" was featured on that game and from that, my knowledge was Fishbone was that they were a ska band. Roughly 10 years later, I was right but Fishbone is more than strictly ska. They have a punk attitude which gives them a fun edge to what they're about. I looked up clips of them live and their performance can be entirely defined by the word: loose. Everybody's jumping, everybody's really going for it. That's a great spirit to have in a band. In addition to their energy, they're also a socially conscious band. There's a few songs on this record that notably speak on serious topics and give some commentary. But all the seriousness is matched up with this deep funk groove punk setting that makes it work. I like this band, I like what they stand for and I like that they're going at it in 2025. This one has the potential to grow on me (7/10, 4/5 on this scale) (Update: 3/5 now)

I genuinely enjoyed this more than I thought I would.

Meh

Deep Inside I know this was alright. One Day I may listen to this again.

Great album!

Ska! Punk’s fun little cousin. Good to listen to, normally doesn’t have much weight to it though. This album might be a bit of an exception, which actually makes for a bit of a strange listen. Ska with a message? These guys have talent, no doubt. Had some stuff that I liked. Other songs were like, huh? Puts it squarely at a 3 for me.

Outdated and a tad boring

Not really for me, but I can see how others have liked it. It's quirky and is most definitely a world apart from the others in the same genre. Fun and enjoyable enough to listen to.

3/5

I don’t need to hear this one again

A ska band playing whatever the hell they feel like. They throw everything at the wall and even if it doesn't all stick, it's still fun

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"Truth and Soul" is the second studio album by American rock band Fishbone. The album has a wide array of styles including funk, rock, ska, punk, blues, soul and heavy metal. The themes tend towards making asocial conscious statement. The bandmembers on the album are Chris Dowd (vocals, keyboards, trombone), John Norwood Fisher (vocals, bass), Philip "Fish" Fisher (drums, percussion, vocals), Kendall Jones (vocals, guitars), Walter A. Kirby II (vocals, trumpet) and Angie Moore (vocals, saxophone). Critically, the album had generally positive to mixed reviews and, commercially, it reached #153 on the US Billboard Chart. The album opens with the first single released and a cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead" from "Super Fly." Hard guitar and drums. Funky with the bass and soulful with the keyboards. Drug addict Freddie's dead and progress is meaningless, lost to drug. They change it up in the next song, the fast, ska "Ma and Pa." Horns added with keyboards. It's more upbeat but describes the effects of parental conflict on kids. A guy screaming and a very fast drum beat starts "Bonin' in the Backyard." Horns, keys but the bass is the star here. It's funky, bouncy and all over the place. This song might have s deeper meaning but I could only interpret the obvious. The guitar takes centerstage in "One Day." It's melodic, jamming and with Eddie Van Halen-esque solos. I was exhausted just listening to it. A backdrop of funky beats and bass in a song where he's waiting for something...pretty esoteric. The album finishes with the softer "Change." Acoustic and more ballad-like. Nice tenor vocals with strings and horns accents. A cry for change. I had a lot of fun with this album. I know i criticized the Youngblood album for being too hodgepodge. Well, I was sucked into this hodgepodge and quite enjoyed it. Musical styles and pace changes between songs. There's ska, heavy rock, funk, reggae, a ballad, punk and soul. Even the songs vary with seriousness including some just being pointless. Most of the songs are upbeat. Lots going on instrumentally within each song with the guitars, bass, horns, drums, keyboards and vocals. Very good production by David Kahne. This album is recommended for anyone wanting a musical ride.

That bassline sent me to Jupiter.

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Really interesting blend of styles, with ska, 80s glam rock and a dash of early 90s Manchester bands

I want to like this, since Fishbone were on KEXP two weeks ago and it was pretty fun. I think this is a band that, live, would be an absolute blast.

Very 80s but also eclectic at the same time. The message of the album is still relevant today.

i think fishbone is pretty fun and I've always appreciated their blending of genres but there's a little too much hard rock in the mix here for my tastes; never thought I'd be listening to fishbone and wishing for a little 🤏 more ska

Blast from the past. Don’t really need to hear often, but was a good reminder.

Noisy.

a very eclectic album, and although i think the songs are not too bad, the production here is pretty horrid. it's so clean and wet, i kind of hate it. although, you know, maybe because their name is fishbone, it should be wet. who knows. but the production really soured me on what i felt was otherwise a pretty middling album.

Out of the gates sets a pretty bad impression with their cover of Freddie's Dead, which on the version I listened to was just an auditory mess. The rest of the album is kind of chaotic in a different way - with all manner of genres thrown into the mix. Some of it works well, but some of it feels pretty generic (80s pop-rock track Mighty Long Way feels especially formulaic). Overall I just found it difficult to get on with this - none of the styles it plays with are my favourite to begin with, so even with the band being pretty adept at some of them, it just wasn't likely to win me over.

This album had sort of a weird balance to me. Have of it felt like pretty cool rock songs, and the other half sounded like the Seinfeld intro.

71/100. A good rock record with some funky tones. While it might not stand out in a crowded field, it holds its own and delivers an enjoyable listen.

Respect. Not my thing

I think I'd like Ska more if it sounded like this more often. Its weird, a lot of these songs sound like something you'd hear in a 90's sports highlights VHS. its funky and fun! also thise basslines and horns are something else.

So thrilled that this was a ska album! The first song put me off but I enjoyed the rest of it. Probably going to listen to more from these guys

3.5/5

Not too shabby

pretty fun and crazy but just not my thing