Reviews (page 4 of 8)
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
own
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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.
Parfource Ritt durch alle Rock Genres
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
This album is a mix of Sublime, Reggae, Rock, Funk, and Pop. Somehow, this combination created a great album. Favorite Track: "Freddie's Dead".
Different
6/10 Bright and crisp and about 10 years ahead of its time. Just not my vibe I suppose. 10-02-2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was definitely all over the place, but in a pleasant and high-energy way. It's like butt rock and ska at the same time. I'm here for stuff like that.
Hitti ekki í mark
Allt í lagi sem bakgrunnshljóð en er samt ekkert spes. En sumt allt í lagi.
Feels like they’d be a great bar/live band. Album is a bit all over the place, though. Modern ska never sits well with me, either.
I wasn't expecting a ska funk band. That was a surprise. That said this is a fun album, sure sometimes it's chaotic and really goes for it but damn it makes you want to get up and move. Since I'm not sure how to classify them I'm going to just call this a boogie album. I will be listening to more of them...
Kinds fun and a little funky but the vocals push it over into corny territory (2.5/5)
There are some very good songs on this album, but I couldn't find the thread that connect one song to the next. It did not feel like a cohesive project as much as a collection of songs. However, Fishbone is clearly an innovative, ground-breaking, and extremely talented band.
The vocals on this are excellent and used in a smart, different way. Love a bit of ska!
This may be the best Ska album I've ever heard but I'm no aSKAcianado (I butchered that spelling) Every song is a different journey. Soul, metal, hip hop, reggae, funk & dash of doo wop. Songs about struggle, politics, sex & funk. Just a fantastic album. I wanna give it a five but for now 4.5
A fun record, though not really my thing. It certainly is a pretty unique meshing of genres and I can see Fishbone’s value in the history of music. Doubtful that I would revisit though.
I felt nothing
7/10 Favourite: Ma & Pa Least Favourite: Question of Life
Not for me
This one is tough, young me seems to be screaming at me, “We love Sublime, we love Ska, this is a 5 dude!” Yea, there was a time I’d love this but that time is way fucking gone. I did add Bonin’ in the Boneyard to my Hallowy playlist though bc that song is both hilarious and kinda awesome so I thank the generator for serving this up just before October. Otherwise this was annoying. 2 stars
nej.. för glatt och för mycket energi
The opening 'wacky wedding band' slaughtering of a stone-cold classic was enough for me to bail. Drivel.
Bloody awful.
For some reason, I was under the impression Fishbone were a Grateful Dead-esque jam band (I think I was getting them confused with Phish). As a result, this had a lot more tunes than I was expecting, although I found it a tad wearying over the course of a whole album.
This is an incredibly modern sounding album for something released in 1988. I can see how the genre switches from track to track could be jarring for some listeners. For me this album combines a lot of my favorite genres and was just an overall fun album to listen to.
Cringingly dire, even if partially redeemed by some progressive politics.
This all felt a bit shallow and glossy. Could be some good stuff in here but it feels cleaned up and overproduced.
I'm surprised I'd never heard of this.
j'ai rien ressenti mais c'était assez entraînant
Some solid funk metal. Prefer this over Chili Peppers. The horns are a drawback but I’ll listen again.
Ska
I skan't listen to this anymore!
The musicians might be the only one having fun with that record. Not bad, but really no standout here.
I can totally get down with some funk, rock, and ska. Immediately starting with an admirable and rockier cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead", the tone is set for the rest of the album. It's fun, as well as a good showcase of the talent of Fishbone and the energy that they bring. It's easy to tell that these guys were among the pioneers of the third wave ska movement that exploded in the 80s/90s. As a fan of this genre, I wish I had started listening to Fishbone sooner!
Oh yeah, excellent. Only let down by what sounded like a George Michael cast off right at the end.
Always liked Fishbone. Reminds me of my early teens.
It’s like these guys wanted to make every style of music before the 90s bands could get to it. Still feels like a tight, efficient album. Rounding up my rating because this does something difficult and it does it well.
Fun, energetic. This is my first experience with Fishbone, and I'd be interested in checking out more of their stuff.
This was a fun listen. Thought I wouldn't like it at first but the sound definitely grew on me
How and why the fuck does this album have the metal tag? It's just boring funk.
Quite enjoyed the ska tracks. The other tracks were a bit dull.
This is a gem i'd not discovered, so many bangers. Verging on a 5 but given 4 because there's some definite filler here
This was like getting slapped in the face by a wet glove.
Album was a total mess, with the lowlight being “Bonin’ In the Boneyard”
Interesting
Another album that grew on me. Very ska, very punk. Kept me interested the whole time.
This was a great discovery, very fun music and sounds really fresh today. I love the politics and the energy, it's a great time. Will be giving this another spin
Bien! Uno que no conocía. Mal! Escuché el primer tema, el cover de Curtis Mayfield y dije "oh, un Faith No More más berreta". Pero después seguí escuchando y el disco mejoró: es variado y los tipos parecen ser competentes con sus instrumentos. Todavía no tengo las canciones del disco muy interiorizadas. ¿Cómo lo puedo definir? Es un disco de música divertida: rock, reggae, metal, ska, funk.... el tipo de música que podrían hacer bandas como Faith No More, los Red Hot Chili Pepper, System of a Down... ese tipo de cosas. Es un disco variado: todas las canciones parecen ser bastante distintas, sin que haya ninguna que se destaque mucho pero tampoco ninguna que sea mala (las peores me parece que son el cover de Mayfield y las dos canciones más cortas que son muy genéricas). ¿Canción favorita del disco? Me quedo con la instrumental One Day que muestra el talento que esconden los músicos detrás de sus boberías y Slow Bus Moving que es un tema corto, movido, con arreglos interesantes y más memorables, en mi opinión, que el resto. Le pongo tres estrellas, tratando de ser objetivo. Las cuatro le quedan lejos pero dos me parece que son demasiado poco.
Sounds like a fun time. Was under the misconception that soul was just like yonked out ganga music but this album manages to give that vibe while mixing it with the mainstream vibes of the time. Sounds like a fun time
Phenomenal.....how did I miss the boat on these guys?!
Surprisingly heavy and driving for a ska album. Very creative album with plenty of interesting genre-bending moments. Certainly some songs better than others, but a very enjoyable experience. Top tracks: Freddie's Dead, Question of Life, Bonin' In the Boneyard
I was prepared to rag on Bonin’ in the Boneyard just based on the title but it slapped This is really like a 2.75 for me
My de. Tt hasn’t
This was pretty rad.
premda ima dosta fora momenata, načelno mi nije bilo ugodno za slušat :/ omot riblja čorba za siromašne
It’s fine
This was an uncalled for assault on my ear drums
This was a pretty good jam album. I’m giving it a solid 3 bc some of the songs were great and punk-ish but others were a bit too ska for me
Meh. I know they were groundbreaking but not sure they still hold up.
Truth And Soul is one of the strangest and quirkiest albums on this list and that's why i love it so much. The funk-metal scene back in the late 80s and early 90s is easily one of the most underrated scenes in music history as there were so many good acts around that time with this one easily being one of them. Each and every instrument in all these songs manages to bring something different to the table while still making the songs catchy and interesting to listen to. The lyrics are also enjoyably dumb and really did add to the weirdness. This album also manages to do the rare feat of being a weird album with 0 bad songs. This is easily one of the best albums i have done on this project. Best Song: One Day Worst Song: Bonin' In The Boneyard
Drôle d’album. Musicalement, c’est très, très varié. Genre, du rock, du ska, du soul, du funk, un peu de métal. C’est intéressant, mais pas pour moi.
6.5/10
another one I’ve never heard of … didn’t do much for me
Some of these songs were enjoyable but some were not my thing. Fun to listen to but probably not something I’ll listen to again. Fav song: Ghetto Soundwave Least fav: One Day
I don’t know a bit all over the place this one. I’d say I liked it overall though Specific rating - 3.5 Fav song - ma and pa Least fav- change
Fun to have a cover of another song on the list, and a fun cover too. There's maybe a bit too much happening for me at points but I enjoyed a lot of it. Favourite song: Mighty Long Way Least: Slow Bus Movin'
Sounds like 80s Chili Peppers.
A very interesting style—eclectic, and with a very entertaining twist to it as a cross-ska, souls-y item.
Truth and soul
A mix of hair band, ska, and a breath of Soul? It was enjoyable enough, but nothing really resonated with me.
Had no idea what to expect, was super funky and fun. Really enjoyed Change, Bonin’ in the Boneyard, One Day, and …Freddie’s Dead. 8/10, 4 stars.
Meh
ma and pa is a fun song, but otherwise, it's too chaotic and lacks any form of symmetry. Lots of different styles of music which was entertaining at best
For being at the forefront of Ska/Punk, this one was pretty blah to me. To sterile and pretty lame. 1.5/5
No
𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘭 shows Fishbone at their most adventurous, fusing ska, funk, punk, and soul with wild energy. It’s undeniably interesting and influential, but the chaotic genre mix doesn’t quite click for me.
I’m amazed I have never heard Fishbone before. Listening to this album was like finding the missing link between 80s Hair Metal and the 90s third wave ska revival. This kind of music is a style I really like, and I had a great time listening. I will probably go back and give this full album a re-listen at some point. Or multiple points. Or explore the discography. It was just a really good time.
Really not my speed, 2 might be generous.
I found this far more eclectic than some of the reviews give it credit for. Not really my jam though. 2.5/5
A fun listen! There were plenty of great lyrics and I really enjoyed the guitar and instrumentation throughout. As it jumped from sub-genre to sub-genre, it still had a connected feel to it that I really enjoyed. A nice 3.5/5
Nothing super memorable
love the funk rock
Heard some songs from this album before. I really do enjoy the fun energy of the whole album and it's a really pleasant listen 3/5
24/08/2025 Oddly enough, this grew on me. It's different. Spotify listeners: 118k
Šim albumam ir kulturālais konteksts, kas man nav zināms. Kopumā interesantas dziesmas.
7/10 album, Ghetto Soundwave and Pouring Rain are great songs
This was really fun to listen to. I actually enjoyed it a lot. Very unique.
There's a buffet restaurant near me where you can eat food from every country at the same time. People sit at a table eating poorly cooked curry in a rubbery Yorkshire pudding with a side of dry spaghetti bolognese. Its an abomination
It's a fun album
Something strange here goes. Even partially listenable
This album was kind of all over the place. I think I liked it? At times I didn't. I'm still not sure. But there were definitely a couple of songs that stood out.
Another album I went into triple blind (never heard of the band, the album, or a single song). Liked it quite a bit. Felt like a perfect encapsulation of where the 80’s ended and the 90’s began. Like someone put Huey Lewis and the News, and Reel Big Fish in a blender and turned it on. Not sure which “wave” of ska you’d assign this to, but really fun listen
This album slaps! The bass solos were funky and the horns were snappy. This is the kind of hidden gem that I did this challenge for! Fave song: Bonin' in the boneyard
So varied! Good flow too. 3.5 for me but the sheer balls of this means I’ll round up.
How have I not heard of this band before? The music slaps, great album, big fan of Subliminal Fascism and One Day. I don't think I can quite give it a 5, but it's definitely on the high end of my 4 stars.
These guys are fun. Just a bit disjointed
Enjoyed this one quite a bit, but the novelty wore off a bit on the 2nd playthrough. Nice mix of styles, solid 4/5
- So many good songs tarnished by that 80's production; the glossy veneer that serves only to take away from the sounds these musicians actually make with their instruments. 4 stars anyway for the quality and creativity. -
This is a fun album, packed with a variety of sounds, funk, rock, ska, etc. Some of which hit better than others. I imagine they put on a 5 star live performance, and is one of those bands you end up appreciating even more after you've seen them live. I'll round up from a 3.5.
3-
Fishbone has a remarkable mix of styles. Forget how much fun they are live, this is a solid, energetic album.
Fishbone is doing a really cool Ska/Punk/Funk/Metal/Hard Rock thing here, and it's honestly a really unique, eclectic sound. We kick off with a really fun, inspired Curtis Mayfield cover and keep the momentum up from there. Ma and Pa is a really fantastic punk-y ska song, and it is an early highlight. Honestly, it is hard to go wrong here, the only caveat is that the production sounds a little odd, maybe kind of dated, but I think it largely serves the sound. I also like the lyrics a lot here. Don't let songs like Bonin' In The Boneyard trick you, there is some really astute social commentary across here. Some other highlights are Pouring Rain, Deep Inside, One Day, and Slow Bus Movin'. I am really glad I heard this, it's really cool.
Really cool reminds me of Mr bungle
This album surprised me. Several different genres it could fall into. Not sure I'd listen again, but I did enjoy this one.
I enjoyed the rock, ska, reggae mix but I did the whole looking at the reviews before I listened and I thought it was going to be better than it was. Enjoyable though, heard a band I hadn’t heard before but maybe will not revisit.
Halfway through and I really like it. Definitely going into my personal music collection.
Listened in the truck via YouTube music. Enjoyed the sons that were less ska influenced. Didn’t seem worth being on this list.
Interesting. Genres all over the place. Not sure if I will listen again, but did enjoy the album
Very nice. Reggae happiness pop. Truth and soul is a perfect label.
Kicks off like and 80s Deep Purple/Van Halen mix and gets funkier from there on in. 3.5 stars.
Im not sure what I think about this tbh. Cool for some parts, absolutely out there for others
Hope this is one & done for this exercise.
This was a pretty fun record. It's kind of hard to categorize, there are a lot of different things going on here. That's good and bad - good because it definitely keeps you interested and doesn't get boring but bad because it's not exactly a cohesive album. It almost seems like just a collection of random songs rather than a full album. Some of it is painfully 80s which I suppose you can't really fault it for but just something that might not be everyone's cup of tea. I liked this album well enough but I don't think I would really ever listen to it again. 2.75/5
Lo siento como rock muy básico. Nada más que eso. Suena a un The Clash wannabe.
I had no idea what genre was playing and that was actually pretty fun
Better than Coldplay
yippee
Truth and Soul de Fishbone me sorprendió bastante. Arranca con temas explosivos que te enganchan al toque, con mucha energía y ese ritmo que te hace mover la cabeza sin darte cuenta. Hay varias canciones que siguen esa línea, y otras que bajan un poquito el pulso hacia una onda más balada-romanticona, pero sin volverse lentas ni aburridas. Me encanta cómo mezclan elementos de jazz con rock, el de “Mighty Long Way” es un show total. En general, es un disco alegre, con muy buena vibra y mucho juego de guitarras, que combina intensidad y momentos más suaves de forma increíble. Para mí es un 9.85/10; me encanta el mensaje social que meten en algunas de las canciones, como en “Ma and Pa”.
very uplifting but not my preferred genre; however, I liked Pouring Rain
Fun.
Rambling directionless drek, blah. I saw The Selecter in concert, that’s Ska.
Fishbone gets going w/ a hard-rocked Curtis Mayfield. After that, the band seems to makes it way thru every damn genre known to man, but w/ an ear for what makes you get up and dance: the only common theme that holds this record together is a belief that stimulation has far more truth and soul than any downer could possess. They're also lyrical when they want to be, w/ funky queries and the like: 'Hey, Ma and Pa / What the hell is wrong w/ ya'll'; 'You choose to close your eyes / And the rest of the world will bleed'; 'We are waitin' in restaurants over there / We are waitin' in cars somewhere over there.' Most revelatory, they do what the Chili Peppers never could - they goof off effectively, coherently, funkily, politically.
Det va bråkate, og ikke for mæ, men ikke avskrekkanes. Om æ va i et morsommere humør tror æ æ kunne likt det.
The opening track teased me and made expect more funk metal, overall its ok, its fun but I will only come back for a couple of tracks. I do want to check the rest of their music now.
This is a surprising mix of rock and ska/reggae from a 1980s band, but it melds together into a fun, energetic and unexpectedly good album. 3.5⭐️
It’s pretty good, not super memorable though
I had the good fortune to see these guys live, and it was a hoot. An interesting mix of musical styles, delivered with great energy.
I was not expecting another rendition of “Freddie’s Dead” but here we are 3.4/5
I mean starting with a rock and roll cover of Curtis Mayfield is just cheating. This album was funky as hell and tons of fun.
I enjoyed some of it. I was indifferent to some of it.
I once had an idea for a band called Scan The Radio where each song would be a different sub-genre of music. A fun idea for a musician but maybe not for the listener. This album feels like that. It’s all over the place and exciting feeling but I could see where if you wanted consistency, you wouldn’t get it. It’s a groove for sure.
Didn’t mind this. It was nice background. Won’t be in a rush to play it again but won’t be turning it off if I start listening to it again. Good mix of songs and was just about the right length
2.75
A good album, I liked Freddie's Dead, Mighty Long Way and Ghetto Sound wave the most.
Boning my ish with that F
Not bad
While admirable that the band dares to try so many different sounds, from hard rock to ska to reggae to funk, the album's social message seems to get buried under the cartoonist impressions band members exude during the recording. It's high energy and has something to say but just doesn't feel focused enough
Cool album that I otherwise would have never listened to. Not very cohesive, but you can tell that the boys are having fun here just playing whatever they feel like. Very enjoyable mix.
Ironically I've seen this band at a Lollapalooza in '93, but this is the first time I've listened to an album from them. They were solid live with lots of frenetic energy. I can't help but feel like they were one Give it Away or Don't Speak type of hit that would've made them household names. They were certainly as good or better than their rock, funk, punk, ska contemporaries. But anyway, a few listens in and this album gets better and better. It jumps around musical styles a lot but I'm good with that. Solid.
Enjoyed this. Seems like a precursor to a good bit of 90’s rock
Pretty cool but there's something missing, idk what. Maybe it's just the cartoony tone of the singer that turns me off.
Pretty fun album. The lead singer's voice isn't the best for this material, but it is hard not to enjoy this.
забавный, хоть и ска. боп, как говорят дети
Fishbone; the band always in the proximity of acts that went on to be huge but never really got huge themselves. This album is pretty great; I love how many different styles they tear through. It was super fun and put me in a good mood, so I definitely need to listen to it more. 4/5
Didn't really dig this. It has little bits where it hits, but I'm not into the dub/ska stuff at all. 2/5
I love the fun and almost hip hop influence of this. I can't believe this came out in the late 80s, it sounds so much more modern than that. Really hard to not bop my head along to these songs. I'm enjoying this one a lot, the bass lines are just scrumptious. It's SKA! Like.... actually. That was not apparent by the first song but WOW it really hits you in the face by the second one. I always like to read a little bit about the artists if I've never heard of them and I was shocked when I saw that they don't have a ton of monthly listeners, but it makes sense for the genre. I'm so curious to see what the vibe continues to be as this album progresses. Okay for sure Ska. It's got so much fun and I loveee a great horn section. Wait no, now it's like traditional funk? So cool, it's truly an album where I can see how Ska developed and this feels like a perfect transition between funk and ska. So so cool. All the songs are very different but still feel cohesive, definitely not boring at all. Reggae, funk, soul, ska. This is all of those and yet it's own. Bonin' in the boneyard is crazy omg I love it so much. This was a surprising win for me, I really think I'll share this with people I know.
This album was fun. I love Ma and Pa and will be adding it to regular listening!
Interesting, all over the place.
Awesome album by the greatest!
I think that musically this record is a 3, but I really didn't like the composition and the decisions they made when choosing where to go with the songs. The musicianship is there, they can perform really well and at specific moments, the rock/fusion works superb, but then they make a left turn and the song turns into a weird, mediocre version of what it could've been. I took a star away because of the missed potential, they can sing well, the basslines are funky, the brass sections are good. But, the songs end up being too weird, kinda dorky and cartoonish. "Subliminal Fascism" is the prime example for this, there's moments where the aggression and composition match the lyrics and the vibe, but others feel so disconnected, like the organ playing a line more fitting for the circus than a criticism of fascism. Their cover of "Freddie's Dead" is good, "Ma and Pa" and "Pouring Rain" were pretty good too. There's so much missed potential here I'm mostly annoyed they didn't deliver a better record when it sounds like clearly they could've.
This is awesome.
Took me back to playing Tony Hawks pro skater, in my parents basement. This one is totally the feel of the 80s and 90s and into the early 2000s for me, black sky bands, crushed it and paved the way for the rest of the genre. Why does there always have to be a creepy song about sisters?
I think Fishbone is one of those groups that evolved into something way different than what they had intended to be in the first place. Their first EP is legendary. Ska/Punk/Funk Metal and good social commentary. That prevails throughout all of their work. Truth and Soul is pretty much their pinnacle in terms of solid music while maintaining their roots in ska/funk/reggae/punk, while pretty much every song is a commentary on life in the late 80's. I myself am a huge Fishbone fan and while I like this choice of album for this list, I do think their first EP should have gotten the nod over this just because it was really the pioneer album in the ska world. 3.5/5 stars = 4 on this scale. Must listen: Bonin' In The Boneyard (some of the best bass work you'll ever hear) Question of Life Pouring Rain Ghetto Soundwave
God help me. I started the first song and laughed but by the end of it I wanted a relisten. This is fun and funky and goes all over and it's a great example of music and it gets a way higher rating than I expected. I'd love to see this live. There's smarter music but this is a blast.
Imagine being at a party. There are platters with hors d'oeuvres going around. One gets to you and on it are tiny hotdogs, lemon pies, shots of warm milk, garlic dill pickles, salmon sashimi, and a pile of pop rocks. That being said this belongs on a list like this. It feels a little insane at times, but it's fun. I just don't think it's for me, but who knows.
Now here's a band that gets nowhere near the amount of credit they are due. Alongside **Living Colour**, who released *Vivid* in the same year (1988), **Fishbone** played a pivotal role in bringing Black rock artists into the mainstream rock and metal scenes, helping to pave the way for and influence acts like **Faith No More**, **Red Hot Chili Peppers**, **Sublime**, and **Rage Against the Machine**. A groundbreaking fusion of funk, punk, hard rock/metal, ska, and soul (sometimes within a single song). It's complex, intense, and humourous, while the musicianship is tight and virtuosic. Despite critical acclaim it struggled commercially. It was too punk for funk audiences, too funky for punk crowds, and generally too political for most audiences. But it created a legacy that contains to be appreciated today. The album was undoubtedly ahead of its time. A crucial link in the chain leading to the '90s alternative explosion and an undeniable influence on those experimenting with funk, punk, and metal. For fans of FNM it’s fair to say that *The Real Thing* (1989) might not have sounded the way it did without the influence of *Truth and Soul*.
Favorite: Freddie's Dead
This was a fun, funky, spa rock album. Need to check out their ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ album from 2025.
I don’t think I would necessarily listen to these songs individually, nor do I think they sound particularly coherent as an album. However, I did like several tracks, and overall the album felt like a pleasing experiment.
I love an album that varies itself in genre. This record takes from all sides of the neighborhood if you will; metal and rock, ska and punk, a little bit of synth and jazz. Despite playing musical hopscotch, none of the tracks feel out of place or misused. The raw lyrical style more akin to punk mixed with the harder riffs on some songs and a more new wave feel on others makes this an album I’ll definitely revisit again soon.
Weird ska music lol
This album is kind of all over the place. There's some really solid songs that work and then there are a few songs that seem out of place. When they hit the sound is awesome, but a few times they lost me.
Jamiroquai Ska Actual guitarists
Bedste opdagelse jeg har haft indtil videre. Virkelig sjovt og eklektisk at lytte til. Lidt Primus agtigt men mest sit eget
Havde meget lave forventninger men synes desværre at det var ret fedt. Føles som en guilty pleasure
This was very stylistically confusing. Some songs sounds like 70s rock ballad, others are ska.. I couldn't really get into it..
It's ska alright
Fishbone is nothing if not eclectic. They’re really talented and their music is wide-ranging, and hyper-energetic borrowing from multiple genres. But that becomes a problem for this album — it’s so sprawling & trying so hard to be edgy, that it’s hard to tell what the point is. Why are all these songs on the same album? In some cases, the band seems to be trying to be weird— it’s like fingernails on a chalkboard. There’s a lot of talent here, and even more ideas — too bad they didn’t have a producer who could focus all that energy. As an album, this is a 2
3/5. It's funky and fun, just not sure it is essential. If I found this album in the wild, I am pretty sure I would dig it for a few days and then kind of pass on it. The fact that it is here on this list kind of makes it weird. I still enjoyed it, don't get me wrong, but didn't love it. The vocal diversity is a highlight and the big band energy does shine through and the lyrics are pretty progressive for the time. Best Song: Freddie's Dead, Slow Bus Movin', Pouring Rain
good vibes. i like
Good
Favorites: Ma and Pa, Mighty Long Way, One Day I didn't expect to enjoy this one as much but I found Truth And Soul to be incredibly engaging and entertaining. Funk rock isn't totally for me, but I got a lot out of this.
Not my thing. But fun.
I remember being disappointed by this release when it came out, as it was a departure from their first release. But the more I listen to it as an adult, the more I like it. They were so eclectic, like a toned down Frank Zappa, so I'm not surprised they found it hard to find traditional success. Still a great album.
Never listened to Fishbone before and really enjoyed it. Fun mix of reggae, ska, R&B, rock, punk and activism.
I vaguely remembered hearing one of their songs on the radio in the early 90's but didn't remember them and had never heard an album. Was expecting something funky but not something so heavy. It was a pleasing surprise.
It's good. They should have been bigger. Must have been great live. Sounds very dated though. Favorite song: one day
Mmmh non ho capito perché me lo segna come “album raggae” ma va beh Un buon lavoro
This is full of funk and I got a little Prince and the Revolution vibe off of it. Maybe it could have been a bit more varied over the 12 tracks, but I definitely got into it regardless.
Influential, fun and upbeat album Standout songs: Freddies Dead Pouring Rain
Disappointing with the shitty 80s producion
okay, why not.
OK
Fairly generic sound. Sublime found the edge, while these guys hunted that MTV movie soundtrack sound. Bonin in the Boneyard? Yawn.
cool album. ska, punk, metal influences.
Meh.
I like a lot of music that is analogous to this. But i did not like this. It sounded weak and thin.
very soulful, and fun, like a bouncy house you’d play in as a child. honest music. i really enjoyed it!!
Sorry, man. I really don’t like this mess
Meh
Quite an eclectic album with all sorts of range. It almost feels chaotic it's so diverse. There are some very quality songs on here. And the style of vocals won me over eventually, even if it felt a bit cheesy / dated at the outset. Ultimately, a very impressive album.
Fishbone is one of those groups I've heard before. They're a melting pot of various styles, including ska, reggae, punk, hard rock, and funk. That wild mixing of genres is self-evident on the opening two singles, "Ma and Pa" and their cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead", where there's a bounce to the rhythm section amidst Kendall Jones's distorted guitar riffs and Angelo Moore's smooth yet belting vocals. This album is a fun time, as these songs have such kinetic energy and technical proficiency in the instrumentation. Honestly, my only complaint is with some dated production choices, such as the keyboard tones and the occasional abrasiveness of the horns, such as on "Pourin' Rain". Other than that, Truth and Soul is a pretty good record, well worth checking out.
Not a ska guy I'm afraid, why would you do that to Freddie's Dead. They went off with Ma and Pa + Pouring Rain though I'll give them that.
like a fun but annoying ska tribute to RATM. 1
ts was ok 4.5/10
No clue what genre this is but it’s fun
Solid
A very 80s mix - snare-heavy, with date-specific keyboard sound - of songs that lean towards herky-jerky, many of which are rather agitated. Not a relaxing listen
4 you could tell they have fun with this one
Pre-listening thoughts: Fishbone aka one of the newest playable characters in Mario Kart World (currently upset we cannot add pictures to these reviews although that's probably for the best) Post/during listening thoughts: This is sort of new jack swing ish meets Jamiroquai meets punk? I'm not 100% sure where I'd place this. It is maybe the most bizarre genre fusion album we've had so far, on par with that Elephant Mountain album. It's really interesting to see ska's blueprints here. Slow Bus Movin is kind of giving Tusk by Fleetwood Mac in a weird way. God this is all over the place and sometimes downright terrible but what if... I liked it... and I thought it was fun... and I would defend its inclusion on the list intensely... 7.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: maybe... Fav tracks: Ma and Pa, Mighty Long Way, Bonin' In the Boneyard, Ghetto Soundwave Least fav tracks: Subliminal Fascism
favourite: "Ma and Pa"
High energy and interesting lines. Not my favorite genre though
I am surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. As the kids say, this slaps. These guys are great musicians. Would totally recommend it to anyone.
The Chili Peppers wish.
Sometimes it's hard to say why I don't like something but this really doesn't appeal to me. And it should, it's not like I dislike punkish ska and rock. It just seems all a little goofy for me. Like, too much of the goofy side of the 80s. I also like funk, but not cheesy 80s funk. Slow Bus Moving is kind of cool with the Clint Eastwood style. The last track, Change is pretty good as well. 2/5
Pretty fucking good,dont paid much attention to some of the lyrics,but the ones i paid for were very good,catchy songs and rythm too,not perfect but very close
Funsies!!
While some of these songs are a mix of reggae and rock, most of them are either one or the other. Idk, I'd much rather listen to a full reggae record from them, the reggae songs were good
forgettable
Meh. Just didn't move me. Not awful for what it is but it's one of those listens I will forget about by bedtime.
I didn't know anything about this band. It started to grow on me but I was really confused in the beginning. I felt like it was ask over the place. Maybe that was intentional. I did really like the song called "Change".
Holy fuck
Blind album and artist. The fusion of funk, ska, metal was super quirky and cool to try listening to. It wont stick around in my mind but now I know it exists.
Kind of interesting at times, but ultimately falls flat.
Jolly good fun with a silly name too.
Not a bad listen, not memorable either
• 2/5 • props for trying out the ska/funk/punk/prog approach- let’s call it a failure and move on . . .
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 41 Truth and Soul that 90’s alt-ska acts Sublime, Mighty Mighty Bosstones & No Doubt would soften the ‘bone edges of to push into the mainstream. Quite frankly after hearing this pioneering heavier raw punk blend, it’s a shame FISHBONE never got their just due. 🐟🦴 I’m not sure how this band has escaped me, perhaps overshadowed by the other similar sounding band ‘Phish’, who I never quite had time for. In any event there is a whole ‘lota fun to enjoy here right from the opening track. Combining elements of punk-ska-blues-funk-metal….wow! 🎧 Classic Track: Ma and Pa 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: Ghetto Soundwave 🎧 Personal Favorite: One Day Some may argue that the album is directionless in its mashup of sounds, however to my ears the varied and unpredictable musical styles across the tracklist kept me actively entertained by how well it all worked together. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Love a classic band logo cover image! You’re in for an intriguing ride with this one, which many bands that followed seemed to take note of with nods to. Hit the Thumbs Up icon below if you enjoyed my take on the album :)
I think I agree with their politics but I can't agree with their music
I don't ride enough skateboards to be into this. Can see why people might like it. Way better than the chillis
Skatahan tämä, kunhan ekasta biisistä päästään, ja se olikin paras, yllättävä. Levyllinen skata on mulle liian veikeää. Mutta sai naurahtamaan, siitä yksi tähti.
Onnistuivat juksaamaan ekalla biisillä (heviä). Mielenkiintoni pysyi yllä melkein koko kuuntelunsession ajan (musa on enimmäkseen ska:ta), mutta jokunen koukku tarvittaisiin soppaan mukaan.
I had been familiar with Fishbone and the things that made them stand out from other rock based bands at the time, particularly their horn section. I had always associated them with a bit of heaviness, but as it turns out that didn't really fully kick in until the album after this one. Although there is some heaviness here and there, there is also a lot more ska and other influence here than I had realized there would be. I had never consciously sought to listen to them before, I definitely enjoyed this album. I also listened to their debut, and the heavier album released after this one, The Reality of My Surroundings. Tight grooves, tighter horn section, and just some refreshingly different vibes than I'm generally used to from bands of the era. Although I think I prefer when the band has a heavier approach, i'll definitely still be revisiting and digging deeper.
first thought: what did I do to deserve a ska album however, it's not at all bad – it was an interesting journey. each song brings something new, I particularly liked the sudden switch up into the punk-y sound with Deep Inside (nice song).
Heard of them but I guess I've never really listened to Fishbone. Not bad.
Cool variety. Mostly not super my thing but enjoyed the lyrical content. "Enjoyed."
Really enjoyed my listen of this album. 7/10
Not bad, but really just not for me
Favorite songs: Bonin' In The Boneyard, Ma and Pa, Mighty Long Way Least favorite songs: Deep Inside, Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party) 2/5
Je fus quel que peu surpris en voyant l’incongru mix de genre: Metal, Funk et Reggae? Ça doit être incroyable, me dis-je, puis, moins incroyable ce fus, mais tout de même cool. Ça m’a fait penser à Picture of Nectar de Phish, sans le côté weird escompté. Léger 4, à revisiter
i like. good as chill background music
Me sorprendió y me generó intriga sobre cómo será el resto de la obra de Fishbone. Sin embargo, la versión original del primer me pareció mucho mejor que el cover que hizo Fishbone.
ska but old
Ok, I guess. Kind of like a happier Rage Against the Machine. Not my cup of tea, but I appreciate the talent and the enthusiasm.
Didn’t know if I’d like this. Some tracks were wonderful! The more ska heavy ones I didn’t like as much.
Love ska
Solid.
Funky. Wasn’t expecting this. I realise they were one of the first Ska bands, I just feel like others did it better, but I’m not a fan of Ska so I have an ignorant view.
Buena música movida, pero son ensalada demasiado variada.
01) Freddie's Dead - 5,5 02) Ma and Pa - 7,5 03) Question of Life - 6,5 04) Pouring Rain - 6,0 05) Deep Inside - 6,0 06) Mighty Long Way - 5,5 07) Bonin' in the Boneyard - 5,5 08) One Day - 6,5 09) Subliminal Fascism - 5,5 10) Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party) - 7,0 11) Ghetto Soundwave - 6,0 12) Change - 7,0 TOTAL: 6,21 (62/100) Current ranking: 401/530
Blame it on being. Monday when I listen to this, but just not doing itfo me - too hi octane. It may be good, IDK. Bailed on it early
It's about damn time! Saw these guys in college at a local bar and it was amazing. Still remember it from mid 80's... There are so many more bands like this that should replace a lot of the crap that has been listed. I'll take Fishbone any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
2.5/5
Feels like a fish bone stuck in my throat. 1/5
Meh not really my jam
Fishbone is an ambitious band. Their willingness to experiment with different sounds pays off in some big ways ("One Day"), but also leads to some confusing choices (the Ska-core cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead"). That said, their more straight ahead ska songs are still very enjoyable.
Really enjoyable. Old ska rock vibe
How to classify this one? Punk, metal, ska, reggae... all are kind of correct. While their contemporaries The Red Hot Chilli Peppers took those same influences to reinvent rock and roll, Fishbone feel more firmly rooted in ska. Though they never made it nearly as big, they still made a damn fun album. I could listen to "Ma and Pa" on repeat for ages. It's a clear stand out for me.
6/10
Wow that was fun. Just pure unadulterated fun. I'm sure some lyrics are a down but I didn't hear it. All I heard was a bunch of people throwing out ideas and running with every one. It feels like everyone in the band was on EQUAL ground and if u had a suggestion everyone else would take that idea ad far as it would go. It's just nice to hear when u think about the Beatles who all hated each other. I could be totally wrong but that's how this record felt. Not every idea is worth as much time as they spend but they tried and I admire that alot. Just cool
Too much of disparate elements that I hoped to enjoy.
Guess I liked it more than I thought I did.
Fishbone - Truth and Soul As someone who likes both ska and funk, I also like onions and ice cream, but they don't go great together. I like some parts of it and I don't think its bad, but if someone came in and I was listened to this, I'd be more embarrassed than if someone came in and I was watching Debbie Does Dallas. Maybe 2/5
Didn’t like QUITE as much as I hoped but this was really fun
Fascinating! I mostly liked it but some of it wasn't my vibe, especially the more classic rock sounding songs.
Honestly just not for me. I like their next album way better which is a funk metal album and that kicks ass