Truth And Soul

A pretty good and interesting funk/ska album. Wouldn't listen again, but it is innovative. 3/5

Horns good. Music variety good. But I don't feel a connection with any of the songs.

It was ok

3.75

Fishbone’s mix of Funk, Ska and Soul brings me back to being a ska kid in the late 90s. I used to rock my Fishbone shirt and skank around to the beat. This album is a great mashup of their influences and their unique sound. Every 3rd wave ska band tried to sound like Fishbone. That being said it’s an up and down record for me. 3 stars.

Interesting. Good find. Enjoyed it

Funny mix of styles. Not compareable with newer albums.

Didn't love this first run through, not that much better this time.

I enjoyed this a LOT more than I thought I would. Very accomplished version of this sort of thing and better than many copies of it.

Pretty ok funk/ska record. Not doing much for me but I don’t hate it

cut half away

While listening, I was tormented by two sides: that this is a bad album and that there is something special in it that only a small number of people will like, but I felt it only for a few seconds, 3/5

I can't believe I was gonna give this a 2/5. Really goes to show that the setting in which you listen to something is crazy important. This may be the closest to a 5 we've had so far? Alas, it is absolutely still a 4.

Fishbone album to which I had not listened for many years. Always thought it was an OK album, especially like the ska-ish songs.

This record is all over the place, with lots of different styles. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn"t.

Pretty cool. I lived the first three songs and then started to lose interest. I think j I may actually listen to these guys again so I’ll rate them a 3.

Hadn't heard this before. Some solid work going on, loved some of the bass playing but didn't really get into the songs. Not bad, just not me.

Decent. Interesting.

Sometimes maybe good. Sometimes maybe shit.

I admire what these guys are trying to do. Like, a lot. The genre-bending. The socio-political lyrics. Their technique and musical prowess. Their general vibe as a band. Sometimes, it works. A lot. Especially when they play it a bit more straight. It almost doesn’t matter what “genre” they’re playing straight, as long as it’s a single genre. And they can play across styles. “Question of Life” and “Pouring Rain” have ska and more trad reggae sounds, “Deep Inside” is more punk, and “One Day” really knocks it out of the park with its funk metal. But even if the songs are sprawling and the lyrics cover big themes, these tracks feel tight and contained. But there’s also a lot of boundary pushing that’s way less successful. “Mighty Long Way” is too much of a blues piss-take, and I can feel that insincerity; meanwhile, “Change” is too soft to feel like it even belongs here. Then there’s the hit-you-over-the-head obviousness of a song like “Subliminal Fascism” that feels dated as hell, whereas the funk metal-ification of “Freddie’s Dead” and the point of opening with a funk cover, falls flat without its context. Even as a punk kid, I was never sold on ska, even at its most punk, but I could still appreciate the scene, the sound, and the vibe. The vision of ska is something I could always stand behind, it’s just the chaotic sound that turned me off. And that’s basically how I feel about Fishbone. Just because I like the ideas on Truth and Soul doesn’t mean I like it in practice, though sometimes it does come close. All this said, I’m sure a Fishbone show would be a blast.

Dunno what this is. It's ok I suppose

Funk? Ska? Metal?

ok but not more

Not a bad listen.

Background classic metal which to background music to. 5/10

- rocky? souly? - good vocals. can’t figure out what they remind me of - good listenin. think it would be worth keeping - some noise music vibes happening - some absolutely scrumptious bass playing in ‘bonin in the boneyard’ which is the best song title i’ve seen in my life. fucking hilarious song - i like it. will listen to again. i’ve had the experience of being annoyed by some songs and enjoying others on a lot of albums recently, but this one has been enjoyable the whole way through - i keep speaking too soon. subliminal fascism has a wayy different vibe. c’est la vie - 3/5

The Wikipedia page for this band (currently at least) says: "Fishbone is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1979, the band plays a fusion of ska, punk, funk, metal, reggae, and soul. AllMusic has described the group as _"one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s. With their hyperactive, self-conscious diversity, goofy sense of humor, and sharp social commentary, the group gained a sizable cult following"_." This is a pretty fair summary... A real eclectic mix of sounds / styles - not necessarily my normal taste, but not unpleasant.

Varied in style late 1980s album that has hard rock, funk-rock, ska, and other influences. Perhaps because of this, this album isn't that cohesive and I wasn't particularly drawn into it. I was ready to give it a 2 when I listened to the closing track, Changes, which is a really nice ending so I'll round it up to 3 overall.

Tons of different genres. Metal, Ska, Funk, etc. Fun listen when needing something random to play. May need a couple of listens for it to grow on me.

I wasn't sold on this at all but then I checked the year and was quite surprised because it felt pretty 90s. So much must have come from this. Then Spotify suggested Beck right after and I was like oooooh. Ok. I see why this is here. Interesting but a bit too funky for me.

Fishbone are kind of a fun band. They were doing cool stuff in the 80s, and sometimes they sound like Mario Kart music, and I like that. This album was fine.

Kinda meh

Aiii ok. Catchy rhythms but like…felt unfinished.

I can see the fascination and interest, but for me it is good, but quite janky and hectic - makes it hard to listen to a lot So 3 stars for me

Very fun 90s vibe with tons of energy, but no real memorable tunes.

Takie 3/5 Nic szczególnego, ale ciekawa płyta ze względu na łączenie i mieszanie wielu gatunków

Upbeat!

Fun artifact of the 80s. One of the worst shows I ever saw.

Pretty bland 80s funk/rock. I preferred Faith No More's debut which is the only thing I can relate to it. 2.5*. Not bad, not great.

3.3 - I’ll give Dimery credit for expanding my taste in ska by exposing me to the Specials album, which I gave a 4.3. But this Fishbone album just doesn’t do enough to overcome my general disdain for the genre, having lived through the post-Nirvana ska revival. Granted, songs like “Subliminal Fascism” are far more intellectual than “Sell Out” by Reel Big Fish, but, again, it’s still not enough to overcome my ska-induced PTSD. And fuck their “Freddie’s Dead” cover. Other standout: “Question of Life.”

A bit of a struggle. skirts around being great, but sometimes just throwing everything into a melting pot doesn't sound great. can't deny it's fun though!

Fav songs: - Subliminal Facism

This wasn't a great album, but the bits I didn't like were relatively short, and it chopped around with different styles a bit, which kept it from getting too stale. It seems like a poor 3 stars.

Generic ‘80’s rock

Very versatile...gives you a good smattering. Got a little too horny bonin in the boneyard there. I'm giving it pretty high ratings for pure entertainment. This band would crush at a Balloon and Wine fest.

It's a pretty good ska/reggae album. A couple songs that stand alone on their own. A little weak to finish but overall a pretty good album that is worth a listen. I saw Fishbone many years ago with no prior knowledge whatsoever and had a blast. They were fun and engaging with a wide variety of music played. I'll always appreciate a band that can pull me in and turn me into a fan from an unknown live show. 3.05 stars

Muy sorprendente lo ecléctico de los estilos y la buena instrumentación. Especialmente los metales están en una órbita de primer nivel. Un disco muy ancho con muchos recovecos para explorar.

Pretty good stuff, I have never heard before. Hard to describe, rock, funky. I would listen to this again.

Very disjointed as an album, but an obvious influence on music as a whole. Their SoCal impact is clear. Not my favorite thing but not terrible.

Freddie's Dead is an interesting one. Very 80s in the production style and instrumental elements (features blaring synth horns, sterile sounding drums, and overall maximalism). NGL the guitar work is pretty damned solid (Cinninger-esq in tone and style). Fantastic central riff and some crisp solo work. Well supported by a well-toned bass that gives a solid foundation. Ma and Pa changes pace entirely into a ska melody; kind of meh. Question of Life is a nice and bright little ditty. Once again this taps the ska well with island-style percussion and horns out front in the mix. Pouring Rains finds the record taking yet another slight turn into a slower dubby atmosphere. I can groove to this. Deep Inside almost reminds me of Queen a la Sheer Heart Attack. Bonin' in the Boneyard is a silly song name and I wish it had a bit less 80s cheese on it (specifically the corny synth horns), but I'll be damned it isn't one of the grooviest songs on here. Wish they went more forward with the bass in the mix as that is the clear star of the show. Vocals remind a bit of Devo's Uncontrollable Urge. Mighty Long Way makes me think of Huey Lewis and the News in the best way possible. One Day also jams and the guitar riff feels really familiar but I can't put a finger on it. Like something I've heard in THPS or something. Ghetto Soundwave is a wonderfully enjoyable song -- sort of makes me thing RHCP meets ska. Closes on Change, which is certainly true to its name. Strips away all of the bombast for an electro-acoustic ballad. I found this one to be a bit of a mess, but overall enjoyable. It falls victim to a number of 80s tropes in production, but the band make some enjoyable sounds spread over an array of genres (ska, dub, hardcore, new-wave). To me this one was rear loaded, which leaves me with a warmer impression. This is a strong 3 (like a 3.75) for me. Standout Tracks: Bonin' In the Boneyard, One Day, Ghetto Soundwave.

Funky ska with some guitar shredding? Sure! Pretty decent music. Can't really find any flaws, but no songs really stuck out either. Sounds like a band that you kind of know 2 of the members from high school or college and you like one of their songs and every time in comes on when you are playing music you can say "yeah I went to high school with these guys. Smoked weed with one of them one time. They aren't the greatest, but they played the afternoon slot at a beer festival I was at one time."

That album was like if someone turned on shuffle on a playlist of songs I have never heard before. It going from hard rock, to ska, to reggae, then into some like 80s synthwave was wild. I really like a good amount of the songs on there like Ma and Pa and Pouring Rain, but then there were a few other songs that I did not like. I wanted to give this a 4 in the beginning but think it dropped off quite hard at the end.

Pretty solid. Good collection of different genres in one album.

This was really fun. A punk/ska/metal/other? blend of catchy and interesting tunes. The opener was a bold and pretty effective cover of Freddy’s Dead from Curtis Mayfield’s classic soundtrack to Superfly, and the quality dipped a bit after that. However it jumped up massively with the vaguely Mario Kart-esque brass hooks of… er… Bonin’ in the Boneyard. Then followed the political punk riot of Subliminal Fascism, the oddball lilt of Slow Bus Movin’, and the supremely funky Ghetto Soundwave. Definitely glad I checked this one out, though I just wish it was all as strong as that second half - I could see this going up to a 4 in the future, but for now it’s a hearty 3

What even is this?!?

Interesting blend of styles.

I do not like it

⭐️⭐️⭐️not bad - easy to listen to and groove through the album

Thoughts are mixed. Liked some of it and some I couldn't really get into. In the end, it wasn't very memorable.

2.5

i used to like fishbone until my mom told me a story about how they assaulted her friends. so. freddies dead- 5 ma and pa- it sounds like hes saying "hey michael, whats wrong with you" which is funnier. 5 question of life- 4 or 5 pouring rain- 4 deep inside- 5 or 6 mighty long way- 5 bonin in the backyard- 7 sorry one day- 6 subliminal facism- 7 slow bus moving- 5 ghetto soundwave- 4 change- 3

Eclectic mix that just feels a bit of a mess. Some good tracks, but not too special

naja...

Favourite tracks: one day; bonin in the boneyard

Nice Album, although it did not really catch me...

nice background music, not to special

So I did like the range of different genres, and they are skilled to be able to do that, but the whole thing was quite middle of the road (sorry!)

How did they predict the 90s ???

Rock, Techno sounds. R&B, Rap vibes. Wide variety of sounds.

I actually liked this a lot more than I thought I would. If U had time to listen to it a lot more I would even consider giving a 4. It was funky and had some interesting events that seemed experimental but they payed off. Really interesting!

It took a while for me to appreciate ska-type rhythms - although I'll admit sometimes the horns still don't connect (i know - that's the main deal) - but I have come around on this band over the years. Very talented musicians, kinda joyous party-type atmosphere vibe going on which almost belies the complexity and variation of the music in here. I think the "problem" and it's just me is that while I can listen, it's not ever giving me that *feeling* - chills, inspiration, etc. I think it's as simple as taste - this is an album I almost feel bad giving less than 4, feel like I should enjoy it more than I do... 6/10 3 stars.

I consistently could not tell if I liked this or not. Seems like there was truly an equal amount of qualities that I did and didn’t like. So I’ll go right down the middle. 2.5/5

Bit reel big fish, a bit guns n roses

Lots of styles and noodling and experimentation, so good on them. Didnt sustain my attention, sadly. didnt hate it, being so all over the place .... grated. tick/skip.

Fishbone & Living Colour - these are the first 2 black bands I remember that had more of a rock edge than you usually got from a coloured group (okay, I forgot The Chambers Brothers). And obviously Fishbone were even more diverse than that - the forays into ska on this album are great. I only gave the album one listen, but really enjoyed it.

😍

Honestly, I got bored, but it’s whatever, ya know? 3/5

OK but not my style.

Black ska band from the 80s. Pretty good.

Kinda fun!

The funk influence in the rock is good at first but a lot of the songs sound the same.

Solid

I was floored by the sheer musicianship, particularly the basslines and the tight, horn forward arrangements that make tracks like "Bonin' in The Boneyard" and "Ma And Pa" absolute standouts.

This was really good and a lot of fun. But not special enough for a 4.

3.5

Good

This album is a TRIP. Was cruising along thinking “huh nice a little Rush meets ska revivalism ok ok” then the song ‘Deep Inside’ comes on. Then it’s just Music To Ride Your Harley To. And then socially conscious protest music???

A pretty decent alternative album! In terms of surprising new things, I’d put that on this list. A few songs on here had me wanting to get up and dance.

At least it has black people in it.

Fun album

This album is a very interesting blend of rock, ska, soul, reggae, and probably a much of other genres. I like lots of parts of the album but it doesn't quite hit as a whole unit. Ma and Pa looks like the most popular song on here, along with Bonin In The Boneyard, but they weren't really standout to me. One Day is pretty good. Found myself jamming out. Ghetto Soundwave is just Ska. I'd give it 3½ stars if I could.

Не знаю, как-то для меня ни о чем

Those fishy guys were having a fishy good time.

I was really excited to see Fishbone on the list, by why not their first EP?? I guess it’s not 1001 recordings of any type to listen to… This record retains much of the energy (ENERGY!!) of the EP and some of the ska roots, but is a shift toward a different sound and away from what I loved about Fishbone when I first heard them.

Liked it more than expected but will prob not listen again

Not really my style but some decent songs on there

A great album that sounds like it was 10 years before its' time. Most specifically, it sounds like late 90's video game music. The blending and shifting music on top a mix of silly and serious themes is what makes this a "ska" album even if other elements are used. Certainly influential to later ska and punk acts

Funky and a bit quirky. Listened to it twice and few tracks stick with me. Wish it was catchier.

I had never heard of this band. Really interesting mix of funk, metal guitars, blues, and some throwbacks to Chuck Berry and early rock. The songs probably stand alone well, but I didn’t think they really made sense as an album. This album probably starts to make more sense after a few listens.

I enjoyed listening to this album as background music, but practically nothing in it stuck out to me. I definitely appreciated the upbeat, catchy beats and I honestly rather like the goofy, whimsical ska elements. But still, it just sounded like background music to me. Maybe if I listened to more it would stick with me?

Enjoyed this more than I wanted too once I got past the extreme/ in living colour soundalike

This is fun. Probably not my first pic, but fun. Providing such a mixed tape has one main disadvantage: liking one song definitely doesn't mean you will like the album.

Just when I was complaining about the repetitive records, here comes one that sounds like there’s a different band playing each track. Very interesting but I wouldn’t give it a second listen unless I had too. Also, got to see them live this year and had the same feeling…

# 99 : This was good. It surprised me and was unexpected. I like the different sounds. This was fun to listen to, and I ended up liking this weird mix of rock and ska/reggae more than I though I would, and once you get used to it it's actually rather pleasant. Favourite Track : Ghetto Soundwave Listened : 31/10/2023

Rock'n'roll band that I've never heard of. Really enjoy the keyboard. An all over the place album, but not in a bad way, I get rock'n'roll, ska, funk Nd punk throughout this.

I never really gave these guys a listen during their heyday but I'm glad I finally got a chance. Pleasantly surprised but still not something I would seek out on my own. 3.5 stars

Okay in every sense. Was ok

Not bad, but not for me. Too much brass.

Irgendwo zwischen (Blues) Rock, Ska und Raggea - gute Mischung und zum Teil ordentlich energetisch.

Funky!

I had never heard of this band or album prior to listening, but it was quite fun - rock but with lots of reggae rhythms

Slightly unsure what I’m listening to and whether it works but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt.

The ska songs were great but I’m still not into funk rock…

This album and music was all over the place. Highs and lows throughout. 3/5

groove album

3.1

But of a confused sound, kind of all over the place. But still a fun listen!

It’s certainly a lot of fun, and the performers are all extremely talented. I didn’t get to do the whole thing in one sitting, so maybe it’s my mood, but I liked the first half much more than the second. Either way, happy to find a bit of a hidden gem (for me).

I don’t think I get it, but I also don’t think I like it.

Sounds like a hotel bar act that try to send everyone home happy by hitting all the right vibes and giving a little something to everyone, jacks of all trades. Question of Life is my favourite track, pretty fun, and I think they deserve a 3 for a bit of good time fun even if it's all a bit average overall.

Funny one, this. Feels like it hits a different genre with every other song, flicking between glam, ska, metal, soul, ballads, all sorts really. There's something here for pretty much everyone, but it never really comes together to make something properly coherent, it's a collection of songs rather than an album. Scrapes a 3 because it is an interesting listen, but not one that I'll return to.

Bastante ecléctico. Ska, rock, pop...

Pop-rock con un estilo un poco distinto. Buenas canciones en líneas generales, pero le ha faltado algo para terminar de engancharme. La voz también es buena

First listen Saved 6/12 Top track: Ma And Pa

I swear like 3 times while listening to this I thought I was listening to a youtube ad and so I checked in order to skip it lol. Besides that I actually didn't mind it.

Quirky and fun and diverse Good vocalist (Is this what ska is?)

Very funky, almost a bit like Faith No More. Hard to place them in a single genre. I thought the album was OK but nothing mind-blowing. Could probably listen to a few tracks again.

Not bad per se, just not my thing!

Weird. 5/10

I had it in my head that Fishbone was funk rock so the ska came as a surprise. While the playing is fantastic - especially the bass, the tunes didn't really grab me.

- Soul has never really been my jam but I can appreciate this - Kinda sounds like a band I would walk past at Musikfest - Love the bass - Bonin’ in the Boneyard - 2.5

Some of this was pretty ok, not boring at least. Still pretty much a solid 3, not really for me.

Fine

Legalzinho

Bonein

2.5

It's not normally my kind of music but I felt this album is trying to find some identity. Listened to it twice and just couldn't get into it

Not bad, some songs are catchy.

Woah. Talk about a big open. Never heard of this band, opening track is big loud and in your face. This album is insane. Nonstop loud fast crazy. It's got so much going on. A bit samey, but lively for sure

Genre: Funk rock, hard rock, ska Great vocals. Interesting mix of funk, soul, ska and hard rock. Standouts: Freddie's Dead Others: Ma & Pa, Pouring Rain, I Like To Hide Behind My Glasses, Bonin in the Boneyard, Ghetto Soundwave, Change, One Day Singles: ---------------------------- Freddie's Dead Ma and Pa (#95 UK) Change One Day Bonin' in the Boneyard 3.5/5

7/12

Some bangers in this one for sure

ma & pa was an actual good song. then bonin’ in the boneyard was just a really troll name for a song. another 3

It was a strange old mix but not unpleasant.

Nice rock funk stuff

Pretty wild.

I like these guys funk and style. Rock with some major funk. Couple of stand out tracks, couple a bit forgettable. But definitely unique in a good way.

A party album with most of the songs full of energy & LOUD This has something for everyone

3.5

Ok, how do I not remember them from college? They sound like the Mighty Might Boss Tones, No Doubt, RHCP & Sublime mashed up. Not bad!

Bon écoutez ça fait plusieurs semaines que les Fishbone croupissent au fond de mon historique au bout d'un moment ça commence à bien faire.

Not sure what to make of this one. A cacophony of different sounds. At times the album seems discordant, but at other times it's fine. The album just doesnt flow very well. I wish it was a little more novel, because I think it could have been a really good album. As it is, I'll have to settle for mediocre.

Much respect for what Fishbone are doing - social commentary in an alt rock space - but the album didn’t quite land for me.

leuk

Es una combinación super extraña, pero, a diferencia de varios álbums "extraños" que eh escuchado hasta ahora, este es un extraño bueno. Me encanta que un álbum tome riesgos y decida ser diferente a los demás, lo hace único, le da personalidad y, a este específicamente, le sale bien. Sin embargo, cuando haces esto, te arriesgas a no agradarle a muchos y, aunque conmigo no sea de todo el caso, es cierto que no estoy seguro de si solo me gusta o me gusta mucho. En el momento que escribo esto, le doy 3 por ser único y agradable, pero nada más.

В какой-то момент у меня возникла ассоциация с группой "Ведуньи" из Гарри Поттера, я не знаю почему... возможно, потому что это какой-то странный хард-рок. В общем это какая-то забавная смесь тяжёлой музыки, джаза... а судя по раскачке в Pouring Rain - ещё и рэгги. В общем стиль интересный, эклектичный. Иногда конечно это скатывается в небольшие абстракции, но до уровня Mothers of Inverntion ещё далеко. Иногда в наушниках звучит каша, не знаю, кто в этом виноват... музыканты или звукорежиссёр. В One Day очень классный риф, мне прям очень зашёл по вайбу. Резюмируя, альбом интересный для прослушивания, но может оказаться на любителя. Он звучит довольно резко и иногда "неправильно", поэтому может не зайти.

Pretty good

This was all over the place, and not what I expected. The only song of theirs I knew was Swim, from Last Action Hero. I always skipped over that one. But I really enjoyed this album and all the variety in in. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding

Bizarre

Some interesting ideas and songs on here for sure, but probably not as consistent as it could be. 5/10

Early ska and funk rock. It's a decent start, but I'm repulsed by the heavy 80's vibe. The ska aspect is really good, but the raw 80's still distracts. I'm sure this album was amazing in 1988.

Interesting mix of funk, soul, rock, ska. Reminded me of both Living Color and Red Hot Chili Peppers. I’d heard about the band but hadn’t heard their music. Pretty good. Would like to give it 3.5.

Alright

An interesting combination of genres. Unfortunately, mostly genres I do not tend to enjoy. It was cool to give it a try, but I'll only be adding a few songs to my library.

Straight fun, sometimes with a message, sometimes just funny.

rockin and also nonwhite but not really for me. Good sound. probably a 3. I can hear the future grunge and whatnot in it.

Once you get past the Curtis Mayfield cover the album opens up to become a very original mixture of genres. Can't quite pigeonhole it. I find it enjoyable in that vaguely nostalgic way, but it's a bit too all over the place for me to return to on my own.

Got better as time went on, but mostly "ehhhh it's alright". Better options in the genre.

3.9. if this album was more focused and not switching styles it would be a 4

Pretty good. Early Ska.

So 3

what a weird and silly little album there's no way i needed to hear this before i died ska is good though

I really like the energy of this and the eclectic styles. Not sure I’d go back to them in a hurry, but I definitely like the ska and the funky elements. Change was a nice end to the album.

I thought Fishbone was a ska band, but the ska influence on this album is minor.

Funny but nothing more

A nice album, didn't hook me totally but is a cool blend of styles and influences. 3 stars.

The first track was very guns n' roses so I was a bit uninterested and then the Ska kicked in and I was wowed. Unfortunately there's a couple of those OK rock songs interspersed in the great Ska. I'm torn between a 3 and 4 because of that.

Interesting stuff.

First ska of the list, nice! Ma and pa was the best track by far. I don't know how to rate this. Never heard such a strange mix of styles in single album before. I listened to it 3 times though so that must say something.... Yes ska, yes rock, yes heavier rock, yes reggae, yes funk, just not all on the same album! I enjoyed the ska, reggae and heavier tracks but then there were some really mediocre sounding tracks too which let it down (One day, slow bus moving and change). Too confusing Some songs would be a 4 or 5, some would be 1 or 2.....

Kind of a crazy mix of music. Funk, Reggae, Ska, and some Rock. It's a fun album but it's a bit all over the place. 6/10.

So, this is definitely ska. Just in the 80s with Black folks, before it was a "thing" in the 90s and 2000s with white folks. This is definitely super funky and not overly reliant on copious amounts of loud offbeat trumpet, though. This was unexpected for sure, but I definitely enjoyed it. It's a pity that ska music ever strayed away from this.

So very wonderfully chaotic. This record is not cohesive at all, but boy does it sound good! Even with the mish-mash of genres and the overall messiness of the album, it's such a fun listen - just a show of Fishbone's sheer talent and musical skill. Sometimes you just gotta let those creative juices burst, and that's what these guys did with this record. Although, sometimes the burst was a wee bit too much. Favorite tracks are Freddie's Dead, Ma and Pa, and One Day.

I really wasn't expecting to hear funky ska from that album cover. I don't know if this really works as an album, but it's a cool-enough collection of tunes ranging from the aforementioned ska and funk to glam metal and punk. Maybe just focus on one thing though, boys. Take some adderall.

Went into this not knowing what kind of music to expect and came out of it still not really knowing what kind of music 'Fishbone' made/make. It's ska, funk, hair metal, soft rock, 80s pop... Definitely a bit Faith No Moreish at times. It’s all over the place and often quite cheesy, but usually fun. Ma and Pa & the Pixies-esque Slow Bus Movin’ were my favourites.

3/5 very upbeat instrumentals

Never thought I'd see Fishbone on here. Just the right music to get someone into the groove.

Pretty good, never heard it before, but it was enjoyable.

Bonefish

Good

A lot of fun this album

Funky

I was surprised to see Fishbone's name among those included on this list. I owned "The Reality of My Surroundings" and "Give A Monkey A Brain And He'll Swear He's The Center Of The Universe" and saw these guys live a couple of times, but that was the extent of my explorations into the band and I don't own either of those CDs anymore. Let's do this. Damn, these guys are woefully underappreciated. This album deserves a 4-star rating based on the bass playing alone. I had to look up John Norwood Fisher's name because I should know it. He's badass. But it's the whole band. The blend of styles, the musicianship — these guys are on fire. It's at least a 3.5, but I think I'm going with a 3 because I like the songs better on "The Reality Of My Surroundings" (I listened to most of that right after this was done). It may be a matter of familiarity, though it's been a long time since listening to that album. These songs were a little more of a springboard for Fishbone's antics, and I definitely enjoyed it. I'll be listening to more from their catalog just to explore some more.

These guys fall under the "I appreciate what they're doing but they're not my jam" category. I had their first album back when it came out and I dug it OK. The sound on this one reminded me a lot of 80s-era Zappa but without the memorable hooks. They're killer musicians, and I like how they can seemingly play anything under the sun. There's a lot going on, some of which is interesting. "Freddy's Dead" was cool but nothing else stuck with me. I'm going straight down the middle with a 3.

Another band I always thought I should know. I can tell this is good musicianship and a couple songs caught my attention. However, I actually listened to this album 2X and it kept fading into the background. Just did not move me.

Saw them live when I was 23 in open air festival Rotterdam and remembered the energy they had when playing live. And associated them with the Cross Over music of around 1990, say Urban Dance Squad's Mental Floss for the Globe and e.g. Love Rears Its Ugly Head by Living Colour . So started listening with high anticipation, but was disappointed a bit. But was somewhat disappointed, found this album bit too cheesy for me, 3 stars.

Haha it's so inconsistent you never know what genre the next song will be. But as a skahead, I approve. It's 80s so they incorporate excessive influences from glam metal. Nothing like the blend of rock and funk bands like RHCP were about to concoct, but more like the funk rock of Prince, especially with "Bonin in the Boneyard." Some of the songs just don't work at all, the worst being the short "Deep Inside." The high energy, wild lyrics, and inconsistency make them sound goofy, but like in a more positive way than the abomination of Ugly Kid Joe. It tends to be bright, busy, and catchy. Favorite: Ma and Pa, Pouring Rain, Bonin in the Boneyard, Slow Bus Movin

Seems disjointed and the album really lacks a good flow. It was fun to listen to but I like other Fishbone better.

Joyful, energetic, funky and soulful. Rocks surprisingly hard at times. Tonally it's a little all over the map, but this is still a pretty fun listen. Fave Songs: Ma and Pa, One Day, Pouring Rain, Freddie's Dead, Question of Life, Ghetto Soundwave

I have never listened to Fishbone before. This album was a fun listen. The singer had a lot of energy and put that energy in each song. That being said the flow was very disjointed. There’s ska, punk, heavy metal, funk… but Fishbone was entirely able to balance those flavors as an overall flow. The album is a collage of the life of the band and it is a fun ride.

It's like if Huey Lewis and the News were a ska band. Mostly upbeat songs and overall just a fun album to listen too. Not a big ska fan but I enjoyed most of it.

Well this starts out with a truly appalling cover version of Curtis Mayfield's classic "Freddie's dead", which took about forty seconds for me to truly hate. However, we've now moved in to a more enjoyable ska-ish feel. Is this the link between two step and California aka? Pouring Rain is dismal. It has the ska horns, some of the basslines - slowed to a dirge. Terrible. Overall - this album has some great ska on it. Anything that isn't ska is bunk. And that Mayfield cover makes me want to cry.

Nothing bad, but nothing stood out either.

Opening track is a banger but a bit up and down after that.

Decent ska album, but didn't stand out much to me.

Not into it. Remake of Freddie's Dead not near as good as the original.

Really didn't expect to like this. Pleasantly surprised.

Mixture of good and bad.

Alright

Alright...

Felt well produced. Pleasing voice and instrumentals. That said, this just did not reach out and grab me. No specific reason, just meh. Solid C

Really enjoyed some of the songs on this album

Lot's going on here. There's a fusion of a bunch of different styles on this like funk, soul, maybe some rock and reggae. Generally, these are styles that encourage loose, free form playing. However, this is a tight album with boatloads of discipline and measurement in this music. Boatloads of discipline is good, but boatloads of weed is better. And that's what it'll take to get these guys to relax a little. Actually, listening to this makes me need a boatload of weed to relax a little. In any case, it's evident these guys like playing music together and have put in a lot of time. The sound, even if it were less constrained, isn't my jam, but some people (like government employees and tax collectors) might enjoy this album's strict recipe for creating music.

Surprised to see a ska album here. Haven't heard of it before but I enjoyed it.

I can tell this album was very influential but it's aged poorly and sounds cheesy today

Great band, but this album is too chaotic and unpredictable. There’s no cohesion throughout it’s just like a spastic ADHD foray through styles and tones. Love the song Ma and Pa, reminds me of my pal Peattie and the mix CDs she used to make for me.

This is one of those albums I'm glad I listened to once just for how weird it is, but I don't know that I need to ever listen to it again. It's not bad by any means, but it doesn't have any consistency in theme or genre, so it's hard to think "I'm in the mood for this genre or that genre, so I'm going to listen to Truth And Soul".

3.5/5 for this record, a lot to like but I just can not take that ska shit seriously for some reason, the first leg if this album sounds like something that would be featured on the show LazyTown. The whole album has some variety though and the second half is more funk and protest songs so I would say overall this was a very good album and I would be inclined to give it another listen sometime in the future, closer to 4/5 but I can't justify that with a couple of the tracks sounding too much like the 90's if that makes sense. Great cover of Freddie's Dead though!

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC - 1988 edition Jack of all trades, master of none.

El primer disc amb cara i ulls de la banda, abans dels dos dobles que els garantirien una posició destacada entre les bandes alternatives dels 90. Aquí ja es dona la barreja de funk, metal y r&b marca de la casa, més extrema que la d'altres bandes com Peppers, FNM o Urban Dance Squad... Grans temes com 'Ma and Pa' o 'Change' es barregen amb altres que destaquen més per la seva voluntarietat que pel seu punch

I remember seeing a video of them playing live years ago, crazy kinetic energy, I bet they would be super fun live. Ma and Pa is a really fun song and the best one on the album. But their adoption of so many styles in one album makes it less cohesive and somewhat gimmicky eg the Van Halen like cover of Freddie’s Dead and the EWF-esque Boning in the Boneyard.

King's X, Faith No More, RHCP, and ska. Definitely intriguing. I can take it or leave it.

This album is a strange amalgamation of so many different music styles but it keep it interesting song to song!

I enjoyed the variety in songs. Fun to listen to

First song in and not what I was expecting - I thought they were a Ska band haha Ma and Pa - the only song I knew already and it's great. Questions of Life - this pretty funky Mighty Long Way - great song, kinda gospelly rock, very funky One Day - I really like this too, great rythm and the guitar solo is nice. Subliminal Facism - unsure, might love it might dislike it haha Slow Bus Movin' - pretty cool, like a funky convoy song Change - God this is a shit song. I get why it's in the album and why it's at the end but it's just a pretty awful, generic sounding song. So torn on this album, some absolutely great tracks but equally as many that I didn't enjoy. I think 3.5 stars but I'll put 4 because the good songs are really good and I wouldn't mind giving this album another listen through in the future.

I enjoyed this ska entry in the list. That pains me to say, because the chops and energy on many of the songs were excellent. Fishbone is a band I already feel like I want to like. But as an LP, this one is all over the place.

Siiiiiiiiick

Gott ska. Skemmtileg áhlustun.

There is a lot going on here. So many different styles all kind of on top of each other. And they're busy styles with a lot of instruments. Dirty guitar tones are kind of a cheesy 80's high gain sound that sounds somehow both too clean but also too gain-y (not sure how to describe, but it's not my favorite sound). Production is very 80's. It's all very over the top and chaotic. I feel like I want to like this because of the punk/funk elements and the kind of out of the box aspect of it. This is definitely not your typical top 40 music - definitely feels creative and fun... but it's a bit too much for me and it didn't really click with me. It's probably actually a 2 for me but I liked their vibe and the sort of throw it all at the wall attitude, even if it didn't really work most of the time for me so 3 it is.

A little Fishbone goes a long way. Not a fan of their frenetic, over-the-top stuff. Prefer their slower pieces.

A fun energetic ska sound. 0RS

Started off a good soul/reggae vibe but soon caused ear blindness by sounding the same, tooooo long noise on every track.

I remember this one. Some of it’s okay.

At times in this album, I'd be enjoying this band's creativity and managing to make some real music out of the chaos, such as with "Freddie's Dead" and "One Day". Then at other times this album just seemed set on grating my patience, like with "Deep Inside" and "Bonin' in the Boneyard". Overall I think I'm glad I listened to this, which is worth something.

I didn't dislike this album but I didn't really enjoy it. I do not think I need to listen to it again. I was familiar with zero of the songs.

Of course "Freddie's Dead" is a great cover. This rest over this album is fine, but I like The Reality of My Surroundings a whole lot better. Wrong album pick.

mix of ska, metal, punk, and funk.... the blend reminds me of Skankin Pickle a bit. I can see why this was such an influential band. Solid album.

Pretty cool blend of early ska, metal, and alternative funk. Not sure I’ll come back but it was a fun listen.

FREDDIE'S DED. You know how much I love ska.....It was kinda fun, I guess? I mean, c'mon, Bonin' in the Boneyard?? Genius.

ma and pa, pouring rain, ghetto soundwave

very generic 80's rock - probably won't go back.

Another new one to me. It's an eclectic mix of rock, soul, ska, and funk. Pretty fun. Maybe I'm just not in the mood, but it's not doing a huge amount for me, and feels like a plasticky mish-mash of things (which probably isn't fair to it). Recommended for fans of Sublime though, for sure. It might improve on future listens, but 3/5 for now.

bonin in the boneyard. contender for best named track we've come across yet. the ska bits are good too. the rest of it is well confusing.

Kelpo levy. Välillä vähän all over the place, mutta kitarointeja ja bassokuvioita ihan mielellään kuunteli ja tietty torvien töräyttelyä. Erityisesti Ma and Pa ska lämmitti (timomanterismi intended). Tämän lisäksi poimin albumikahluun soittolistalle Bonin' in the Boneyard, Subliminal Fascism ja Slow Bus Movin'. Lopun Changes oli miellyttävä akustisen kitaran tahdittama slovari rauhoittamaan muun levyn funkskahtavaa tunnelmaa.

I don't really know what this, it's all the '80s in one album. I think it would take a good few listens for me to decide whether I actually like it or not.

My interest in this album lasted about 3 songs and then it didn’t really do anything for me. Toss up between a 2 and a 3.

Puhallinsoittimista plussaa ja ihan kivat kitarat monessa biisissä, mutta tosiaan vähän ruuhkaa nuottiviivastolla ajoittain. Jotenkin ei sitten kuitenkaan kovin mieleenpainuvaa settiä. Kolmonen ihan vaan torvien ansiosta.

Levyn kansikuvan perusteella pelkäsin toista Shamenia, mutta tämähän olikin rokkia! Aikamoinen vastakohta juuri aiemmin kuuntelemaani Virgin Suicides -levyyn. Ei kuitenkaan nouse omille soittolistoille. Ei oikein tuo funk-viba lämmitä, vaikka ska-maista reipasta torvien töräyttelyä kuuluikin siellä täällä.

Bags of musical talent and good energy. I like all of the musical influences and all the genres that they've mixed together but at times it feels like mixture doesn't quite work and it'sa bit disjointed as an album. Maybe a case of less is more. Enjoyed it and could imagine they'd be wicked live, but not an album I'd be desperate to revisit. 6/10

Was looking forward to this based on the 'funk-rock, ska' description of the band, but it never really go me going. It felt like it started fairly well but fell away. 2.5 round up.

More melodic than anticipated. A more polished effort from a band known for being frenzied.

Pierwszy raz slysze hamerykanska ske, po pierwszym tracku myslalem, ze to bedzie jakis klasyczny rockers, a tu taka niespodzianka juz na kolejnym kawalku, typowo skaowe brzmienie jamajskiej biesiady, a im dalej tym dziwniej, bo dochodza jeszcze funkowe ciagaty, wiec jest to dosc orginalny miks, czegos takiego nie slyszalem w slojej sluchaczowej karierze, ale najblizej bym do czerwonych goracych papryczek czili i ich krwawego cukrowego seksowego magika rownal ten album, jesli chodzi o vibe, na plejke leci ghetto soundwave bonin in the boneyard

Interesting mix - re-listen

Funky.

Je ne sais pas quoi en penser. C’estbon mais j’ai l’impression d’avoir ecoute 4 ou 5 artistes. C’est rock parfois, funk, blues, folk? Je n’ai pas eu detounes memorables. 3.25

Call me Lloyd Dobbler cause we're about to get some truth and soul up in here. Funky, Punky and Ska tinged this is groovy as all get out.

There's some cool sounds here. Lord knows I love a good ska album. This was, overall, kind of flat unfortunately. I don't feel that the hard rock elements melded well with the other sounds on the album.

passt schon - 3

Not my style of music but I actually listened and I can see why some would consider it great

Very nice

Pretty interesting

Interesting album bridging from the Grateful Dead into ska, punk, & other 90s jam bands. Not something I'll seek out again, though.

The Urge did it better.

very punk rock. nice riffs and vocals.

Really nice variety!! Have not heard that from a single band over a career let alone and album.

Socially conscious ska funk-rock is better on paper than in practice, at least in this case. Best track: Change

rad

Very tight. Kinda funky grungey. Love Curtis Mayfield but don't love the interpretation. I guess this would be second wave ska. As it goes on I don't really like it at all. Some Prince in here on Bonin'. Subliminal Fascism is pretty good.

High energy low quality ska&funk rock with good bass parts and some bright horns, but annoying songs and grating vocals. The jammy instrumentals passages where they just ride a reggae groove for a minute hit hard - dark, heavy, deep - but then it's back to the whiney vocals.

Fun stuff - some reggae, some ska, some heavy riffs.

Well bejesus. Not sure what the fuck this was. Not for me, and I’m not sure it’s ever something I’ll even think about ever again. I’m sure there’s some merit in there, I just can’t see it.

As much as I wanted to like it, I didn't

Honestly, I'm not liking the weird mashup of ska, metal (?), and Huey Louis and the News style 80's rock. Just none of this is working for me.

I didn't enjoy this much, it was too hard and not my thing.

Nothing that really stood out as being great music.

Hey, Freddie’s Dead! A Curtis Mayfield track. Curtis did it better but that’s cool. I’m thinking a little less rock In Living Color with these guys. They have a style that seems to dip its toes in all sorts of genres but they just can’t seem to find one that fits this guys voice. Freddie’s Dead came the closest I think. Funk, rock, reggae, slow jam. It’s all there it just sort of is flat.

picks: ma and pa, pouring rain

Not my thing. Although slow but movin and ghetto sound wave were good. Bonus points for Bonin'' in the Boneyard's song name

- This album is a very fun vibe, just not sure if its my vibe

It sounds good and catchy, but just not something I would put on

Not the worst, but not a very good listen. 2.5 but it doesn’t make it to 3.

Definitely not something to be taken too seriously & I admired the general energy. However the stank of god awful bands that were influenced by this hangs heavy.

2,5 -

This album was a average at best example of rock, there was nothing that stood out to me or made me want to listen to more

I liked ma and pa song

I really hate that plink-y Casio keyboard. Totally distracting (for me) from the rest of the music. Some great parts/bits but nothing ever really coalesced into great songs…

Not my thing at all...well mixed but...it's poorly done Ska.

bit random and all over the place, enjoyed some more than others

Really icked me. Not a fan at all. I like Ska in some environments but not whatever this is.

I appreciate the effort and what they are trying to do, but it's just a mess. However, I thought I would hate it much more ... the Curtis Mayfield cover is actually quite interesting. As for the rest, well ...

i hate ska

meh, pouring rain was ok. i also listened to their them bones cover lol

This is close to being something I'd like, but alas...

Not great. Maybe just passable

This is pretty bad. I found it difficult to find anything much likeable about it. Certainly it pales in comparison with Two Tone. Frankly it even compares poorly to the ska punk of the 90s like Reel Big Fish or Less Than Jake and they're hardly 5 star bands.

It starts off well enough (a Curtis Mayfield cover being a cheat code) but hunks of it are dismal - a mish-mash of genres and influences that ultimately does none of them justice.

Coll bass. Not my thing tho

2.5

mid repetitiv

Not bad bu I dditn add any

Track three is the first one I like here. First two wasn't great. 4 is a nice reggae song. Nice textures. 5 bad 6 forgettable. 7, unfortunately, is even more forgettable. And longer. 8 has nice guitar, not much else. I'm sad for not liking this one, because the intentions are clearly good. But, as I usually dislike this kind of not focused projects, I don't like this one aswell. Change, as the last song, has nothing to do with the rest of the album, I have to admit it's a lovely little song. A flat 2, sorry.