Truth And Soul

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.

Clearly an influential sound, but not my bag.

Dunno what this is. It's ok I suppose

Funk? Ska? Metal?

ok but not more

Surprised I'd never heard of these before. Enjoyable listen, good variety in styles track to track. Fav tracks: Ma and Pa, Pouring Rain, Freddie's Dead

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 sun will shine on brighter And the wind will always blow Some think life's a breeze Others feel love is sin I've found beauty in dancing stars To you, your dreams may be a farce And you think that you can't feel pain And you think we can't feel at all Can you sing out in the pouring rain Yeah, this is a pretty great album. 5/5

Joyful energy, strong vocals, tight band, slapping beats, killer range. So rare. This is a real gem. So glad to see it included here. Saving every song so far. Forgot how much I loved this guy’s voice. Halfway through, I’m calling this a solid 5.

For whatever reason this reminded me of faith no more-lite. Fantastic, original, never heard it before. Loved the melding of genres. This is why I went through this project.

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.

This one was a surprise. I’d never heard of Fishbone before and loved this album. Will do a deep dive into their other releases.

Great album! It's always neat seeing the important social and political commentary through upbeat and catchy ska tunes. This is more experimental than I find a lot of ska tends to be, so I can see how this inspired a lot of similar groups in the 90's/2000's.

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.

I guess I’d say late 80s ska/funk/gross? No thank you.

Meeh

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.

Not for me. Some nice ideas but not my thing. Did not finish album.

Ziemlich wirr 2/5

Felt like the album didn't have a cohesive sound. Overall, nothing grabbed my attention. The musicianship is pretty good, but not into this style of music. Surprised this would be on the list of best albums. There aren't even a lot of listens on Spotify.

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.

Ska Funk Punk Metal Rock etc. band.

Some good ska/punk tracks here mixed in with some sub-par tracks.

Two good songs: Ma and Pa and Slow Bus Movin’. A couple of fun, campy numbers: Deep Inside, Mighty Long Way.

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.

I'm a sucker for good electric guitar and something rocky and funky.

Very fun. I liked the horns

I had heard of Fishbone, but couldn't recall every listening to them. I had a vague recollection of them being some kind of mellow punk band of the 80s and 90s and wasn't sure what to expect. This album was really unexpected and I enjoyed it very much. The music had a great variety and still maintained an idea of the band. There is one guy with a really amazing voice. The album finished strong too.

it seemed to lack an inner soul or i guess any i could grab onto to like.

Make up your minds! Music goes in every direction and doesn’t do it well in any. Torture.

Too boring start

Strange album.

Kinda meh

Lots of moving pieces. Funk, punk, hard rock. Some early ska vibes? Soulful vocals. There is a brief riff at the end of "Change" that Lana Del Ray seemed to inadvertently steal in her song "A&W"

3/5 bad mixing

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.

It definitely has it's weak moments, but overall it's far too fun to dislike. It seems likely that a lot of funk rock and third wave ska bands in the 90s took inspiration from these guys, so that's interesting to see

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

FUCK YEAH FISHBONE! What a weird band. I found these guys after seeing the video for Party At Ground Zero on beavis and butthead and being like what the FUCK IS THIS?? (That’s not on this record but is worth listening to!) Funky and fun, this is a great album. Freddie’s Deaf is a classic but the whole record is fun and you might accidentally learn something too. It’s definitely a dated sound with synthy crap but also has a healthy sprinkling of real brass and riffs. Upbeat stuff!

Upbeat!

Loved this as a pre-punk teenager, but have not listened to it since. There were a few times I found by head bopping. I do like when they funk and soul, not as much when they ska and "punk". The mix of styles doesn't always seem to blend so much as compete with each other in a lot of places. The production is off-putting to me. Too polished for the heavier and faster parts, too lifeless in the funk and soul. Talented musicians and performers for sure. I can tell they have a lot of love for Funkadelic, but at least at this point are not able to truly capture that same magic. Some of this is just over the top campy and hard to listen to, like Howard Beach Party; is this surf-ska?? Please don't.

Fishbone's Truth and Soul album showcases the band's undeniable talent but falls short of the higher energy they would later unleash. Released in 1988, it presents a fusion of funk, punk, ska, and soul that highlights the band's eclectic musical influences. Tracks like Freddie's Dead and Ma and Pa demonstrate the band's musical versatility and knack for blending genres. However, compared to their later releases, Truth and Soul feels somewhat restrained and lacks the electrifying energy that would come to define their sound. While the album displays moments of brilliance, it also hints at a band that may have been feeling disinterested or constrained by expectations. Nevertheless, standout tracks like Question of Life and Change still showcase Fishbone's exceptional musicianship and songwriting prowess. Truth and Soul serves as a transitional work for Fishbone, hinting at the heights they would later reach while still grappling with finding their musical identity. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 0 STAND OUT TRACK - None

Really no

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

I listened to this album so many times when it first came out, and loved it every time. I can't really tell if it's aged well or not, but it's very fun to listen to it again. It's probably easier to list the songs that weren't my favorites--"Freddie's Dead", "Deep Inside", and "Change"--as the rest all competed for favorite song (although the political/racial aspect of "Slow Bus Movin'" and "One Day" might rank them just a bit higher than the others). It's kind of a bummer that their subsequent albums, at least the ones I bought, weren't as compelling (with the exception of "The Reality of My Surroundings"), but that's maybe to be expected, since I probably wanted them to just churn out more albums just like "Truth and Soul", and to their credit they clearly wanted to experiment with other styles and sounds. And the show I saw them at in LA--Primus and Fishbone--was a lot of fun, even with their newer material. I don't think I've ever seen so much energy from a surprisingly large band. (And what a bizarre combination of bands, although I loved them both. And I think it was at the Hollywood Palladium, an odd venue too.)

omg I enjoyed this so much. Lots of fun funk, good guitar, humor in a few lyrics, and always rocking.

You never quite know what’s coming next with this album, with its mix of styles. That said, I didn’t particularly enjoy the heavier rock aspects, and the album as a whole sounded kind of like a self-produced an album from a bar band.

Interesting mix of styles. Fun album but also comes across as a little amateurish. Feels like an album that could not transcend the time period which in this case does not help.

Trumpet Rock n Roll, with a synth organ and south African sounding vocals. Didn't appeal to me at all

Didn't know what to expect here, but on the second track I was thinking that is probably about what a band called Fishbone should sound like. It's an interesting album all around and kind of a surprise for the 1001 thing, but on the other hand it could well be the best representation of a funk-ska-punk rock band there is. Pretty fun album, had some good variety and nothing too heavy in the lyrical sense. Mostly felt light-hearted even amongst the social comments and what not. Favorite track "Question of life" 4/5

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!

Really nothing for me here

Ska

Fav songs: - Subliminal Facism

Never heard this album before, if I could turn back the clock I would like it to have stayed that way

Vaguely remember this band being considered ‘cool’ in the early ‘90’s, and I can sort of see why. Must have been something a refreshing change from ‘80’s pop and it clearly lays out a pathway for Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Faith No More and others. But, the problem with mixing genres and experimenting with styles is that you risk sounding confused and scattered, which is what we have here. Thrash metal with a funk brass section? Have a go at some reggae? Why not?

This may be the yardstick of ‘albums that have aged terribly’, it sounds soooo 80s. Anyway, hair rock, slap bass, oddly fast thrash metal style drums in places, funk, reggae combo really hits the sweet spot of styles I don’t particularly like and even less so in combination it turns out. The obvs result is that I skipped through most songs as I found them incredibly irritating, guess that must be a 1 then. (Bring back the gangsta rap, all is forgiven!)

Who the hell is this... thought Freddys dead was about Freddy Kruger but sadly not. Thinking, quite like this song and jumps to some different style. Bit if a mess and sounds dated.

Meh

After the Bon Jovi near popcorn fart that was the hermetically sealed, clinically concocted Slippery When Wet (excuse the Air-Disaster lingo), I was pleased cleanse my ears and psyche with the ever killer, always on point and one of the most grossly un-known bands in the last forty years: FISHBONE. How the fuck RHCP are filling stadiums and student keg parties with—and in complete agreement that Flea, Frusciante and Smith are maybe the most over-capable threesome in AOR; however, weighed against Douche King Kiedis – at best medium talent tunes truly boggles the imagination (a point the former would likely concede while Kiedis is trolling for his special gum and jailbait to sell it to him). Fishbone were and are the sound of the incredible imaginations of young black men from South Central L.A. throwing thirty years of outsider music, American and Jamaican, into a cauldron and adding a whole heap of "fuck I can't", produced some of the most exciting collisions in music. Sure, Ska and Reggae already had a relationship with Punk, but not with Funk. And why not throw some Blackmore on sherm soloing in the pot, as contrast. Why not? If you have the tenacity and the verve, these mutants become possible. Like Jane's Addiction, Fishbone were who they were, are who they are: Occasionally self-defeating or self-destructing, but always human, always telling you a truth, not they truth. Unfortunately, unlike Jane's Addiction, Fishbone failed to become an Industry of Cool, which means we get Perry Farrell gibbering pontifications instead of the beautiful, graceful poet-warrior Angelo Moore, reminding us that alive and when weirdoes make music, amazing things happen. Fishbone is the exact opposite of Bon Jovi. ECCE HOMO.

I found this quite ridiculous, but pretty fun at times.

In high school, I had the maddest crush on a guy who had the Fishbone logo painted on the back of his jacket. He was the only mildly punk boy in the area and he had excellent taste. *swoon* Freddie’s Dead sounds brand new. I love what another reviewer said about this band: they are a black ska punk band from the 80s that white bands would try to imitate all through the 90s. Dead accurate. Not a damn one of those white boys ever came close to this. Joyful energy, strong vocals, tight band, slapping beats, killer range. So rare. This is a real gem. So glad to see it included here. Saving every song so far. Forgot how much I loved this guy’s voice. Halfway through, I’m calling this a solid 5.

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

Nope

I hate Ska. Even the non-Ska songs just annoyed the hell out of me.

Fishbone goes a Mighty Long Way. The 1001 List scores again. Love the band name, album name, and diversity of the songs. All tracks good except Subliminal Fascism, and to go from Pouring Rain to Deep Inside shows their range. Album got a little political with the last four songs. Enjoyable. Solid. (3.6*s)

I have no doubt this band would be fun live but this album is just so all over the place I didn't like most of it. It's way too silly and honestly made me laugh at a few parts before I realized they were serious. The fusion of so many styles is just not working. I like a little more cohesion throughout an album and this was really the worst of all worlds. Tacky vocals, heavy metal guitar, outdated synths, politics, and some horn toots slapped over the top, no thank you. I wish they had a clearer style and literally never uttered the words "Ghetto Soundwave" together again. Their attempts at ska and hardcore are very weak. This album is as dead to me as Freddie, please leave it in 1987.

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.

Fishbone always makes me smile.

Not for me

Love me some Fishbone. Great way to get the day started.

fun mix between ska and funk and almost operatic vocals. wide range of musical influences from thrash to hardcore to ska to prog. The lyrics were a little odd, but I didn't mind it.

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.

I'm 2 songs in and what in the cinnamon toast fuck am I listening to??? Did not expect some punky ska from the 80's. Not my favorite but again love this whole thing for showing me some kinda genre bending music I would never even know. As it goes on I tend to like the instrumentals and don't really like the weird vocals. Parts of it remind me of the worst parts of Zappa. Instrumentals don't even carry this one to a 3. High 2.

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

favourite song: mighty long way, boning in the boneyard im talkin bout my buddies funk it up fishbone

Gear: Hifiman Arya Mix: Vocals allenfalls okay. Bass könnte prominenter sein. tolle Ortbarkeit und Rhytmusgruppe. Musik: Cool und treibend ab dem ersten Ton - ein ganzes Album ist dann aber vor dem ersten Kaffee des Tages doch zunehmend ermüdend. Wertung: ✨✨(✨)/5

This kinda sounds like a bunch of guys from the US got on the English train of making anti racism reggae music

Finally feel like I’ve been given a hidden gem from this list. Never heard anything about this group, or any of their songs, but I thoroughly enjoyed this. Unique and super energetic.

-"freddies dead" nice intro ma and pa is.."fun". funky. interesting, Hey, Ma and Pa What the hell is wrong with y'all? -question of life was nice surprised to see such a low global rating for this... "And no one, no one heard a word For a prophet's not respected in his own world" -ok i see now..lol 2.6-3,0 -deep inside is good...the lyrics!!!!! "I maybe freak you out with my raw look 'Cause I just got the feelin' man! Brain washed You're lost Your blindness can't be helped anyway" sub f@cism reminds me of underground 2 tony hawks ps2 game lol i feel like im playing it rn lol ok it wasnt until "slow bus movin" til i realized this is...a black band. lol. which makes me love them even more tho. "Born in the 1940's, my parents couldn't vote X and king was on a march for power true" this is what made me realize......slow bus movin is a smart song name...ok that one line at the end was,,,violent. but like..ok i get it. but ew. change was nice... that was FUN unique cool

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?!?

I got baited. The first song was super sick, and I thought it was going to continue as a pop rock album. Instead, it launches straight into unapologetic ska. I guess the album’s fine? It honestly sounds like any generic ska I’ve listened to. Maybe there’s something wrong with my ears, but the ska genre sort of just overpowers everything else, kind of like adding garlic to a random dish. There are more rock-sounding songs towards the end of the album, but I wished the whole album was like that. Favorite track: Freddie’s Dead

Funk rock is a weird thing to mix with ska, but Fishbone did a fun job here. The album definitely has a funky sound, but it is definitely still a ska/punk ska album. I would recommend this one as long as you like ska or at least don't hate it. Highlights: 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, and 12.

Funky fresh

I mean… I don’t hate it. But I don’t actually like it. I don’t think. Ghetto Soundwave was my favorite. Maybe.

Cool music, I enjoyed it if not my favorite style.

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

Decent

The first couple of songs had me jamming they were some alright alternative rock but the songs after that really had me shmooving they had more energy and funk to them, I found some of the songs very relatable as I too “have my bone on” and am “bonin and moanin”, I can’t say there is as a song that I disliked. Overall the albums not so good that it’s gonna make me need to change my trousers but I will not be in a murderous rage from listening to it, it’s decent background music

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

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

This music is too mathy and precise for me. I’d argue that Ska shouldn’t sound so perfect. Several songs sound like they belong on a soundtrack for a zany comedy from 1989. I bet they all went to Berkeley school of music or some such place. The bass. Ugh, calm down. They’re good musicians, it just wears me out.2.5

Definitely unique and energetic. A strange combination of funk, jazz, ska, metal, rock... sort of hard to pin down. Also sort of hard to groove to. Very talented musicians, but maybe too eclectic for mainstream fame. It's okay but not something I'd revisit. 2.9 (came out same year as Public Enemy's "Takes a nation of millions...")

Rock with good island/reggae influences (bop-ey, lots of horns)

The final track Change is a masterpiece. Too bad it took 12 songs to get there…

Interesting blend of styles.

Favourite Song: Ma and Pa

I really enjoyed this one

Cool rock ska man! Unremarkable for the most part, but was a great listen!

Fishbone is awesome. This is a classic record that I used to hear quite a bit at a former job, but it's been a while. This was a great listen on a lazy Sunday morning.

Better than I thought it would be. 4/5

80 luku bändelöinen... ööö kuulostaa hyvältä, vängältä, omalaatui- jaa ne on mustaihoisia... hohhoijjaa.. ja aliarvostettuja jaahaassooo... 30 miljardia britti poppi bändiä on olemassa jotka mainetta ja mammonaa saanut ok..... rasismi???? i fucking hate wite people.. nuoren ja vanhan se tanssiin vie, ei sille polkalle vertaa lie, sen kanssa on vaikka mierontie hahh iha hrarven hoalhaha boning in the backyard

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

1988 Genre: Funk rock, Hard rock, ska Standouts: Freddy's Dead, Ma and Pa, Pouring Rain, I Like To Hide Behind My Glasses, One Day, Change Muther Effing Great! 4.25/5

This was a little too ska-adjacent for my tastes. The wide mix of musical styles comes off much more jarring than interesting. Definitely a wanky 80's album.

I liked the message, the music was ehh for me

Ska, punk...diversión total!!!

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

chill, hørte på de imens jeg spilte minecraft, ble litt lost i albumet men var vibes

Couldn't get into it. Very scattered. 1/5

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

When I was younger and less experienced with music, I’d like stuff like this. Now this sounds very cheesy and corny. Ska and jam band music isn’t for me.

100% new to me - enjoyed learning about the band's history, goofy nature, leftist lyrics. The ska influence is fun, even if not my usual jam.

I couldn’t finish the album because I never liked this band

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

naja...

Noisy

Favourite tracks: one day; bonin in the boneyard

Can't remember if I'm blaming Melody Maker, NME or Q for me having owned this on cassette for nearly 40 years and only really remembering 2 songs. Near mint copy for sale? This is, not good

An interesting, experimental approach. Really, the only song that didn't work was their attempt at Curtis Mayfield's 'Freddie's Dead.'

I haven't thought about this album in a long time. It's fine.

Thoughts before listening: Fishbone were a big deal to a lot of the punk and especially ska bands that I listened to in high school with everyone from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to No Doubt to Sublime calling them out as an influence. Yet I somehow never really got into them. What I have heard is a fun mashup of metal riffs, horns, punk attitude, and soulful singing. Review: I like this. My favorite thing about Fishbone is that while the music is fairly reminiscent of the 90s ska bands that would come after them, the vocals are much better. Angelo Moore has a great soulful voice that really compliments this style of music moreso than the punk smarl of those later bands. The band also brings in r&b elements to their songs that sets them apart from both their contemporaries and followers. Best songs are "Freddie's Dead", "Mighty Long Way", "Bonin' In the Boneyard", and "Subliminal Fascism". 4-star album.

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

nice background music, not to special

It's really hard to nail down the style of this album. At times it's a wailing metal album, at times it's an 80s pop album. Each song is good however, so the album is not particularly harmed by it's lack of sonic coherence 4/5

A very interesting band, and a very interesting album. One part thrash metal, one part ska, one part soul. It felt a little bit all over the place, but I managed to enjoy many tracks. It feels like a band bending genres and maybe slightly ahead of their time, but I wasn't particularly impressed overall.

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!)

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

Instrumental interessante, mas a sequência das músicas foi massante.

hardcore stuff

Album no. 10/1001 Can hear some rock foundations, but not my favourite

How did they predict the 90s ???

According to Wikipedia, Fishbone's genre is called funk-rock. Not an obvious combination of styles to try to blend together, but I think they pull it off pretty well.

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

Kind of rock/funk/ska? The first few tracks had some promise but I got bored pretty quickly. Forgettable; not surprised they're not more well known.

Don't think I've ever heard them before. Didn't dig every song, but loved the variety. 4/5

This album was sooo fun to listen to. The opening cover of “Freddie’s Dead” was absolutely unreal. The rest of the album was less brilliant than that opening track but still really good.

Liked it! Some good songs, nice and rocking

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.

Not my thing

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

Jacks of all trades, masters of none.

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.

Fishbone are one of the best live bands I have ever seen (Paddington RSL, 1992). They play a wide ranging and eclectic range of styles (metal, punk, funk, ska, etc) with versatility and high energy. With a solid rock core, augmented with multiple singers, keys and brass, they blew the audience away. This album is where they first started bringing the metal elements into their sound, and really becoming what Fishbone are. They are also starting to turn their minds to more political material, with more lyrical concern particularly on race issues (although there are still plenty of party tunes on here). That said, the common wisdom on Fishbone is that their records never really captured the incredible live band they were, and this album (which I really enjoy) shows that partially to be true. They are a bit stilted in the studio, and the recording is not all it could be. Interestingly, I had just been listening to Alice Cooper's Billion Dollar Babies immediately before switching to playing this, and this sounds tinny and thin by way of comparison with Bob Ezrin's 70s production. It could be an artifact of the period in which it was recorded, and/or modest recording budget. Their next record, Reality of my Surroundings, has a much fuller sound, and they are the better for it. But this belongs on the list as an example of a truly eclectic band that could bring the goods in any style they brought their mind to.

Loved the vibe and energy. No songs that I loved tho.

😍

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

3.5

OK but not my style.

I know 1001 albums is a lot of albums, but not sure how this one was significant enough to make the cut.

Black ska band from the 80s. Pretty good.

interesting

Kinda fun!

I can appreciate what they're trying to do here but if you listen to British bands 10 years previously (Ska bands from Coventry and Dexy's to name a couple) they were doing this better.

Good ska-punk

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

Solid

This album touched on a lot of different genres. It scratches a lot of itches. Fishing is a very versatile group. I'm glad I was introduced to them.

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.

Fun, pre-sublime type ska funk

Zu uneinheitlich. Manchmal geht die Mischung Funk, Ska, Hard Rock auf. Freddies dead, Pouring rain. Bei einigen Stücken wünscht man sich bloß, dass sie vorbei gehen ....

3.5

This was confusing, I listened to it too many times thinking I was missing something. There is definitely a hint Thunderfox in here with the fused ska metal going on but really it was the (in my opinion) failed attempt at heavy metal killed it for me. Favourite song was Freddie's Dead but minus 1 point because its a cover.

I've got no idea what to make of this. Maybe on the right day I would've understood it better but as at today it's way too much. Genre bending in a bad way. Calm down pls. What really brings it down is the tacky 80s synth sounds that date it so easily. Maybe without it would've been a better experience.

Ska Is Shit

1.5/5

What an eclectic mix of styles, didn't think i'd enjoy at first but kept throwing different things at me and enjoyed each time. 3.6

Good

Songs seem to jump different genre of music, so hard to get into.

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.

Woof. Reminded me of Tom Waits if he made ska, everything is trying to be cool and whimsical at the same time. Can't seem to land on any one genre, so they're doing a handful of genres pretty poorly. Opening track is a Curtis Mayfield cover, that's neat I guess. I struggled to find a favorite on here, this was a tough one. Nothing on wikipedia to suggest it has a legacy worth including here either. Axe it. Favorite tracks: Ghetto Soundwave. Album art: Well, it's a set of fish bones. A very faint cartoon fish skeleton, surrounded by a lot of blank black space, and the album/band titles are in bold bright colors. It's a bold cover, memorable. 1/5

At least it has black people in it.

Fun album

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

Kind of slaps, although I would need to listen again to form a more compelling opinion,

Funk rock is a pretty unique sound. Very cool though.

Rating: 7.5/10 Very good to great album overall. An eclectic mix of styles here: hard rock, ska, reggae, funk, and punk which is done very well and makes for many interesting and engaging songs. Really liked the singer, he sang with a lot of character; the production was great here as well. Some songs did not resonant with me as much as the others, but this album is very satisfying to listen to when the songs hit, which is most of the time. Favorite songs: Freddie's Dead, Ma and Pa, Question of Life, Bonin' In the Boneyard, One Day, Ghetto Soundwave. Least favorite songs: Deep Inside, Subliminal Fascism.

GOD AWFUL

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

Turns out I am not a huge fan of ska, and this album was not really a surprise. It's just okay, I didn't find myself really jamming to anything. It was unpleasant enough that I skipped around, but it's just not my favorite.

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.

4/5

Не знаю, как-то для меня ни о чем

Not really my thing.

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

Initial thoughts on first track: instrumental is sick (although some of the background production elements could definitely be removed), vocals are pretty mid and a little annoying. I really love how much genre mixing is going on here. When the singer isn't trying to do the Rockstar voice, he sounds way more palatable.

Not my thing. I dont remember these guys really but was never my style.

Funk Yeah! 5 stars.

This was a fun listening album. I gasped when I recognized the snippets of "Bonin' in the Boneyard" used by the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the Mother's Milk album (I think it was "Subway to Venus"). I find it very curious that the production and overall sound of this record is very similar to the overall wave of late 80s/early 90s wave of Mexican and Latin rock. Talk about an unspoken influence.

Fun, fun, fun! These guys are the band that you see on a whim at a festival playing one of the middle slots in the early afternoon, and they somehow end up being your favorite performance of the whole day. 🐟🐟🐟🐟

Great party!

Good funk and rock spread throughout. Really enjoyed this one, almost a 5.

Those fishy guys were having a fishy good time.

Man this was really good. Almost a five. I enjoyed the diversity of the album but I could not find something to tie it together. Still. A very good listen.

Iunno what this was but I loved it

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

One of those albums in high school that seemed everyone somehow liked, metal heads, punks/skaters, hippie kids, jocks, except maybe not the goths. I think there's a little of everything in this which makes it great, also makes it a bit uneven at times as well.

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.

Seems like a band transitioning. I had listened to some of their earlier Ska stuff. I was expecting that energy and was let down by what i got.

I really enjoyed this. I think with a little more focus it actually could've been a 5* for me, it was close as it was. I'll listen again.

I should also note that jagged little pill below was almost a 4 from me. This one is. I enjoy music with good musicality but more specifically a good horn section. Love this

Liked it more than expected but will prob not listen again

The one upside to this is it inspired me to listen to some proper ska punk

Not really my style but some decent songs on there

The foundation of Ska Punk. Highly underrated band and album.

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

Not great

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

bruh

Erg leuke plaat, onverwachte combi van stijlen. Zeker nog eens het luisteren waard, voor nu geven we het 4 sterren.

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.

Yuck, ska punk.

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

I saw them once as a youngster and remember being blown away - bass player performed in a towel only? But for mine, this album hasn't really aged well.

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.

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

Different…..

All of the songs were so different. They did not stick to one genre. It was weird but I kinda liked it.

So much fun!

When I was in high school, a good friend of mine was obsessed with ska. He'd make us mix tapes featuring his favorite songs and we'd all go to concerts in San Francisco's 16+ venues. When I saw the name Fishbone this morning, I was instantly transported to my youth. I don't know this particular album and I probably don't know any of them. I haven't given a thought to the band Fishbone since high school. But listening to Ma and Pa was like talking to an old friend. I'm not sure I recognize any of the other individual songs, but listening to this album was a lot of fun. It's so much more than just ska, it reaches into rock, punk, reggae, funk, you name it. It's such an eclectic album. I love the horns, the sound, the political comments, the whole vibe. Slow Bus Movin' (Howard Beach Party) and Ghetto Soundwave are amazing. GS is a powerful comment on the structures of racism, discrimination, and neglect, with a bop. Sadly it fits right at home today, some thirty-five years later. After listening to Truth and Soul, I checked out the Fishbone album immediately preceding it (In Your Face). The opening number - When Problems Arise - really lets the vocals play and the instruments soar. The first album is more firmly rooted in the ska sound and while that's not necessarily what I had thought I'd go for, it turns out I like In Your Face even more than Truth and Soul.

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

Not what I was expecting

HL: “Bonin’ in the Boneyard” (is Mario Kart music in the best possible way), "Ghetto Soundwave", "Pouring Rain", "Freddie's Dead" October 26, 2023

This feels like a college group project, where everybody had their own uncompromising, differing opinion on what the assignment actually was. I have no idea who nominated this for the list, but I kind of never want to meet them. This was awful.

Meh.

I like the Ska sound, kind of like no doubt but more 80s

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.

Fresh and super fucking cool. You can see where they are taking their genre and where the bands that clearly influenced them got that influence. The opener of this is a straight banger. That mood keeps going throughout. What we get is a fantastic ska record, one I’m sure is an all timer in that genre.

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

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

I already love this album.

Okay in every sense. Was ok

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

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

This is another one of those albums that humbles me and shows I don't know as much about rock as I think I do. I knew nothing about it or even the band, and how can that be? Especially because I love Living Colour and Fishbone reminds me of that sound, though fused with a bit more ska. Their cover of Freddie's Dead is an awesome opener. Other beauties were Question of Life, Mighty Long Way, Bonin in the Boneyard (oh that bass), One Day (oh that guitar), Ghetto Soundwave (oh so funky), and Change (a nice softie). Still, this album has some so-so songs. Pouring Rain was a not as nice softie and I was kind of surprised Ma and Pa was their second single because it's a bit pedestrian and the lyrics aren't overly strong, which is the weak point of this whole album in my opinion. And then when I started to read about the band I was surprised that of all their albums this one made the list. Reviews of it were middle of the road, even retrospectively. Meanwhile their follow-up The Reality of My Surroundings was a smash both with critics and the public. And I listened to it and it is superior. I guess this album was more groundbreaking in terms of its timing and defining their sound, but it feels like Reality should've been on the list too. All in all, Truth and Soul is a strong but flawed album.

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.

Eclectic rubbish

Great album, loved it.

Oh my god this rules. Runs the gamut of rock, ska, funk, gets real close to like sega genesis-sounding music sometimes, just all over the place, having fun every step of the way

Just a mess. Adding ska to rock is not a smart move.

The members of Fishbone are obviously talented musicians. And there might be a great ska, rock or funk album hidden somewhere here - but definitely not a combination of those. I was physically angry at the album from start to finish. Apparently certain members were concerned with their image being to cartoonish prior to the release of this… And then they decided to release this?!

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

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

groove album

3.1

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

Baita som, curto o estilo meio ska funkzao

I didn't know I needed to find the bridge between Oingo Boingo and 311, but I'm very glad it is here.

Eclectic blend, with a lot of good music. I'm mostly surprised I hadn't heard of Fishbone before. A bit too broad of a swing for a 5 though.

As advertised - funk/metal fusion, which I assume was unique for the late 80s. It's executed well and fun enough that I was intrigued for most of it. Still, it's difficult to get over the 80s "cheese" dripping all over it.

I'm genuinely surprised by how much I disliked this. Fishbone tries their hand at so many different genres and holy shit do they butcher them all. I might have liked this if it was more banal, but they somehow manage to fuck up like seven different genres, it's almost impressive. Almost. .5/5

I am sorry. You put everything out on the table and people don't know what to choose. Much though the idea of Fishbone is a great one, the reality of Fishbone is a billion things going in different directions.

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).

It wasn’t for me, that’s for sure

Mom can we go to Oingo Boingo? Mom: we have Oingo Boingo at home. This album’s inclusion feels like recency bias at the time of publication. People used to think that mashing as many genres together as possible was the future of all music, but really it was a fad that really calmed down in the late 90s. It feels like they were trying to show off how many textures and sounds they could include, and they forgot to write good songs. I’m gonna guess that this is big with the Ween/Mr. Bungle/Primus crowd. I just don’t enjoy it.

Even by ska standards this is awful

Not for me. There were bits and pieces on some tracks that sounded pretty unique and inventive, but for the most part it was dreadful. I was leaning 2 but have to knock it down for the inclusion of a track called “Bonin’ In The Boneyard”

What can i say, i like ska

Look, I had fun. Ska is meh, but track 1 was cool and I like the singer! Maybe a 3, but 2 is probably right

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

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

pening with the Curtis Mayfield classic Freddie’s Dead from Superfly immediately perked up my ears and grabbed my attention. Fishbone’s version was ticked up a couple notches to fit their high energy, but it was a decent rendition. This entire album is pretty high energy, featuring upbeat tunes with lots of horns. Pouring Rain is a bit slower tempo, but right after, Deep Inside picks up the pace again and pivots somewhat into hard rock. If horns are your thing, never fear. They make a triumphant return in Bonin’ in the Boneyard, which sounds very Prince-like. Melodically, One Day is my favorite track on the album. It’s somewhat midtempo, but the pace revs up once again with Subliminal Fascism. Slow Bus Movin and Ghetto Soundwave were standouts for me as well before ending on a more mellow note with Change. In all, Truth and Soul is a solid album from a high energy band with depth, substance, and soul.

Oh man, was I wrong about this album. I'm a huge fan of Curtis Mayfield, Freddie's Dead is a very good song. The first time I ever heard this cover, I kind of flunked the album and didn't listen to more. But today I did, and it's such a jam!! They make great use of their horn section and it melds great in th edgier songs. It feels a bit similar to the first Red Hot Chili Peppers albums, sweet funk vibes with a rocky edge, but they also don't take themselves to seriously. All in all a very fun album and makes me want to listen to more of these guys! 7,5 out of 10

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.

Read the description and thought "no way this will be any good" - I'm very happy to be proved wrong! What a treat this album is, totally unpredictable and a really brave effort.

Bastante ecléctico. Ska, rock, pop...

This album is certainly full on. It sounds as if "Extreme" decided to take a trip through Ska Avenue on their way to the studio. The album is rather all over the place and lacks cohesion, but there are some fun riffs here and there. I can't say that it's something I'll find myself coming back to any time soon, though.

dont really get the praise tbh, its decent some funky influences can be heard and lyrically creative but the end kind of falls off

What is going on here? I thought I was getting a ska album and, to be honest, I wasn't thrilled by the prospect. But then it turned into a hair-metal album. Somehow, that's even less thrilling. Then there were elements of like... 70s soul? But also some almost theatrical elements? I don't know. It was a mess and left me more confused than entertained.

Another strong album, with standouts in Freddie's Dead, Ma and Pa, One Day, and Slow Bus Moving.