5 comments about Friend or Foe?.

1. The Forces of Evil are a side-project of the well renouned Reel Big Fish and just like their lyrics the Forces of Evil lyrics are just that...Evil! But when i say that i don't mean it's a bad thing, i mean it in a very good way, very upbeat true to the style with their last song "Fight For Your Right To Skank" and their "Angry Anthem" puts it all together. if you are a Reel Big Fish fan this album is for you.



2. This is one of the few "super group" ska bands out there, and it really behooves anyone out there who is a fan of ska to pick this disc up. It's one CD you can listen to straight through over and over again.
   I have to say that, in general, this sounds like a "lost" Reel Big Fish album, i don't know if it's the production quality (which sounds a lot like a RBF album) or what. The other comparison that popped into my head was "Toasters meets RBF" (which doesn't really make sense since Toasters had nothing to do with this).
   
   Sorry for the rambling review. This CD is excellent, ska fan or not, if you like well written songs that make you feel good even when things are against you, this is the CD to get.



3. Wow! Awesome cd full of fun, catchy music that never slows down from start to finish. This is third-wave ska at its finest. If you are a ska fan, you probably already own this album. If not, get to a record store, or order this online. You won't regret it, I promise.



4. This is THE must have ska cd. If you like ska, you must own this cd. Period. End of story. This cd is the best thing to happen to ska in a long while. Don't let it's lack of promotion fool you. It is very well done and worth every penny.



5. This is one of the best third-wave ska bands ever if you dont get this cd you will be a loser and no one will be your friend, seriously before I got this cd I was a loser and when I got this cd I was still a loser but hey maybe you wont be!

5 comments about Everything in Time.

1. I didn't know this album was gona be this good... I LOVE IT!! :D:D:D Highly recommended, especially if you like No Doubt's older style and good instrumentation...



2. I tend to like No Doubt's odd collections, like BEACON STREET and EVERYTHING IN TIME, because the songs that are left off the albums (or done on the side or, in the case of BEACON STREET, recorded while waiting for other things to happen) are less slick pop and closer to their first album. I was a big fan of theirs before they were famous, when I was in high school, and tend to prefer their more ska and power-pop songs.
   
   "Cellophane Boy," "I Throw My Toys Around," "Big Distraction," and "Full Circle" are the primary attractions of this CD.



3. THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS CD IS.
   WHEN A PERSON OR GROUP MAKES AN ALBUM THEY WRITE & RECORD
   A PILE OF SONGS.BUT YOU CAN FIT ONLY 80 MINUTES OF MUSIC ON ONE CD.THE GROUP AND THE RECORD COMPANY PICK THE SONGS THEY WANT TO BE SINGLES & MAKE VIDEOS TO;AND SONGS THEY THING WILL MAKE IT TO THE BILLBOARD CHARTS.SO A LOT OF SONGS THEY RECORD ARE PUT ON THE SHELF AND COLLECT DUST & SOMETIMES ARE NEVER HEARD;UNLESS THEY PUT THE SONGS ON THERE NEXT ALBUM.
   BUT IF YOU ARE A FAN YOU WANT TO HEAR ALL THE SONGS NOT JUST THE
   GREATEST HITS.AND GIVEN TIME & AND A OPEN MIND THIS PILE OF
   UNRELEASED SONGS WILL BECOME YOUR NO DOUBT GREATEST HITS VOL.2
   WHEN IT COMES TO NO DOUBT WITH GWEN STEFANI ON LEAD.YOU DON'T
   HAVE TO HEAR THE SONGS ON THE RADIO,MTV OR VH1 TO FIND OUT THE SONGS ARE GREAT.PICK UP THIS CD AND FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF & TURN THE VOLUME IN MAX !!!
   {TONY~TONI~TON`E}/ROME,NEW YORK:HOME OF WOODSTOCK 1999/



4. First off, I would like to say that I love No Doubt (but though I love Gwen, and her music is good in its own way, I think that the solo career was a mistake). I think that they are the most talented band of all time, certainly the most talented band that I have ever heard. I just started to love No Doubt recently, and ordered all their CDs. Though this is a CD of B-Sides, I think that it is one of their best and that the songs should have all made it onto the records they were written for.
   
   1. Big Distraction: 5/5. I love this song, I can't exactly explain why. The horn parts in it sort of sound like their early ska stuff, and I love the tune.
   2. Leftovers: 4.5/5. Not my favorite on this CD, but it is good in its own way. It is a bit slow, and reminds me of a cross between something from Tragic Kingdom and Return of Saturn.
   3. Under Construction: 5/5. I like the tune and guitar parts of this song. It reminds me of 'Six Feet Under' from Return of Saturn.
   4. Beauty Contest: 5/5. A sad song, and has very deep lyrics. The phrase 'born to blossom, bloom to perish' is originally used in this song, but some of you may recognize it from Gwen's 'What You Waiting For?'. Wait until the last few seconds of the song, it's really cute!
   5. Full Circle: 5/5. I love this song. The tune is really catchy, and the lyrics are good.
   6. Cellophane Boy: 5/5. Another song that reminds me of a cross between something from Tragic Kingdom and Return of Saturn. Slow tune, not very catchy, but the lyrics are great.
   7. Everything In Time (Los Angeles): 5/5. This song and Everything In Time (London) sound completely different, but they are both sad sounding and very beautiful lyrically.
   8. You're So Foxy: 4/5. I like it, but it's just not one of my favorites. The verses are completely different from the chorus, and that's what sets it apart. On the inside cover of the CD, it said that this was a possible single, but if it was I don't think it would have even made it into the top 20. It doesn't sound like a song that you would hear on the radio.
   9. Panic: 5/5. Love the lyrics, but the tune makes me all jittery. Another song where the verses sound completely different from the chorus.
   10. New Friend: 5/5. This is one of my favorites from this CD. It's very reggae sounding, and the tune is so catchy! I think that this should have made it onto Rock Steady. Also, the song 'In My Head' from Rock Steady came from this song.
   11. Everything In Time (London): 5/5. A very good song, great lyrics, but it makes me want to cry sometimes.
   12. Sailin' On: 4/5. This was a cover song, it was originally by the Bad Brains. I like the way that they have adapted and made it theirs, their version is much slower than the original.
   13. Oi To The World: 5/5. A really cool Christmas song. The lyrics are awesome, and though this wasn't their song originally, Gwen sounds truly great singing it.
   14. I Throw My Toys Around: 5/5. This song was from the Rugrats movie, and features Elvis Costello. The tune is slow but catchy, and the lyrics are really cute.
   15. New & Approved: 4/5. The remix is good, but goes on for too long. Personally, I liked the original better.
   16 and 17. A Real Love Survives and A Rock Steady Vibe: 3/5. Catchy beat, but it isn't really by No Doubt. It mostly just has Miss Dynamite and Sweetie Irie rapping, and then occasionally has Gwen saying "A real love survives" in the background. Not my favorites.



5. No Doubt is one of those bands that trys new things, but still acts like.....themselves! They don't try to be someone that everyone likes, they just act like who they really are, and if fans don't accept them, then....fans don't accept them....but, saying that I would also like to add, that not everybody has the same taste---and therefore, don't always like the same genre of music.. but all I wanted to point out, is that Gwen is a beautiful hearted girl, and she loves being an artist and preforming and all that stuff.........this CD is one of the best that I've listened to in a really...really long time!!!! If you don't consider buying this CD, you're crazy!

5 comments about Live From the Middle East.

1. ... "if dimension, fidelity, and artistry are more your bag, Live pretty much bites. --Sue VanHecke"
   
   Sorry Sue, I can't agree with that. Saying the Bosstones lack artistry is almost laughable. The Tones showcase some of the most talented musicians I've come across in my time. Masterful bass playing, a tight brass section, excellent guitar work and frankly, Dicky Barrett's vocal's are individual, endearing and soulful.
   
   All up a great CD!



2. Wow...wow is all I can say about this display of live concert music. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are my favorite band, and I completed my collection of their cd's by laying down $18 for this cd- and I don't regret it oooone bit.
   Between the awesome blend of songs from all their albums and the raw energy being witnessed, this cd can please anyone who's in the room. Cd's such as Devil's Night Out and More Noises and Other Disturbances weren't all that great to me...but this cd has made me come to love both of those "okay" cd's just because hearing some older songs by MMB played live seemed to bring a new light over them!
   It's plain and simple...BUY THIS ALBUM! It's a must-have for annny MMB fan.



3. Like the Grateful Dead, the Bosstones are better live than recorded. This is essentially a live greatest hits album. It has all the songs of theirs that I could name, good sound, and an amazing 22 tracks. It's the only Bosstones disc I need, especially with "Where'd you go", "Someday I suppose", and half of the "Let's face it" album. Who needs that anymore. If you enjoy that "live" energy, and listen to bands like Fishbone and The Reverend Horton Heat, you'll love this.



4. Recorded during the Bosstones annual hometown throwdown shows right after their breakthrough album Let's Face It, Live from the Middle East actually does a good job capturing the essence of the Bosstones live. It features classic songs as well as a ton of songs off of Let's Face It, all in all it's a massive 22 song collection and every song sounds great. The set opens with 1-2-8 off of Let's Face It, it then goes into the classics Do Somethin Crazy, He's Back and one of my favorite Bosstones songs Devil's Night Out. With this live album they also breathe new life into songs such as Dr.D, Howwhywuz Howwhyam, Cowboy Coffee, and Where'd You Go. All of which are highlights of the album. Songs such as Kinder Words, Hope I Never Lose My Wallet, and Hell of a Hat also sound just as good live maybe even better than their studio recordings. Other songs from Let's Face It include the title track, Rascal King, Noise Brigade, Royal Oil, and their hit single, The Impression that I Get. The band sounds very tight on the live album, as any band would after touring for months at a time. Honestly the one low point of the album is the song Royal Oil, I'm just not a fan of that song, I actually think it's one of the worst song's they've ever recorded. The album ends on a great note also with The Impression that I Get, the classic Someday I Suppose (also featured in the movie Clueless), and the short Lights Out, which features the band members going back and forth singing to each other, definately a highlight of the live album. Live from the Middle East is definately worth the money, of course nothing will ever capture the essence of the Bosstones live but this cd comes extremely close, you should definately check them out if you get the chance to.



5. This live CD by the Bosstones is also a nice pre-Pay Attention "greatest hits" collection. Songs are taken from everything from Devil's Night Out to More Noise... to Don't Know How To Party. Many selections also come from Let's Face It. The recording quality is not as bad as some may say. All the songs do credit to the studio versions, with that touch that can only be felt live. The only song that just plain stinks is "The Impression That I Get" because it does nothing to capture the essence of the original masterpiece. Dicky's voice is in top-form, and he switches from growling to his deep tone very nicely. So there you have it. A live 22-track compilation of some of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones greatest. My only gripes are the bad quality of song 20 and all the unneeded language.

5 comments about The Best of Sugar Ray.

1. There was a lot of good rock music in the '90s. Unfortunately, Sugar Ray does not qualify as such, despite the fact that they were blown to massive proportions and had loads of really big, really annoying hits. You remember them - "Fly," "When It's Over," "Someday," "Answer the Phone," "Every Morning," "Falls Apart," "Under the Sun" - lighthearted, bouncy pop songs with no real substance behind them (or, in the case of "Someday," a downbeat, contemplative ballad with no substance behind it). Now, everyone likes a good pop song, me included. But the genre they fall into is already overcrowded by bands that aren't really any good, and Sugar Ray falls somewhere in between Smash Mouth (excessively annoying, almost to the point where it seems intentional) and Third Eye Blind (decent, but incapable of making a song interesting for more than two minutes or so). And even the bouncy, empty power-pop looks good in comparison to their attempts to rock out ("Mean Machine"). Their stuff is really listenable and all, but what's the point? The Posies and Weezer are far better examples of a power-pop band, and you know how they name-drop Run-D.M.C. on "Under the Sun"? I'd advise you go listen to them instead.
   Whatever. This stuff just bores me. It's gratingly unoriginal, poorly written, poorly executed pop with some poorly incorporated hip-hop elements. Again, it's better than Smash Mouth, but what isn't better than Smash Mouth? Blerf.



2. It is truly the best of Sugar Ray. If you like Sugar Ray, this CD won't disappoint.



3. this collection contains all the Sugar Ray songs worth listening to, and some that are not. after all, this is a cutesy, catchy band with a couple of cutesy, catchy songs and some cutesy, catchy harmonies. in sum, fun fluff (which is what i was after). i only gave it a 4 because it really didn't need to include the "pseudo-hits" that nobody listens to.



4. listeninjg to sugar ray is one of the best things that ever happened to mankind i like to think of them as the ace of base of the late 90's no one has a greed with me so far but who cares??!! that is just what i think!!!! anyways this collection of songs will save you the trouble of buying all of their albums unless you need to have the cover art and pictures of the band becauise they are all nice looking guys who could teech you alot about what to wear and hoiw to style your hair and make girls really like to be around you and remember your name. my favorite song is the fly song because it always gets the ladies dancing because its a good dancing song especially for ladies who like to dance. if you like sugar ray as more than a friend like my brother who has lots of posters of mark mcgrath in his closet you will porbably like this cd alot and keep it in your cd player for a long timwe until your ready to listen to something else.



5. these guys having a greatest hits album is almost as hysterical as milli vanilli having one. (...) talk about a short shelf life (...) these fadfreaks,the wallflowers,matchbox 20,hootie and the theyblow fish,groups no one will miss.good riddence (...)

5 comments about F.T.T.W..

1. you gotta buy this CD.
   Faster than world, one life one chance, can I overcome,
   M&M, and etc. great songs!!!
   I like their other albums but this is the best!!



2. Having the nostalgic urge to hear "everready", I discovered today that the entire "trilogy" of classic H2O albums combined takes up less space on the iPod than a few measley photographs...
   
   H20 tunes were always short and sweet, no-nonsense, take it or leave it stuff. Some of it's a little goofy and dated sounding now with countless group shout-outs and some forgetable repetitive verse-chorus verse chorus overkill, but a decade later looking back this band's passion is respectable. Musically the band always carried it's love for Gorilla Biscuits high above it's head, but they flirted with melody and pull it off fairly well at times. I felt they peaked as a band with this album back in the day... a fun band that treated it's fans great.
   
   The disks are still a charge to revisit 10 years later, though I gotta play them in my cubicle now (at a "reasonable volume").
   
   "One Life!"



3. Like the title for this review alludes, this CD possesses a distinct writing style with many quips and some crafty wordplay that really is smart and refreshing to hear. The music is nothing out of place for your typical punk bands; they have limited capabilities in what they can offer musically. They're not going to mesmerize you with long, amazing guitar solos or do extensive experimentation with their instruments. They're hard, they're fast, and they're punk and that's what they want to be and in that context they change up their music well enough and never fall into a rut just forcing the same guitar riff over and over again slightly modified. However the reason only 3 stars, fitting right, are gold above and I gave this album a 7 of 10, so 3 and a half really, is that they do stumble into a very easy trap, something that I still can't figure out how Pennywise eluded their whole career. This trap is when penning these "we got your back" songs after too many instances it is unavoidable that you're going to write a really cheesy song with lyrics that just make the listener squirm for the person that wrote them. You start to feel this way towards the middle part of the album like the lead singer is going to suggest buying your guy friends a bouquet of flowers to show how much you appreciate them. The other thing that marginalizes this album is when they write these songs that are simply sermons inside of a punk music melody. Also, it seems they think these words are so gripping that they just throw any derivative punk rock sound in the background so you can hone in on just the words. Big mistake, we don't want to be lectured and checking our belief systems while getting down to music. There's nothing wrong with writing a song trying to convey your thoughts about the world around you, just don't overdo it to the point where they'd need to bring a pulpit onstage! All in all this is a satisfactory nearing good album, however there's already a band who used this identical formula, Pennywise, and did it perfectly, so there's not much need that I can see after having listened to this, for listening to this when you can buy PW's self-titled and be on your way nicely.



4. Faster Than The World is H2O's first release on MCA records, although they have previously released two albums on Epitapth. The move to MCA upsets fans who want to keep the music less known and feel like it's "theirs", but thats pretty much just greed and the generic punk attitude... Getting h2o on mtv and the radio has allowed them to get the credit they deserve and for the world to hear some good music.

   musically speaking this album holds it own next to "Thicker Than Water" as well as "H2O". Song's like "one life, one chance", "liberate", and "can I overcome" (to name a few) will have you singing along in typical h2o fashion whether or not it's live or coming from a stereo. There is not one song on this album I don't love.

   While I can't say I'd consider this album "hardcore", It's still punk and it's definitely stellar. Don't pick it up expecting a hardcore album, pick it up expecting a good album.




5. This is the album that got me into punk. Well, not strictly 'punk' but anyways...all I have to say is that if you ride BMX or skate then this album will be like a best friend to you.
   You can't help but want to ride as the title track starts up on your headphones. It makes you genuinely happy to be doing what you're doing and within a few weeks you'll know every single word, and get looked at funny as you ride round the skatepark singing it at the top of your voice.
   Yes, it really is that good. If you're beyond being all stuck up and 'hardcore' about your music then you'll love this. And so will your thirteen-year-old pop-loving sister...which is exactly the beauty of it. Any album that makes you this happy is worth a try, no?

5 comments about Keasbey Nights.

1. It's tough to be a fan of ska music. On the one hand there are the critics, who rip the party-fueled genre of ska -- a term for a brassy, syncopated, hooky style of music -- as inane and insubstantial. On the other hand, there are the hardcore "skanks" who will overwhelm you and scare you away from the genre with their near-violent dedication and appreciation. Especially if you see them at a concert.
   
   And yet, trapped between these two extremes are a few really good bands and albums. Good, heartfelt, powerful music is universal. Regardless of your views towards the genre, there is some ska that should earn your respect on its own terms.
   
   Catch 22's debut, Keasbey Nights, is an example of music that you should not judge based on the movement it is a part of, but as a collection of excellent songs presented with tremendous impact. Give the album a chance, a few listens, and you'll find a mesmerizing, brilliant album.
   
   From beginning to end, Keasbey Nights is a provoking look at troubled adolescence. Tomas Kalnoky, the primary songwriter on the album, comes across as a bright, articulate kid who tries to understand why he's depressed. From this theme springs violence, loneliness, bitterness, vulnerability, and more. But most important is that each song is an earnest bit of perspective into his world and his mind.
   
   To back up this lyrical introspection is instantly memorable music. The band has no hesitation to layer catchy hook upon catchy hook. There is no inhibition and self-consciousness; you can tell each member of the band puts their all into every song. And yet, each song is paced and planned carefully. Once the groundwork is laid, the band goes nuts with it. The fast and loud parts are relentless, the slow and quiet parts are tender.
   
   None of this is possible, though, if the album doesn't provide the songs to back up the concept. Fortunately, this is another area that Keasbey Nights shines: nearly every track is a small masterpiece of brutal honesty and a high-energy fusion of ska, punk, and jazz. The title track is the most famous track, and reasonably so. The contemplation of self-inflicted violence has a chorus that will be in your head for months. Nothing is filler, though: Supernothing is masterful self-deprecation, Riding the Fourth Wave is a nice improvisation number, Day In Day Out is bitter cry of independence, etc.
   
   The real cornerstone of the album is the final track, "1234 1234." A line like "There's more to you, there's more to life, there's more than meets the eye" might feel cliche on a lesser album. With the thirteen tracks that precede it, though, it's instead an insight. Furthermore, the riff from "1234 1234 is emblematic of the irresistible hooks that fill this album and features some of the best drumming you'll ever hear.
   
   If you insist upon viewing the album through genres, you'll see that it's based in ska and punk, with influences of jazz. This variety works well: the sound is never as grating and repetitive as punk, nor as mellow and subdued as the old reggae style of ska. The solos, while solid, are not necessarily virtuosic, but give a professional and improvisational feel to the album that really balances the pace of the songs.
   
   Ultimately, the pieces of Keasbey Night come together to form an outstanding album. Good music needs an emotional core to give it substance, and heartfelt lyrics need strong music to make them memorable. Keasbey Nights tackles both of these dilemmas with skill and with honesty, a powerful and astonishing mix.



2. There's some really good songs on this CD that make me still keep it around but some of the songs on this CD are really boring too.



3. "Keasby nights" is classic. Everyone's gotta love this album. It rules! Every song is great! If you even remotely like ska, get this!



4. If Catch-22's "Keasbey Nights" was sex, it would cause a huge orgasm. Not only is this the greatest ska album made in the last 10 years (if not more), but it even qualifies for one of the best rock albums mad in the past 10 years. It mixes fast punk, horns, reggea, dub, and just about everything else to make a great mix of greatness. If I could give it a million stars, I would.
   The thing that a lot of people don't understand is that it isn't supposed to sound mainstream and perfect. It was made by a bunch of guys who were bored and liked fast music. They went to a crappy studio and put out an AMAZING record, and now they're a famous band within their niche of the music market.
   Ska is an aquired taste, and one who likes ska must like Catch-22's "Keasbey Nights" fore it defines what music should sound like today!!
   :)



5. Catch 22 really got me into ska with this album. It melodic, fast paced yet slow and groovy at times. The songs are just plain fun. I can't listen to this album without singing at the top of my lungs. Its a must have for any ska fan.

5 comments about The Best of Goldfinger CD/DVD.

1. This is the greatest hits album of a great band. Goldfinger is a punk/ska band with many great songs...I love them... my fave songs are "San Simeon" and "99 Red Balloons".



2. Goldfinger have been one of my favorite punk/ska bands ever. Well they were when i was younger. I reccomend this CD mostly because it has all their good songs on 1 cd [ even though it may be leaving out some ]. I reccommend this because most of the times Goldfingers CDs have some fillers. This has no fillers so yay.
   
   1. Here In Your Bedroom 15/10 Their best song ever.
   2. Mable 10/10
   3. Miles Away N/A dont remember this one
   4. Superman 10/10 Loved this song ever since Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1.
   5. If Only N/A dont remember this one
   6. This Lonely Place N/A dont remember this one
   7. Just Like Heaven N/A dont remember this one
   8. Counting The Days 10/10 Love this song
   9. San Simeon N/A Dont remember this one
   10. 99 Red Balloons 10/10
   11. Tell Me N/A Dont Remember This One
   12. Open Your Eyes 9/10
   13. Spokesman 10/10
   14. The Innocent
   15. Vintage Queen
   16. Hopeless
   17. Red Balloons- video
   18. People?- video
   
   dont remember the rest
   
   get this cd as an intro to goldfinger



3. This is one of the best cd's i have ever bought but do not buy it on amazon.com. you can usally get it for less money at a store such as best buy or circut city for about $14.



4. This cd is great and I'd encourage everyone to buy it but BEWARE there's a Penis(Pen15) on the DVD!!!!!!!!!



5. Ok first off im gonna list whats on the DVD cuz no one else has here it is:
   1.Here In Your Bedroom
   2.Mable
   3.This Lonely Place
   4.Counting the Days
   5.99 Red Balloons
   6.Open Your Eyes
   7.Spokesman (live house of blues 2003)
   8.Stay (live house of blues 2003)
   9.Bonus Footage
   
   All these are good and the bonus footage is funny. The best video i think is counting the days cuz its really funny. The DVD is worth the money itself but its cool its a CD too. This is worth every penny.

5 comments about Exodus.

1. This is one of Marley's most perfect statements - maybe his best album. It contains 5 of his most famous songs and 5 of his most underrated songs.. This is probably Marley's most profound statement as an artist and songwriter - it is not quite as raw and hard edged as the original wailer albums with Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer - but this is his most mature album as far as song writing goes..Essential!



2. Exodus is Bob's greatest album. It was after this point where he became the Legend that we know him to be. It was almost unfair for Bob to start off with Natural Mystic on the album; the song is almost too good. The first few almost silent chords are the first indication of what await us. What I like about the album the most is the different mix of beats and rhythms. They range from the smooth easy listening of Turn Your Lights Down Low to the hard one drop roots rhythm of Exodus. Exodus really introduced Bob Marley and the Wailers to the world because it had messages that people from all parts of the earth could relate to. It was post 1977 that the Wailers embarked on their legendary world tours in 1978, 1979, and 1980. They went to places as far Tokyo, New Zealand, and filled stadiums with 100,000 people in Milan, Italy and Berlin, Germany. The album set new standards for reggae by being one of the first reggae albums to become more mainstream and less focused on the trials and tribulations awaiting the Rastaman In Babylon. My favorite song on this album is...too hard a choice.



3. Really this album is definitive Bob Marley.Legend has assumed the mantle of being Bob's best album, yet it does not include " Roots,Rock,Reggae " which remains his only US top ten hit (No6).So-called connoiseurs fail to realise that " Buffalo Soldier" was a hit posthumously for Bob, but he didn't think it was good enough to put on a album when he was alive.Exodus turned Bob into a superstar although the US did not catch on till the release of Legend.Exodus contains everything, militancy, prophecy,romanticism,righteous education and more." Catch a Fire " is classic reggae, Exodus is classic Bob.



4. What motivated Bob Marley to write some of his best lyrics, with strong spiritual content, messages of biblical condemnation for the wicked and biting criticism of the system and it's defenders? A complete album, some of his best work ever, and in contrast to earlier albums where there were always a few redone songs from his ska and rocksteady days, Exodus was mostly all new songs. Here you have an excellent mix - strong roots reggae rhythms on 'Natural Mystic' a Rasta grounation chant 'Heathen', a lighter dance tune 'Jammin', melodies such as 'One Love' and 'Three Little Birds' and two tracks that show Bob could have sung R&B, soul, love songs namely 'Waiting in Vain' and 'Turn your lights down low'. The title track was unique. Never before had there been a reggae song sounding like it, (funky world beat) nor had a reggae song ever been so long - over 7 minutes, most were short, to the point 3-4 minute jobs. The album built on what had been achieved with the previous album - penetration of the US market, but significantly here 'Exodus' was the first Wailer tune to get extensive airplay on African-American radio. What was the creative force behind all of this? We know that ganja and scripture reading was the fuel for some of Bob's words of wisdom but this album (specifically the first 4 tracks) were forged in direct response to one specific incident that happened to him in late 1976.

   Bob, Rita and the bands manager were at Bob's yard two nights before the 'Smile Jamaica' concert scheduled for December 5. The concert, featuring the Wailers, was to be held at the National Heroes Park in Kingston. It was conceived by Bob himself as a means of getting peoples minds off politics, which was the all consuming force in the Island at that time, with a general election coming up on December 16. Gunmen burst into the Marley house firing shots, all three were hit, Bob's manager five times, a shot grazed Bob's chest and hit his arm and Rita had one graze her skull. Who did it and for what reason was never known as the gunmen were not identified nor caught. Politics was suspected. Although the Wailers were not supporters of party politics they could hardly be called apolitical as their criticisms of the system, inequality, injustices and oppression had always been central to their message. It's just that it was the strongest in the previous album. If that is what it was all about, rather than be subdued, Bob was stirred up and 'Exodus' was his creative response fueled by righteous rastafari anger. Bob himself says so in a line from 'Jammin' - 'No bullet can stop us now'. All in all an album of excellent musical expression.




5. I saw Bob Marley in concert back in 1979 at the Beacon Theater in NYC. What an absolutely magical night that was. Not only was I transformed into an instant fanatic Marley follower, but since that incredible performance, my wife and son have also become huge fans and even our family dog is named, what else but....Marley.

   Of the dozen or so studio albums, Exodus stands out as my personel favorite. With some of reggae's greatest song writing, One Love/People Get Ready, Jamming, Three Little Birds and my all-time, all-time favorite Waiting In Vain, Exodus is one of the strongest works by reggae's poet laurret.

5 comments about Duke Reid's Treasure Chest.

1. This is one of the compilations that taught me what good vintage Jamaican music is all about! Here are some of the things that makes this music great:
   
   1)Excellent musicians-Duke Reid's studio band consisted of some of the best musicians on the island such as Gladstone Anderson, Ernest Ranglin, Hux Brown, Tommy McCook, Baba Brooks, Jackie Jackson, Winston Wright, and Lyn Taitt. Collectively known as the Supersonics and later, as the Jets.
   
   2)Great singers-Jamaicans are serious about singing. Treasure Isle had some of the top vocalists and vocals groups of the era such as Alton Ellis, the Techniques, Phyllis Dillon, the Paragons, the Melodians,and the Ethiopians to name only a few.
   
   3)Quality recordings-Treasure Isle had excellent recording equipment for that time period. (early 1960s to the early 1970s)In fact Treasure Isle's sound is often compared to the Motown sound in Detroit.
   (Plus all the tracks are taken from the original master tapes for the best quality sound. Much better sound quality than the Trojan reissues, although I love Trojan too!)
   
   4)Historically significant-These Treasure Isle recordings(along with Studio One)formed the template for much of the reggae that came later in the 1970s till the present day. The rhythms("riddims" in Jamaican patois)and melodies of these original recordings are still being recycled and versioned to this very day. In other words, without Treasure Isle(& Studio One)there would've been no 70s roots or rockers reggae, let alone dancehall from the 80s to the present. Elephantman knows this and so does Sean Paul!
   
   Do yourself a favor and pick this one up! It's much more than a CD, it's a slice of Jamaican musical history!



2. Duke Reid Is God. I first heard about him from my IT teacher Alisdair Reid. He introduced me to the ways of Duke Reid, as I think they are related in some way. Absolutely incredible. If there is only one album you ever buy: make it this one!!



3. There are really only a couple great rocksteady cds out there, and this is one of them. The thing that probably makes it stick out is the fact that it is all from one producer. Duke Reid had great style and quota of excellence that creates a real sense of consistency during the whole listen. A great collection of hits from a short, but improtnat time in jamaican music history



4. It doesn't get much better than this. This is a moment in time (c. '64-'66) captured forever. All fans of reggae, rock steady, ska, lounge, heck - MUSIC!, should give this a listen. It deserves a place in your collection.



5. It's hard to put into words exactly how much pleasure this set can give: this is the aural equivalent of a cool drink on a hot day.

4 comments about Ay Caramba!.

1. Just another must have. Some covers of great ska songs, some truely funny originals, all very dancable, bouncing off the walls, but sweet you know. Lots of horns, ska and very cubano and very nicely produced. One of the last tracks is much more of a throwback to african roots. That little licky bamboo song, I'd heard it before from Prince buster, but this one made me laugh again.



2. While traveling from Marrakech to Agadir my wife had the Moroccan radio station on, we noticed that the song playing was in English with a Latin beat, after the song was over the DJ announced it as "SKA CUBANO", what impressed me was that the singer sounded like the late Cuban singer Beny More! Later that night while staying in the Agadir Beach Club we heard the song again. We approach the DJ and he informed us that it was a recording from an English man and a Cuban singer who called themselves the SKA CUBANO. I was amazed when I heard the remaining songs it was fascinating. We danced all night to the music, and all the people seem to like the sound. Cumbia, Jamaican Ska, Jazz, and Cuban music altogether sounded great. My favorites are Soy Campesino, Tabu, and Istanbul. All the songs are very good and the back up band is outrageously good. Buy it and experience the excellent combination of this CD. My Mediterranean girl insisted that I write a review. Check it out on the web-site and listen to the songs.



3. Ay Caramba! is the musical creation of a UK/Cuba collaboration called Ska Cubano, which blends the bouncy ska beat that once took Jamaica by storm in the 1960s with Cuban cultural music. The result is an album with "hand-clapping" songs, rousing rhythm, and a diverse mixture of lively styles. An exciting blend of Caribbean musical cultures, Ay Caramba! is not to be missed. Tracks include Soy Campesino (3:42); Tabu (3:32); Oye Company Juan (3:35); No Me Desesperes (3:35); Big Bamboo (2:59); Tungarara (3:50); Cachita (4:31); Istanbul Not Constantinople (2:34); Marianao (3:51); Chispa tren (3:22); Jezebel (3:20); Bobine (4:56); Cumbia en Do Menor (4:41); and the title piece, Ay Caramba! (3:02).



4. The fact that the label this artist records on is associated with Putumayo is what initially drew me to it. One listen to the samples and I knew I had to add this to my collection.
   
   If you aren't dancing after a few bars of the first track, best go see the doctor because either your ears don't work right or your rhythm bone is broke!