5 comments about More Noise and Other Disturbances.

1. I don't care what category one may wish to apply to the Bosstones, this album is just great music! Every song is great, the best Bosstones album in my opinion. If you buy only one Bosstones album make it this one or maybe "Live From the Middle East".



2. Let's keep this one short and sweet. More Noise and Other Disturbances is probably the most solid Ska-Core album to date. Gritty, Raw, Melodic, this album will rock your socks off.



3. I feel so old writing this review - and feel SO sorry for anyone that didn't get the chance to catch these guys live back in the 90s. Simply put, best damn live show you will ever see (next to the Supersuckers). "More Noises" is by far the best the Bosstones have to offer.
   
   ..and Dicky and the boys, if you are reading this: PLEASE get back together for a small venue reunion tour. I'll drink to that!!!!



4. This has become my favorite Bosstones album, bumping 'Let's Face It' to a very close second. 'I'll Drink To That' is probably my favorite Bosstones song. In fact, the first seven tracks on this album are fantastic, with the only slowdown occuring at the start of 'Guns And The Young'. It almost seems awkward to have the Bosstones delivering a serious message. Aren't these guys just about partying and ripping through their unique blend of ska-punk-rock? Nevertheless, a very excellent outing and definitely the first album I would recommend for purchase to anyone getting into the Bosstones.



5. I have been listening to the Bosstones for about 13 years maybe 12. I have seen them live countless times. From large venue (Horde tour, Warp Tour) type festivals to club shows. If they ever play a club near you jump at the chance to go. Don't skip to see them on a large stage, just don't get all hyped up it will be a let down. Nothing to do with the Band they sound great, just not the same type of atmosphere as the club gigs.
   
   The last time I saw them was I believe 2000 or 2001 at the 9:30 Club in D.C. (great venue by the way) One of the best - not quite as good as when they were younger but still one the best shows ever for that size of a club.
   
   More Noise and Other Disturbances is a good album, but Live from the Middle East really captures the energy and feel of a live Bosstone show. I really have a hard time listening to their studio albums. On a one to five rating More Noise and Other Disturbances gets a 5, while Live from the Middle East would get an 8 on the same rating scale. Absolutley the best, off the chart.

1 comments about Slightly Stoopid - Live In San Diego.

1. The production on this DVD, akin to Slightly Stoopid's last two audio albums recording in studio, is very slick. Nice disolves from shot to shot, excellent camera angles and great audio for a live performance. The transfer to film makes the presentation look all the more professional and tightly pieced together. The price can't be beat either. However, being that I've seen this band live three different times, there is something about this film recording of the band that loses the energy and dynamic of the band during a live performance. Anyone that has seen Slightly Stoopid live knows there's a kinetic energy in the audience at any club where they perform. That simply is not conveyed in the film for whatever reason (can it be conveyed at all?). And there are times when Kyle and Miles look more like talking heads listlessly gyrating to the rhythms of their excellent reggae and folk tunes. Slightly Stoopid definitely ascended to their next level on their last studio album Closer to the Sun. They need to go to the next level in their live performance and get some action going on stage. Not knocking the quality of the recording of this DVD, it is excellent in both visual and audio aspects and some special feature interviews with the band are a nice bonus for FANS of the band. But anyone not familiar with Slightly Stoopid and their existing body of work might find this DVD rather tedious at times and lacking in excitement for those outside of the existing inner-fan-base. Nice companion to the double disc CD of the same live tour, although the CD has several additional songs on top of the 20-song set featured here on the DVD.

3 comments about Self Medication.

1. I was extremely disappointed in the last slackers album, "Peculiar." I thought the departure of Mark Lynn meant the end of the Slackers and the beginning of another typical ska band, but this album is a return to pure excellence. Ska is a difficult genre to stay fresh in, because there is only so much you can do with a horns + offbeat rhythms characterizing your music. However, the Slackers have never been a typical band and they are highly capable of being admired by non-ska enthusiasts because of the way the band infuses so many different genres. This album has not forgotten it's roots, however, the sound has definitely evolved from the early Slackers formula. There was something lacking in "Peculiar," but it has made a triumphant return to this album. It is well worth your money and time.



2. After the travesty that was Peculiar, you have redeemed yourself completely and then some. Self Medication might be the best slackers album yet and that would be saying a lot about the slackers and about music. Thanks very much for the awesome awesome awesome album!!!!!!



3. I am a big fan of The Slackers and this album totally caught me by surprise. It's as good as, if not better, than Wasted Days and Peculiar! I love the WHOLE ALBUM the first time I heard it. In fact I'm so impressed with this album I just had to take the time to write a review and tell everyone to buy this album immediately! Slackers, please come back to Michigan!!!

5 comments about Rancid.

1. This one and "Let's go!" that's all I have to say. The rest are not so inspired.



2. This Band is the best punk rock band ever!! There's nothing much to say about this amazing disc!!!! Ok there's one thing BUY IT!!



3. to me, this is rancid's best work. i don't understand why people say it's "rough around the edges", and crap like that! this is punk people! anyways, every song is fast, and catchy - which to me makes it a classic. this album kicks off with "adina", (one of the best songs on this CD) which is a fast short song, with awesome guitar riffs. and after you hear that song...you definetely will wanna listen to the next - trust me. and the next song "hyena", is another one of the best songs, and an awesome chorus that's all yelling...every song has it's own thing that makes it good. one of the slower songs, has got to be "outta my mind". tim's singing is what makes this song a classic (to me). tim's guitar work, bret's drumming, and matt's bass playing are at their best on this album. so if you're new to rancid, i would HIGHLY recommend this. if not this, "let's go" is another good one.



4. This record is awesome. This was before Lars joined the bad, but Lint, Brett Reed and Matt Freeman were all in it. Matt sings a lot more in this album than Rancid's later albums (prolly because Lars is a better punk singer), so if you don't like Matt's voice you might not dig a couple songs. Overall: f'ing rad album. Go to Epitaph Record's website to listen to a couple of the tracks before you buy it, if you want.



5. Man, oh man! This record kicks the sh*t outta all those pussy Good Charlotte albums. It starts out with Adina, fast pumping and loud! This whole album rocks, though I still don't see what people have against Indestructable. Oh, well. If you like real punk, get this.

5 comments about Exodus.

1. Exodus (the movement of JAH People) was time magazine's album of the century, that should say enough right there. But if you are not convinced buy it and you will be for sure. This album was released in 1977, and was recorded in London England. Bob Marley and members of the band survived an attempted assination in December of 1976, and went into self imposed exile in London. Here the creativity of the band is quite good, and many of the Songs that you know by Bob Marley and the Wailers appear on this disc. Jamming, Exodus, One Love, Three Little Birds, and Waiting In Vain. All the tracks are great on this disc and you can hear for the first time in all of the Wailers recordings that the quality of the recording equipment here is much better. The dummer's (Carlton Barrett) high hat never came through so clear. This album marks the intro of Junior Marvin (lead guitar)to the band. The band was about to gain superstar status and this album marks the beginning.
   The second disc features some live tracks from the 1977 tour and the songs slected for the release happen to be from the 1977 Rainbow theater concerts, which will also be availble on dvd very soon. The live performances really come through and prove that the band has a tremendous vibe live and that while in concert they most certainly bring their best. the Lee Perry tracks are rather rare and are very nice to listen to. the booklet that comes with the cd can provide more insight into them and how they came to be, but just know that it is not the Wailers backing Bob on them, rather musicians from other bands. At the end is a Bob Marley promotion of the album for radio which is really nice to hear. If you are questioning yourself about this set or the single disc edition, this set offers a more diverse selection, and the bonus tracks and bonus disc are really a great addition tot he album of the century.



2. This package, the 'deluxe' edition of the masterful 'Exodus' album by Marley and the Wailers, finally includes the complete nine minute and eighteen second, original version of the Lee Perry/Bob Marley collaboration 'Punky Reggae Party', recorded over two months in July/August 1977. (The single disc edition of 'Exodus' which includes 'Punky Reggae Party' says 'long version ' but it is not, lasting only six minutes before it is edited to a close, before Marley's chilling jazz scatting is complete) For this gem of collaborative genius this 'deluxe' package is worth the high price; just a bit of helpful info on this day, the 60th anniversary of Bob Marley's birth.



3. The original version of this album was the album which sparked my obsession with Bob Marley & the Wailers in the Spring of 2002 and I now own all the albums and know nearly all there is to know about my fallen hero. This album is phenomonal boasting the most hits on a single album in his entire career. Each song is a song for the ages from "Natural Mystic" to "One Love/People Get Ready". This album promises to deliver everything both the hardcore and casual fan could want and more with each powerful, life-changing song.
   
   The deluxe edition promises even more phenomonal work with rare classics like "Roots" and "Punky Reggae Party," as well as an unreleased version of "Keep On Moving," with several remixes and an excerpt from a concert to boot. If you purchase this album, I can guarentee you will not be disappointed. You'll find yourself listening to it time and time again.



4. Recently all my CDs were stolen, among them a massive collection of Marley CDs. I can now say I'm glad it happened because if it hadn't I wouldn't have begun to purchase the deluxe editions of Exodus, Catch A Fire, Rastaman Vibration, Legend, and Burnin. Exodus is the best of the deluxe editions. The sound quality, packaging, etc. are incredible. However, the best thing about the CD, which it seems the other reviewers thought so too, was the series of live songs that overlap on CD 2. It's how the Marley and the Wailer's music was meant to be heard. I loved how the songs overlapped into really one long number rather than different songs and how they exchanged words between songs. After becoming a little weary of BM and the Wailer's music because of listening to so many studio tracks I can say that I'm now back to listening to Marley everyday. CD 1 was really strong as well, especially Roots, which came through beautifully. It's great to see Island Records really putting in some effort to creating a NEW and improved release rather than just tracks in a different order and a pretty package.



5. This CD is incredible. The "Deluxe Edition" series seems to have hit the nail on the head. The sound is excellent, and the extra tracks actually add to the experience. This is one awesome CD.

   I also recommend "Mississippi Muddy Waters Liver" Deluxe Edition.

5 comments about Trojan Skinhead Reggae Box Set.

1. What a great skinhead reggae comp! All the classic trojan skinhead reggae is right here!Symarip, the pioneers,derrick morgan,rolannd alphonso.....the list goes on.And for the price you cant afford not to get this....a great addition to any fan of skinheads or reggae



2. A great compilation of some of Trojan's skinhead classics and a few of the rarities. Since many of us in the U.S. may never find these on vinyl to find so many of these on CD. is a treasure trove. Good liner notes by Old Skool Jim. Pick this box set and the suedehead one up and you have a couple hours of musical pleasure. A Max Romeo track would have been a nice addition.



3. There are a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings regarding skinheads and the music they listen to. The term "skinhead reggae" may really leave some people scratching their heads. But this boxset does a good job at revealing just what this genre is all about. Jamaica was producing music at a furious rate back in the late 60s and 70s. Out of that copious catalog, these songs are what the skinheads pulled out as their own. Also included is some "home grown" British reggae that further exemplified the sound skinheads were into.
   
   I would have to say that my favorites here are "Qua Kue Shut" by The Creations, "The Burner" by Vincent Gordon, "Elizabethan Serenade" by Sweet Confusion and "Reggae Fever" by the Pioneers (which is a version of "Gun Fever"). I also get a kick out of "Dollars & Bonds" which somehow manages to pay tribute to both the James Bond AND Spaghetti Westerns movies as well as "2,000 Tons of TNT" by the G.G. All Stars which an instrumental version of "Loving Reggae" (not on this set).
   
   However, "Loving Reggae" does appear on Skinhead Revolt, which leads to my lowish rating. I feel that this collection, although much smaller, harder to find, and more expensive to those in the US, is a better example of what real traditional skinheads listen to reggae-wise. I've meet 3 skinhead DJs that carry the Skinhead Revolt vinyl on them and do just fine without the Skinhead Reggae boxset. I myself don't even listen to the boxset all that much. And I simply love classic reggae; but this just doesn't top off the list.
   
   This boxset is a good introduction to skinhead reggae...it is just not definitive. And there a better tracks (like on the Skinhead Revolt album) out there. You just have to keep digging!



4. No point going on about the history of skinheads its already been done by most of the previous reviewers so just on with the music.
   
   Well for sheer volume of songs and quality both of the music and musicians this has got to be one of the best value box sets you can find. The comp mostly features the more upbeat ska style that made it so popular, much more danceable that the reggae style that was to come later and probably a little more accessible (granted many of the bands deliberately played in a style that would be more accessible to their target British audience) too many tracks here to point out one over the other this is however, a piece of history.
   
   Well worth buying.



5. Isn't it amazing how many of these nich compilations Trojan has released over the years? Mod reggae, skinhead reggae, history of ska... next they'll have the hard mod reggae and the suedehead reggae... How many of these have repeated tracks?
   
   It doesn't cheapen the comps though, as the old singles are hard to come by (especially for us in the States). Some great tracks here, my favorite is the first track off disc two (Qua Kue Shut). There's some embarrasing tracks on here too, case in point, Funky Chicken...

5 comments about Short Music for Short People.

1. this compilation is probably one of the best i've ever heard. sure, not every song on here is great, or even "good", but the idea of putting together such a collection is brilliant. many of the songs rank among the top 5 of my favorite songs by the band who wrote them. short and sweet! and the songs that aren't that great... they're over so fast you don't have time to go completely insane listening to them.
   
   a lot of reviews i've seen say it's a great way to see which bands you may want to look into further... for many of the songs i'd say that's fine, but there are also a lot where the bands took the arguably silly idea of a huge collection of 30 second songs and were silly with it, or did something completely different than their normal style. this is fine in my opinion, as it creates a great diversity in the style of music, but be warned if you're using this as a sampler to introduce yourself to new bands.
   
   i fully recommend this comp.



2. I'm a long time fan of NOFX and any band that Fat Mike signs to his label "Fat Wreck Chords," I always decide to give a chance. There's a lot of cool bands on here and a lot of fun songs. Some songs aren't so great and some songs are awesome. There's a lot of creativity within some of these songs (i.e. WIZO, NOMEANSNO, etc.) This isn't something that's gonna blow your mind as far as talent is concerned (except THE LIVING END song, that song is just insane!) Although a lot of these bands definitely are talented, they are all 30 seconds long give or take. I just think it's such an original idea that only someone like Fat Mike can think up and I think it's just dandy! The thing that makes this CD so great, and pardon me if I'm being redundant, is that it's just so damn fun to listen to! It's a CD you don't have to take so seriously, and a lot of the bands seemed to have figured it out, and you'll understand what I mean if you listen to some of the lyrics. This is what punk rock is all about in my opinion, not that punk bands should just write 30 second songs all the time, but about the feel, the message, and the deliberate "I don't give a f***" attitude that punk rock has always represented even in the evolution of the music itself. If you just want a fun CD to listen to, where no matter how short your attention span is, you can listen to every song individually, then this CD is definitely for you!



3. Before AFI went commercial, before Blink-182 rose and fell, before NOFX was working to overthrow George W. Bush, before emo and pop-punk were used interchangeably (and recklessly, may I ad), heck, before GWAR went back to being metal, there was the CD.
   
   Its funny because you wouldn't typically expect a 101-track CD to be under an hour long, but thats exactly what we have here. Stylistically speaking, the songs range from old school punk (Circle Jerks), ska (Less than Jake), and gothic rock (The Damned) to hardcore (H20), power violence (Spazz), and yes, pop punk (NOFX and the overwhelming amount of other bands on the CD). In terms of featured artists, this CD touted a "who's who" of punk during that era, featuring up-and-comers (most notably AFI, Blink-182, and Unwritten Law before they went into the mainstream) as well as established acts like Green Day, The Offspring, Rancid, Descendants, and Black Flag.
   
   I think this CD was not only a legitimate compilation, but also relevant to punk culture of the late 90's, early 2000's. Owning this CD is equivalent to having a high school yearbook or a time capsule; you get to see what was going during that era, no matter how cool or how goofy things looked. If a teenager came up to me and was like "So what was punk music like when you were in high school?", I'd probably tell them to get a copy of this CD, because it was (and still is) a spot on snapshot of what the music and general attitude was like then.
   
   Nowadays, there's a Hot Topic in every mall, The Warped Tour is a big corporate event, and being punk is more about fashion than it is about DIY ethic and unity that used to go along with the scene. Yet when I feel nostalgic, I'll throw this CD on and remember the way things used to be.



4. lots of good bands this cd is good to have for a fan of punk



5. I first heard this album in the Wherehouse, while I was looking around for some CD's. I had no idea it was--and neither did the cashiers, when I asked--but, I was instantly intrigued.
   
   Weeks later, I finally managed to snag a copy of this CD. It is nothing short of brillant. It has 101 30 second songs--what other compilation does that? It also has intense variety from new school pop-punkers like blink-182 and the Offspring, to old school punks like Bad Religion, the Descendents, and Black Flag to awesome bands I had never heard before--namely, the Dance Hall Crashers and H20 (Ha... I love their song on here). It is the epitome of punk samplers anywhere. However, not every song on here is good, and is just screaming. It's fun! It's short! What's not to love?
   
   Note: But be wary about doing anything after you listen to this CD. You're attention span will be shot.

5 comments about Trojan: Rocksteady.

1. I was only vaguely familiar with Rocksteady as a more modern Ska listener, but after listening to the Trojan Records Ska (vol. 1 & 2) and this compilation, I find this to be my favorite of the 3 compilations. You can hear the beginnings of modern reggae in these songs, and understand where Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Jimmy Cliff took it/



2. You really can't argue too much with the price on this set, especially if you pick it up used. Buyers should be aware that in this case, "box set" just means a box is involved. There is no extensively-researched and lovingly written booklet, or even the inclusion of discographical details. You just get the dics in cardboard sleeves with artist, song title, and publishing info--nothing more. And the 50 songs on the Rocksteady set would fit onto two discs no problem, but are for reasons of "box set-ness" spread out over three discs. Not much of a reason to hang onto the thing, once the tracks are loaded on one's iPod.
   
   Now, none of this has anything to do with the quality of the grooves, which is high. Enjoy



3. brilliant songs, great sequencing, can't beat the price. BUT BEWARE. when i ordered this new "remaster", i received the original 1998 release instead. the sound is flat and muddy, the mixes uneven. these priceless tracks cry out for remastering.



4. I'm a fan of Rocksteady but this collection did not live up to expectations. I am a proud and pleased owner of some other very fine Trojan Box Sets, namely "Club Reggae" and "Tighten Up" both of which I would recommend over the "Rocksteady" set. Don't get me wrong, there are some great artists on the roster, but the song selections seem plodding and tired. (some people like their Reggae along those lines.) Besides, the "Rocksteady" set is one of the few Trojan Box packages that you can actually listen to snippets of here on Amazon so you're more able to decide for yourself. This is certainly not a bad collection, but if you're planning on acquiring more of the Trojan Box Sets leave "Rocksteady" for later.



5. This 3 cd box set is a wonderful overview of the few years where rocksteady was popular.. All original tracks make you want to jump on a plane and head over to Jamaica... if you are just starting to listen to, or just want a decent collection of rocksteady tunes, this is the one that you want

No comments about Bob Marley: Freedom Road.

5 comments about The Specials Singles.

1. The Specials are the stuff of legend, that much can be agreed upon, but what is it about this collection that earns your hard-earned dollar? In a word, rarities. 'Rude Boys Out of Jail,' 'Guns of Navarone,' 'Maggie's Farm,' and 'Ghost Town' are classics worthy of inclusion on any ska collection, but due to the fact they weren't included on The Specials' LPs, they languish in obscurity. Hence this much needed collection. The only caveat to speak of is slightly less than stellar sound due to first generation mastering. Nonetheless, it remains the best Specials collection out there. A very fun, very danceable record.



2. The short-lived British Ska revival of the late 70's early 80's produced only one really great band. The Specials were indeed very special. We ALL need a little Specials in our lives. And if you buy only one Specials CD, this should be it. ( Their self titled debut album is great too, and should be your next Specials purchase, as it contians one song - "Little Bitch " - that SHOULD have been on this cd but isn't.) Serious, thought provoking and socially concious lyrics backed by some of the finest upbeat ska ever recorded. If you're looking for only one reason to get this cd, it's the 12" mix of Ghost Town, a spooky sounding dub reggae track with lyrics centering on the infighting amonst ska fans of different races that literally tore the movement apart. It was the last great Specials single, and the last to feature the original lineup, as they too would splinter shortly after its release. And all you English Beat fans out there who would argue against my point of the Specials being the only great ska band to come out of that period I offer my sincere apologies and can only say that in my opinion they were a pop band who used Ska and Reggae as only part of their musical palette ( listen to the second and third albums by the English Beat and you will see I am right .)



3. Possibly standing as one of the biggest and most creative artists, in the early 70's Ska/Revival scene. Combining elements of punk's energetic approach to music, with New Waves rousing & Exuberant arrangements, their music was as friendly for the dancefloor, as it was for listening at home. But what separated them from their peers and earmarked them and possibly the most crucial act in that musical scene, was the fact the amongst the party(ish) vibe of the music, their's was a manifesto that took not only a political stance, but also a social conscience that made their music that rare breed. Music that could move your feet to, but had something (useful) to say.
   
   Their music was a perfect example of attaching Party-inspired music arrangements, to Social & Political subjects that were disenchanted and Confrontational exposes of life in Britain in the early 70's. So a lot of the songs refer to important topics, whether it be a lament for people leading criminal lives to will ultimately end in tears ("Gangsters"), Women that end up getting pregnant/married early, and missing Crucial years in their lives ("Message to You Rudy"), Pouring scorn on the peoples hopeless and uneventful & hostile evenings in nightclubs ("Nite Klub"), the everyday pointlessness and mentally conformity of getting ahead professionally ("Rat Race"), heartfelt plea's to the controlling governmental powers for the release of Mandela ("Free Nelson Mandela"), People making judgemental decisions regarding others, or lumping them in fixed categories ("Stereotype"), the slow disintergration of the city/town, and it beginning to resemble a deserted town ("Ghost Town").
   
   All of the Specials music, was musically rich, motivationally uplifting and encapsulates everything from Ska (obviously) funk-rhythm, Jubilant 2-Step, & bouncy New-Wave everything was given a groove and an accessibility that made sure that entering their music, was easy, and understanding the message behind the songs easy to grab. There are quite a few various compilations of the specials, but this is is easily the best. It not only collects all the hits singles "Ghost Town, Nite Klub, Gangsters, Rat Race, Message to you Rudy", on the disc, but it also collects some of the lesser known but equally worthwhile B-Sides, and Rarities & Cover Versions ("Guns of Navarone, Do Nothing, Racist Friend, Maggies Farm, Why?, Friday Night Saturday Morning")...obviously there will always be a couple of omissions (I do miss: "Concrete Jungle, War Crimes, Man At C & A, Blank Expression"), but for newcomers or people (like me) that don't really want to have to buy several albums, this is the best of the various compilations for the band, and easily the most encompassing 'Best of' for the band.



4. I like ska, but I don't LOVE Ska. This Cd does it for me. My only beef is that they could have packed a few more tracks onto it.

   Now then... Unless you're seriously into ska, punk or jamaican music in general- this is probably all The Specials you'll ever need. This album is more conclusive than either the Specials (best of) CD or the More Specials (best of 2) Cd. Stylistically, it covers all the bases including several hard to fing cuts (most notably Ghost town, a sweet creepy little tune with an arabian sound to it- well used in Guy Ritchie's 'Snatch'... or maybe it was 'Lock, Stock...').

   At any rate, this is all prime-rate, good stuff. If you are looking for a place to begin delving into ska, or simply trying to round out a decent CD collection- you could do far worse. No, actually, I'm pretty sure it was 'Snatch,' afterall.




5. The specials are an interesting band-- Elvis Costello, of all people, produced their first album.

   This is a good collection-- these songs are pretty much easy to get a consensus on. 'Ghosttown', 'Too Much, Too Young' and 'Gangsters' shine through for what they are: some of the greatest songs of the 80's. There is a bit of filler on here, yes, but, it's filler that grows on you as time passes by.

   This is a must-have record for the ska/punk enthusiast. It's worth a gamble for most other people as well.