Reggatta de Blanc - The Police

kurtkurtkurt:

This album is also know as one of the only two cassettes in my car for a long time (the other was Never Mind the Bollocks Here's the Sex Pistols). The hits on it are Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon, however I think the real highlight of the album is actually On Any Other Day. The song tells the tale of a middle aged husband/father who has all this shit happen to him on a one day.

As a whole I enjoy the album (I've heard it enough). I think that they have a few songs that drag on too long (Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon I'm talking to you) but the album still stays strong despite that.

Stuckski:

So only three months behind the times on this one, but better late than never right? Right?! RIGHT?! Ahh, it's ok, calm down guys, I forgive ya.

The Police are good. That's about all I'm willing to say. They have some nice sounding songs, plenty of  'em on this album. But I just never find myself thinking "Man, I really want to listen to some Police right now!"  I just don't think they are too memorable or ( a few obvious songs aside) iconic, All of that goes for this album as well

RATINGS

kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
stuckski: 5/10

The Essential Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan

Stuckski:

A good mix of Dylan hits. I always enjoy him as an easy listening option. I assume you know who he is/what kind of music he makes. My favorites are Maggie's Farm, Mr. Tambourine Man and All Along the Watch Tower.

I've heard people argue that Dylan is a better poet than a musician, but I've gotta say I love the harmonica and guitar accompaniments.

RATINGS:
Stuckski: 7/10

Cage the Elephant by Cage the Elephant

Stuckski:
I was interested in this band for one reason . That's the intro for possibly my favorite First Person Shooter ever, Borderlands. What a great intro, amirite? Seriously, if you haven't played this game you should go out and shoot yourself...and if you survive go and buy it. This from a guy who doesn't even really like shooters that much!
OK, OK...before this turns into a review/masturbatory session over Borderlands let's get on with the review.

Cage the Elephant is very much reminiscent of the White Stripes at times. The singer definitely has some Jack White influences in his vocals. Holy shit I just realized there is a Jack Black and a Jack White...if they ever meet will the universe implode?

But yeah, this album starts fairly strong, but I lost interest as the album wore on. It seems like they put all their effort into the first five tracks and then just sort of phoned in everything else. The highlights are definitely Ain't no Rest for the Wicked and the opening track In One Ear. Both feature the kind of talking/singing vibe.

kurtkurtkurt:
If I were to review this album off the two songs Stuckski linked to (which I am) I'd say. "Hey, this band isn't that bad."

Hey, this band isn't that bad.

These songs are both upbeat, danceable, and catchy. Also I, like Stuckski, adore Borderlands (which may bias my score).
RATINGS:
Stuckski: 6/10
kurtkurtkurt: 7/10

Paid To Cum 1978-1981 LP

Stuckski:

Hey avid readers! We're back after a summer break. And that's all we're going to say about that.

Sometimes there is an LP that is hard to dissect because it is pretty much one whole. Often this is the case for concept albums and -to a lesser degree- rock operas. Paid to Cum is also hard to pick apart for a different reason: it's essentially just a best of album. It leaves the impression that if you were at a live show it would be awesome, but as an LP it lacks that something special to set it apart. I'm not saying it isn't a good album if you like classic punk (which I do), just that there is nothing there that will set it apart from any of the many other punk bands from that era. There is not a bit of the reggae tones that feature in their other albums here (except for the excellent I against I , and then only the faintest hints of it). I guess what I'm saying is this: If you like punk you'll like this; if you don't than this album won't change your mind.


RATINGS
Stuckski: 7/10

Squirrel Nut Zippers - The Inevitable

kurtkurtkurt:

I love me some Squirrel Nut Zippers! The inevitable was one of their first albums I believe, I know it was before 'Hot' at least. Anyways these guys play kinda an old timey jazz that warms your heart. They're not nearly as chaotic on this album as other releases but they still got songs like Good Enough for Grandad that bring on the crazy or La Grippe that has a tango? flair to it. Overall this is enjoyable for sure.

Stuckski:

I don't actually own this album, so I just went through all the Squirrel Nut Zipper songs I have. It's pretty...different. This is one of those cases where I don't really have anything bad to say about the music, it's just not for me. I've had bad experiences with swing music, and some of this stuff hits too close to home, y'know?

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
Stuckski: 3/10

Mashin' Up The Nation: The Best Of American Ska - Volumes I And II

kurtkurtkurt:

I have no idea where this album came from but it's pretty fun. It's a bunch of ska from the U.S. made in the late 80s most of which I was completely unfamiliar with. There's a few bigger names, however, Bim Skala Bim, The Bosstones and Gangster Fun to name a few. For the most part everything has a strong Two-Tone feel to it. Very, very danceable. The upside is that, although there are a few mediocre songs, The songs as a whole aren't bad.

Stuckski:

This album is a chill pill for the ears. I've heard that it was once standard practice for the police to respond to  calls about domestic disturbances by playing this to the couple in question. Soon everybody would be dancing and the whole incident would be forgotten.
Problem was, as soon as the police left with the music, it was forgotten and the couples just started arguing again.
All of this is a pretty pointless metaphor about an album that manages to be catchy and forgettable at the same time.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
Stuckski: 6/10

The Best of Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

kurtkurtkurt:

Ella Fitzgerald Is probably my favorite female vocalist. The contrast between Armstrongs' gruff gravely voice and her clean beautiful voice really brings out how absolutely wonderful it is. I'm a bigger fan of earlier "Hot Jazz," traditionally, but this album still has a lot of good content in it. I Got my Love to Keep me Warm gives us a great taste of a true duet between the two of them and probably is my favorite song of the album.

Stuckski: 

I don't actually have this album, and since Kurt moved away I can't listen to his, so instead I listened to the various songs I have of Ella and Louis collaborating. Essentially the same thing, right? The only thought I really have is that these two fit together. Everything they do in a song sounds completely natural and unaffected. That said, I prefer Louis' trumpet to his voice so there could be a little more of that. Rating it a bit lower because Jazz really isn't my usual thing, I really have to be in the mood to listen to it.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 7/10

Stuckski: 6/10

Operation Ivy - Energy

kurtkurtkurt:

This is gonna be so cliché for me to give this album a perfect rating but I can't help it. This album fucking rocks. These guys essentially made ska/punk sound like it does today. There really aren't any songs that I don't like on this album. I never want to skip a single song when it comes onto my playlist. Stuckski might remember, but we covered Knowledge (poorly) the first time we ever played a show. I guess at the end of the day whenever Energy comes on I have to stop and smile. Everything seems like it's gonna be okay.

Stuckski:

It's good in that it led to many awesome things, but I'm going to say for pure enjoyment of the album, and setting aside any thoughts of what it did for the music scene as a whole, this album rates a solid 7 for me. After they forged the way for ska/punk other bands came and did it a bit better. However, they are forever a legend for being the ones to do it first.


RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 10/10
Stuckski: 7/10

Medium Rare by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

kurtkurtkurt:

UPDATE 6.18.2012

Weeelllll I'm a few months late on this review. ANYways.

Medium Rare came out after the Bosstones decided they were done with their hiatus. I think it was a bunch of B-Sides and what-not. It's not their best material for sure (I can't help it I love 'A Jackknife to a Swan' and 'Let's Face it').  It's alright Ska though in the end.

Stuckski:
The Bosstones are one of those bands that I don't listen to as much as I should. Every time I hear them playing in the background somewhere, I think to myself that I really should get one of their albums, but then I instantly forget about them.
Thanks to Kurtkurtkurt I have now listened to my first full album by them, and my first reaction is moderate enjoyment. They're not blowing my mind, but they also don't make me want to blow my brains out, so it evens out to a moderate win.


RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 6/10
Stuckski: 7/10

Hang-Ups by Goldfinger

kurtkurtkurt:
I think the first time I ever heard these guys was in that movie King Pin Superman is on the soundtrack. Anyways these guys are pretty alright, they're up there with the other big 90s contenders of the ska/punk world. This album has, in my opinion, some of their better more memorable songs, but it was never as stand out as the rest of the the 90s scene.

Stuckski:
I'm in love with the nineties, and I ain't ashamed of it. The punk/ska from this era often gets overlooked, and even vilified as the beginning of the whole 'pop-punk' shit-storm that we're caught in these days, but -fuck it all- I still love it. Goldfinger is one of the bands (along with the Offspring, MxPx, Green Day, Dropkick Murphys, Reel Big Fish, and Blink 182 among others) that helped create in me a love for punk, and while I have branched out since then, these are the bands that I always come back to.

I bought Hang-ups and Turn off the Radio by Reel Big Fish at the same time from a second hand store. The covers looked cool, even though I hadn't heard of either of the bands. I think they cost me a combined $2.50. And that, boys and girls, is how I discovered ska. Hang-Ups isn't quite as good as the later 'Open Your Eyes'. But it is still pretty damn good.

RATINGS:
kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
Stuckski: 9/10

Streetcore by Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros

kurtkurtkurt:

I feel like Joe Strummer was moving this direction for a while after The Clash. It all ended in a calm, smooth folk rock. He still has his gruff voice, but the agression is gone. He performs a beautiful rendition of Remdemption Song. It's worth a listen for sure for this song alone.

Stuckski:
Before you get all excited, this album is called Streetcore, but it isn't ACTUALLY streetcore. Once I got over my disappointment at that, I realized this was a pretty rockin' chill album. A lot of different instruments thrown into a style of music that I can't really describe. There's elements of reggae, country, rock...it's all over the place. Somehow it all blends into something decent, although not really that memorable.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
Stuckski: 6/10

Evil Empire by Rage Against the Machine

kurtkurtkurt:

You know, I thought I liked album more than I actually did. I guess a lot of it boils down to if I am listening to songs and asking myself "Is this still the same song?" I'm not saying that bands can't write long songs, by all means there are bands that do it well. I just think that it wasn't working for me on this album or today or something.

Stuckski:

"Hey, I'm kinda angry, can you tell?" If this is what the singer is trying to get across, it's working. And you know what? I'm OK with that. Angry music is nice sometimes.


RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 5/10
Stuckski: 7/10

Toxicity by System of a Down

kurtkurtkurt:

I feel like if Danny Elfman would have decided to create metal after Oingo Boingo instead of become a famous movie composer System of  a Down is roughly what he would have made. These guys were all the rage when we moved to Arkansas back in the day (and Metallica and Slipknot and A Perfect Circle and Tool. Metal was king there.) I've always enjoyed the song Chop Suey, but I feel that they need to cut out almost whole minutes in some of their songs for me to enjoy the Album more.

Stuckski:

What the hell kinda genre does System of a Down play anyways?! Circus Metal is about as close as I can get to describing it. Chaotic and hilarious, with songs like Bounce and Psycho especially keeping me laughing. The singer's voice is unique in a 'crazy homeless person shouting' kind of way, and is probably where I get the 'circus' vibe from. All in all, one of my favorite albums.

RATINGS:
kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
Stuckski: 10/10

Adventures of the O.C. Supertones by the O.C. Supertones

kurtkurtkurt:

Ska is a genre I'm (verbally) harsh on because I love it. Granted it's rare I'll rate a ska album lower than 6. So imagine 6 being 1 or 2 for ska (or punk).

There were three major ska bands that were part of the Contemporary Christian Music scene. Contemporary Christian Music, or CCM is a sad distinction that was created in the 80s out of fear of the devilish modern music industry. The O.C. Supertones was one of these three ska bands. They popped out in the 90s with a load of other Ska bands that made up the 3rd Wave.

It's disappointing that they will always be judged as being good for a 'Christian band' instead of their own merit. For a ska band they were decent. They had all the right grooves and catchy melodies. The Adventures of the O.C. Supertones was I believe their first and it shows. Their horn section is stale always playing the exact same thing. Heaven and I Love God both being completely void of that horn section stick out as the strongest. But since bands like them hold a place in my youth I can never leave them out to dry.

Stuckski:

The Supertones are one of the few reasons I don't hate all Christian bands. Instead of just riding the Jesus train, they also make some good music; you know...like musicians should do. Too many 'Christian' bands are content to make inferior music, safe in the knowledge that there are plenty of Christian kids and parents out there that will only buy music that sweet baby Jaysus would approve of anyways.

I have no problem with bands singing about their faith, any more than I have a problem with bands singing about their belief in legalizing weed, or singing about all that crack they used to sling down at the corner. Good music usually supersedes the lyrics.

Anyways, Adventures isn't as good as their other albums, but it's perfectly skankable by and large. Once in a while the rhythm slows down to a 'worship song' crawl, which is kind of annoying in what is otherwise a fast paced album.

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
Stuckski: 7/10

Youth Rebellion by Tribal Seeds

kurtkurtkurt:

This is pretty average Reggae. They sing about your token items; Ganja, Jah, I'm pretty sure I heard Babylon, even King David. Musically it's got a groove but there's not much to separate one song from the next.

Tribal Seeds At least gives me some Ska guitar at the beginning. So I'll take it and hold it close.

Stuckski:

There have only been one or two artists I can think of since Marley himself who have created truly memorable reggae albums. Tribal Seeds are not amongst those artists, and neither is Youth Rebellion one of those albums. Not that this is a record without merit. The tracks resound with mostly solid reggae beats and decent vocals. If you like reggae, then you'll like this. It only fails the test of superseding the genre
Final verdict: This is good reggae, but not necessarily a great album.
Best Song: Dawn of Time (I really liked the guitar in this one)

RATINGS:

Stuckski: 7/10
Kurtkurtkurt: 5/10

The Longest Barrel Ride by Slightly Stoopid

kurtkurtkurt:

Slightly Stoopid have this sound that’s like a ska/punk band deciding to have guitar player from a surf rock / jam band solo on top of their music every once in a while. Also the ganja. They sound like the ganja. They always seem to have a pretty solid sound, throwing down legit punk on “Johnny Law” or “Don’t Fuck’n Look” and solid Ska grooves on “Too Little Too Late” and “Living Dread. I think the one thing I’m never completely sold on is when they do songs like “Violence/FTP” which suffer from a mad case of taking too fucking long to finish. Also their reggae is alright, but not my favorite. All that said. Still love em.


Too Little Too Late Highlight of the album.

Stuckski:

I'm pretty sure that I've never actively listened to this album. Slightly Stoopid is my 'throw it on in the background while I'm doing other things' music. Even now -listening to it for the sole purpose of reviewing it- I'm finding it hard to focus on the music. It makes great background noise though, just the right mixture of punk and reggae tones. Too bad it's not memorable enough to stand out.

Best song: Jedi (because it's a reggae song about Jedi)

RATINGS:

kurtkurtkurt: 7/10
stuckski: 6/10 (I think?)