Reggae & Ska > Ska Reggae & Ska > 2 Tone Ska > 5 GBP to 10 GBP

Advantages: Some uplifting, fun Ska Punk songs
Disadvantages: Not as good as it could have been

I have owned this CD for about 2 weeks now and have spent this time trying to work the CD out - it is really nothing like anything that I have seen with the Solabeat Alliance before, they have come up with something entirely different and really shocked me - it is not at all what I expected from them and has a much cleaner sound than before. With 'Rise On Up' the band seemed to be going for that live edge, which had not been captured with their previous ...
...shows the band in a whole new light - the production of it is extremely different and I have spent the last 2 weeks trying to work out whether I like it or not - and about some of the tracks I am still undecided. I really enjoyed the 'Rise On Up' EP but feel the songs which have been recorded for the album which were on Rise On Up, 'Summer Nights,' and 'Set It Off,' have not come off as well as they did on the EP, and I feel that the magic has not ... Read review

Advantages: Catchy, listenable and memorable
Disadvantages: Its quite short and difficult to get hold of.

I had herd the Single Celebrate the Bullet on a live ska revival album I liked it so much I download the studio album version and it was great, so I decided to take a chance on the whole album. It seems to be one of those rare albums where I like every single track. The album has a good start with Facing Situations, an upbeat Ska track, things then get even better with the funky sounding Deep Water. The next two tracks are of equally high quality ...
...next is the title track Celebrate the Bullet an anti war song with one of the best guitar and bass riffs I have herd for a long time. After this you are treated to Selling Out Your Future is another very track with its own more reggae sound and a mixture of vocals from both Pauline Black and and another male vocalist (Arthur 'Gaps' Hendrickson?) It has a slightly eary feel to it but the next track Cool Blue Lady will bring you back up to speed a ... Read review

Advantages: catchy new takes on classic songs
Disadvantages: nothing new

...Spunge albums. Bear in mind that I have not heard any of the originals, so I will be able to offer comparisons in that respect. The tracklist for That Should Cover It (even the name of the album seems to imply that they only released it to stop the gap between albums) is as follows: 1. Centre Fold 2. Circle In The Sand 3. Oliver's Army 4. Land Down Under 5. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) 6. Happy Hour 7. Whitehouse 8. Get Along 9. Skanking Song ...
...original, but is so cheerful that one can't help but sing along. Land Down Under, originally by Men At Work, I have heard before, and I must say I prefer the Spunge version. The lyrics are just as sublimely weird as they were to begin with, but ska just seems to fit the song's atmosphere a lot better. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) has been covered by every punk band since history began, and this version is no different to any others. Happy Hour, originally ... Read review

Advantages: Great album, very soulful, great musicians + vocals -very, very talented
Disadvantages: Never going to touch out of nowhere for originality and general catchiness.

Great album, i'm listening to it as a write this review. Great to chill out, very relaxed and melodic which is what hepcat do best! Come out is my favourite track on this album - its very, very catchy. Hepcat are highly influenced by the likes of the Skatalites and this really shines through on this album - very, very close comparison to first wave ska, keeping the vibes flowing and not given in to the rather annoying trend of annoying, punk inspired ... Read review

Advantages: Good music, reggae brought back to a roots sound
Disadvantages: None

Live at Stubb's is Matisyahu's 2nd album and his 1st live album recorded at Stubbs in Austin, Texas. It was released in February, 2005 by JDubRecords. If you are not familiar with Matisyahu, he's an intriguing chap, a New York Jew (Matisyahu is the Yiddish pronunciation of Matthew), who dresses in the traditional clothing of a Hasidic Jew and doesn't perform on the sabbath. He spent several years taking hallucinogens and touring with the rock band ...
...Matisyahu Miller - Vocals Roots Tonic: Aaron Dugan - Guitar Josh Werner - Bass Guitar Johan David - Drums Yoni - MC (on Beat Box) Beat Box is a particularly good song but I liked them all and it works well as it's a live concert. ... Read review