Truth and Soul by Fishbone (CD, Sep-1988, Columbia USA)

My tape died a tragic death and instead of going without, I found it here. I'm very happy. Thank You

How to describe this record? Let's start with the fact that I've owned 3 copies of it, and they have all been stolen from me. This record is brilliant, and definitly WAY before it's time. Fishbone were pioneers in their field, meshing rock, ska, reggae, funk, new age and hip hop(the way hip hop was meant to be...with a big band and a horn section)in an new and eternally original way. This may have been their most commercial viable record. Every song is good..."bonin in the boneyard...change"...every song. I love this record!

Fishbone is a black group who's music could be described as a mix of rock, funk, with a little soul (not R&B). I bought this cd for only one song. Infact I had not heard much of Fishbone's music before. But I saw them on Saturday Night Live, a few years ago and liked the song, "One Day". The songs I like on this cd are Fishbone's version of "Freddie's Dead" (even though the original is better). Then, "One Day", "Ghetto Soundwave", and "Change". The rest of the cd I have not really gotten into yet but even if these are the only 4 tunes that I do like the purchase was still worth it. Why, because in my opinion, "One Day" by it self is worth the price of the cd (even at regular prices). I thought maybe I might not like it as much as when I saw them on T.V. wrong. This song is the jam! In my car (and I only just got the cd) I have to turn the volume up. And I'm trying to cut down on playing the song so that I won't get tired of it but so far it's a losing battle. You can check out a sample of some of Fishbone's music at CD Universe for free and judge for yourself. Me, I'm real real happy.

To blend different types of music and still perform each as if that were your genre of expertise is a rare feat, much less a listenable one. Fishbone sets the bar and leads the jumpin', stompin' and dancin' fest like few others. I like all different kinds of music, but when I first heard the album (on cassette!) in 1999, I found it hard to categorize but no less addictive. Lyrics, bass, horns, rythym, guitar, it is all there and although I don't have the album right in front of me at the moment, naming one song or another is immaterial because they are all winners. If you like punk, rock, ska, roots, rock-steady, blues(kinda?), reggae, or straight-up west coast groove-party jammin' to the max, there is no listener not enriched from having heard Fishbone! FIVE STARS!