Music recommendations please

eviljohn2 · 03-06-2005, 4:13 PM

Hi guys, I'm not sure what the best description is but sort of "reggae rock" is what I'm after. I've lately been enjoying the more ska/ragga influenced stuff in my collection such as some of "Life Won't Wait" by Rancid, the dub material that Capdown and SLF put on their albums plus the covers of "Pressure Drop" by The Clash and The Specials, much of London Calling (obviously) and that sort of thing in general.

So, any recommendations? Tempted to get some Specials albums but I don't really like Ghost Town...

and I havn't found "I Against I" in a shop yet Karkus.

Toasty · 03-06-2005, 8:00 PM

Some bands worth a check out:

Less than jake
[spunge]
Goldfinger

eviljohn2 · 04-06-2005, 12:03 PM

Not quite what I'm after but thanks. I do have Hello Rockview (pretty good), the first 3 [spunge] albums (Pedigree Chump is OK and the rest are very poor indeed) and I've never really liked Goldfinger although they were pretty good live.

I'm more interested in the bands that inspired the likes of this - punk bands who just use a trumpet don't really count IMO. I've just bought the first Specials album and it's quite good.

Rock Da Bass · 04-06-2005, 12:59 PM

There's a 'Best of' Specials album which can probably be picked up quite cheaply as well. Brimming with lots of excellent songs. Also Fun Boy Three were a band made up of ex-Specials members.

Cant believe you don't like Ghost Town though

Another Clash album with a fair bit of reggae influenced stuff is Sandinista. A very underrated album IMHO.

RDB

FruitBat · 04-06-2005, 3:23 PM

I'll second the Sandinista recommendation.
It's got just about every musical style on it.

eviljohn2 · 04-06-2005, 3:29 PM

Apart from "Cut the Crap" it's the only Clash album I don't have. Does having London Calling twice make up for it?

OK then, I'll definitly have to get Sandinista sooner rather than later at the mind-boggling price of £8 it is these days. Anything else?

Bristol Pete · 04-06-2005, 3:47 PM

What about

B.A.D (Big Audio Dynamite.)

Pete.

eviljohn2 · 04-06-2005, 3:50 PM

Thanks Pete, I've been meaning to get some BAD stuff for a while (the Mick Jones connection) and after a quick look on Amazon it looks right up my street.

Bristol Pete · 04-06-2005, 4:14 PM

No probs. I spent my early teens listening to BAD. Classic stuff.......

As for Less than jake..no no no. I like your line about a 'punk' bands using trumpets....

Try and locate a recent band called Voodoo glowskulls, an example of this....bloody awful too.........

http://www.voodooglowskulls.com/photos.html

Some lardy boys in there....trombones and trumpets too....

eviljohn2 · 04-06-2005, 4:18 PM

The Glowskulls are indeed a bit rubbish, I saw them once and it was a big letdown. TBH I don't mind Less Than Jake although their live performances also leave a lot to be desired. There are a few "punk" bands that can pull off brass instruments well - Capdown and Catch 22 spring to mind - in fact I bought Civil Disobedients this morning.

I think the whole brass thing is best emphasised by Reel Big Fish: lots of ropey songs but their 2 very best don't have any at all (Beer and Where Have You Been for those who are interested and know what the hell I'm talking about).

Toasty · 04-06-2005, 7:27 PM

Fair comment about trumpet and punk, however Goldfinger's self titled album still contains some of my favourite songs, great record.

FruitBat · 04-06-2005, 7:52 PM

Not sure if this fits the bill, but you've reminded me of a band from years ago. I had a few tracks on a 20-year old (

) tape and always meant to get more.
The band was "The Untouchables". I see that there is a CD called "Wild Child" on Amazon. Seems to be a compilation (does that count as Greatest Hits?)

I must check out my vinyl and see what else I've been missing (memory doesn't function too well these days).

FruitBat · 04-06-2005, 8:03 PM

Another thought.
Ruts DC.
I don't actually know very much of this lot. I've got some early Ruts stuff. They were kind of punky. I think they changed musical direction a bit after someone in the band died. I think the Rusts DC stuff is reggae dub. Hopefully someone who knows what they're talking about can expand on this (sorry

). I really ought to be buying this stuff myself.

Bristol Pete · 04-06-2005, 8:32 PM

Quote:

Fair comment about trumpet and punk, however Goldfinger's self titled album still contains some of my favourite songs, great record.

Wayne Gretzky, I love you Wayne Gretzky!

eviljohn2 · 04-06-2005, 8:40 PM

Ruts DC look interesting Fruitbat:
http://www.101cd.com/music/info.asp?id=6025490

It's encouraging that Streetcore is included in the 101CD list of "What others have bought" and that the Damned, SLF and the Buzzcocks are in the Amazon listing.

FruitBat · 04-06-2005, 8:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eviljohn2

It's encouraging that Streetcore is included in the 101CD list of "What others have bought"

Also The Essential Dean Martin and The Best of Mungo Jerry.

eviljohn2 · 04-06-2005, 8:52 PM

It must be quite an eclectic mix on the album. Only one way to find out...

I havn't heard anything by the Asian Dub Foundation before but they look interesting although Asian music usually just rattles my skull, anyone have any advice? If you hadn't guessed this really isn't my area of expertise when it comes to music.

Fruitbat, you need to get "Civil Disobedients" if you don't already have it - I'm lovin' it more than "Pound for the Sound" which is also an excellent album.

Bristol Pete · 04-06-2005, 9:29 PM

Have seen the Asian Dub Foundation live. Very good - in many ways more dub/jungle-esque but very heavy.

I can recall seeing a band called Senser too. Way ahead of the game - I had an album once, might be worth a search.....here it is -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...995022-6334816

Pete.

Toasty · 05-06-2005, 2:20 PM

Sensers Stacked up album is excellent, Rap / Dance / Metal before the likes of Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park hit the scene. Subsequent albums have been tempered by different directions and line ups, however, still worth at least a listen.

FruitBat · 05-06-2005, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eviljohn2

Fruitbat, you need to get "Civil Disobedients" if you don't already have it

Well, I just might do that (and some of the others mentioned as well) - if I can find them.

Just looking on amazon and discovered someone's list :

Top Ska Punk

eviljohn2 · 05-06-2005, 10:26 PM

I've got 11/20 from that list which isn't too bad.

Capdown do take a few listens to get the hang of but it's well worth it - "Ska Wars" and "Pound for the Sound" are phenomenal when turned up loud.

Sick Boy · 06-06-2005, 5:27 PM

There's a Ska band down my street and everybody thinks that their so

neat.

As I love the previously dissed Reel Big Fish my recommendations may not be worthwhile but check out a band called Kenisia. Local band that should fit the mould. Just 2 albums so far, limited release. Last time I looked they were on amazon.

FruitBat · 17-06-2005, 10:12 AM

Blimey, it's been more than a week!

Did you get anything, eviljohn2? I decided to dig out Cut The Crap as I hadn't listened to it for years. Rediscovered the vinyl as well, so I had a few days of Cut The Crap and Joe Strummer's Earthquake Weather. Very disappointed with both of them. I had to listen to Black Market Clash and Sandinista afterwards to take the taste away. I discovered that Super Black Market Clash wasn't quite what I expected (never listened to it properly before), so I may have given you some misinformation there. It isn't Black Market Clash with extra tracks, there is some stuff on Black Market Clash which isn't on Super BMC.

Meanwhile, my first eviljohn2 recommendations came through. And Out Come The Wolves / Sing Loud Sing Proud / Dude Ranch.
My first impressons were

- this is too punky for me. A bit too Oi. However, I've been listening to the Rancid a fair bit and it's growing on me. The others are in the queue for a good listen.

Finally, straying a bit more OT, did anyone hear Radio 1's 30 greatest punk tracks? I haven't listened to it properly, but from what I heard there was at least 1 Capdown (Ska Wars), 1 Rancid (Ruby Soho) and plenty of "oldies" (Clash, Buzzcocks, Damned, Pistols) represented.

huwg · 17-06-2005, 11:25 AM

Fishbone ?

eviljohn2 · 18-06-2005, 9:22 AM

At the moment I've picked up Big Audio Dynamite which is pretty good. On first listen I would agree that ...And Out Come the Wolves is quite 'Oi!' but there's far more to the album than that - Maxwell Murders isn't really a great opener IMO as the album certainly picks up more towards the end.

I didn't hear about the R1 list but I'm off to do some research on that now...

cheeseywang · 20-06-2005, 11:35 AM

Another shout for Fishbone here... the Truth and Soul album in particular

You might also be pleasantly surprised by No Doubt

FeisalK · 20-06-2005, 3:40 PM

Have you heard Thievery Corporation?

Listen to samples on Amazon for Richest Man in Babylon and The Cosmic Game

trippy

eviljohn2 · 20-06-2005, 5:30 PM

Thanks guys, I'm reasonably familiar with No Doubt and they're OK. I'll certainly look into Fishbone and Thievery Corporation (as I have with every other suggestion so far

). I picked up the Jurassic 5 LP over the weekend which isn't really the sort of thing I'm after from this thread but is a nice change from my usual listening.

deanym · 21-06-2005, 10:45 AM

Check out a local band to me, the Stolen, a little bit lighter than some suggestions (I was surprised as I'm more in to heavy stuff but liked these guys), they even have a website. www.thestolen.com where you can order the music and listen to previews of the tracks. They've since announced a split but the music is still cracking.

JohnG · 22-06-2005, 9:53 AM

If you don't mind it being a bit more "jingly-jangly" The Beat are a good listen Best of The Beat