The Salisbury ska / punk band provide to be another useful addition to the growing number of UK ska/punk bands that are turning up with good well produced tunes, and being on Moon Ska means these young kids are getting some decent backing.

After starting out as a pop/punk band the boys added a new guitarist and got in a new bass player, added a bit of ska into their mix and put out to 4 track ep's on Sweet Children and First degree records. The latter produced by Clash / Madness / Duran Duran producer John Walls.

This twelve track album has loads of energetic songs, a cool soundtrack for a party (or barbecue!) especially when all your mates think Rancid and Slapstick are too heavy!

The keyboard synth sound on "Brothel Creepers", the re-recorded "bed hair" and "Jelly head" add to the bands repertoire

Most of the songs are about girls, annoying friends and general relationships there's also a ska/punked cover of Vengaboys reworked tune "we're going to Ibiza" I'm still not sure whether its funny or embarrassing
The fast skanking chorus and heavy riffed verse of "Kelly" is one of the highlights, this is kept up for "dingle" which is almost as good if not as catchy. "Better of Gay" has a poppy skanking chorus punctuated with heavy fast guitars and "shooting through" is ska party song.

There might not be anything new or groundbreaking but BBQ music is full of party punk/ska tunes.
Moon Ska Europe.
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US BOMBS - "The World".
4.5 out of 5.

The Bombs, follow the same path as Deals gone bad and the gadjits. Both had promising (International) wide debuts, some top tracks showing what the bands could offer, but over all there were too many average tracks for the release to be classics. As with the DGB and Gadjits, the US Bombs have built on there (major) debuts to deliver a "no filler" sophomore release.

After a few listens, which gives you time to get used to the bands unique brand of punk rock 'n' roll tunes.
The release really gets to you.
From the title track, to "going out" (featured on Give em the boot 2) to the cover of  Joe Strummers "Joe's Tune", the 18 tracks really rock. The chorus' can be chanted along to, the guitar licks are impressive and its just fast and hard enough to start a fight down in the pit!
Overall the best tracks are "yanks & Rebs", the speedy "New approach", "Checkpoint", "Salute the Dead" and the slow swaying rock 'n' roll of "Nothin' on us" There even a ballad, "Hobroken Dreams" that's still punk although there's no distorted guitar.

Dwaine Peters may not be the best vocalist but his pure effort and enthusiasm make up for any missing singing talent. Overall a brilliant punk rock album.
Hellcat Records.
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The Xplosions - Everyday Stories EP.
3.5 out of 5.

The London band put out a classy three track, that goes against the grain of most UK ska bands as the Xplosions are neither Ska/punk or 2-tone, but a mix of Traditional ska and reggae.
The opening track "London Town" is a perfect example of this. Laid back bass, reggae drumming with a hint of 2-tone guitar and piano. The track is the best out of the three on the EP as it's the most catchy, especially the chorus and the vocalist really reminds of Joe Strummer, not just because of his accent but just his singing style.
The 7" is well worth buying just for the opening track, not that the other two disgrace the release.
"Grey skies" has a similar tempo to "London Town" that gets your head nodding, the keys on this help the song skank on, along with the male/female harmonies. This tune is in a reggae style more than the other two tracks.

"Useless Friend" starts off slowly but then the skanking brass comes in and song is knocked out at a fairly fast pace, but its still in a more skinhead style than 2-tone.
Probably one of the best ways to describe the band is to think of a trad ska band covering 2-tone songs.

Sean Flowerdew produced the 3 track that came out Elmo Records, any release on the German Label automatically gives it a stamp of high quality and this release is no different.
Elmo Records.
Write to the Xplosions : PO BOX 10368, London, NW5 5WG. England.
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Zen Baseball Bat - "I am the champion Concrete mixer".
2.5 out of 5.
 

One of 5 new signings to Moon Ska Europe, this band from Runcorn & Widnes are certainly the most off the wall of the Moon Ska acts. The band mix up 2-tone upbeat style ska with a mix of Devo and the B52's. The only bands that I can think they sound a bit like is another Moon Ska band Regatta 69 or even Greenhouse or Gangster Fun.

Fans of the above bands with lap this instantly catchy pop ska album.
Opener "Whiplash" gives you a feel of what's to come as you delve into Zen baseball bat's surreal world. The brasslines are catchy, the guitar skanks on the offbeat and the vocals are weird! "rub me up in your fast car, fast car me in your rub".
The repeated chorus line also helps you to hum or sing along.

Title track "I am the champion concrete mixer" keeps up the catchy and singalong weird ska with a track about one of the Gleavey brothers in the band. The chorus sounds very much like a regatta 69 hornline. Again the chorus is infectiously catchy and by the 2nd chorus your singing along. "Gleavey is easily distracted by the thoughts of famous footballers, his head is like a malleted stump somewhere between Aldi and Anfield......"

Third track "The returner prize" isn't as catchy, but it's still good, the group show their  working  class roots, with lyrics like "When her majesty came to our dumb town, we had a wazz in her brew, down stewards avenue.." and "we had no idea when we went to Ikea, we tape the top 40 settle down and rent sky." Summing up English working class life brilliantly.

"Brown cows of elocution" show the brilliance that the keyboard has over the Bat's sound, this a very 2-tone-y number with is quite easy to start dancing too.

"Matching houses" is another tune about working class tales, its an more poppy song with an acoustic strumming guitar rather than one playing the ska. The horns and keys are still there though.
"Tidemarks and dispensers" and "the year of the dog that bit me" are not outstanding and stick to Zen's unusual style.
"Captain Midnight" has a B52's style baseline, soul horns and Devo style guitar and keys, make of it what you will!
"100 years of seaside entertainment" is a more standard 2-tone number with poppy horns, although again the vocals are very disturbingly weird!
Along with "whiplash" and "I am the champion....", "An ode to purple ackey" is one of the best tracks on the album. A real dancy song, upbeat ska tune that skanks brass heavy style.

"Signed off R.Mutt" is an uptempo tune about being a wimp and being destined to a life in unskilled work all sang in the bands trademark Widnes, North west of England accents.
The album finishes off with an acoustic guitar number backed with horns, pretty much britpop with horns.

Overall its a good album mixing brass filled pop-ska with Northern working class tales.  2-tone and pop-ska fans should lap this up, as its an offbeat updated 2-tone style of ska. Fine third wave ska.
Moon Ska Europe.
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V/A - Another Year on the streets.
3.5 out of 5.

The new sampler from Vagrant records shows of their roster of talent along with the new signings Alkaline Trio and Saves the day. Out of the 20 tracks 13 are previoulsey unreleased. Highlights are The Get Up kids, with the alternative version of "I'm a loner dottie, a rebel..." and lo-fi punk "Beer for breakfast", No Motiv's two new punk rock tunes make for good listening and Automatic 7 mix punk with emo-rock to good effect.
The New Amsterdam and The Anniversary fly the Emo/Indie flag fairly well and although Reggie & the full effect only have 1 song here, they sound the best band with an album out on Vagrant.
So it falls to the new signings to provide the best tracks. Alkaline trio's "bloodied up" is average track from the Chicago band but "Crawl" is up there with the stuff off their last album. Although not as good as the bands 2 Asian Man's EP's "Crawl" has a punk stomping chorus and Matt whips himself up into a emotional frenzy for the climax.
Saves the day "Sell my old clothes, I'm off to heaven" is the best track on the sampler punk-emo at its finest, if this track is anything to go buy they could be better than current favourites The Get Up kids. The bands 2nd track "A drag in D flat" isn't quite as impressive but it certainly doesn't put you off the ex Equal Vision records band.

Overall Reggie & The full effect should be checked out now and this sampler gives you a chance to hear them and the labels current roster and fans of saves the day and Alkaline trio should get this to help pass the time before their forthcoming releases.
Vagrant Records.
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Various - Cock Sparrer Tribute.
4.5 out of 5.

This excellent ep sees Oxymoron, Drokick Murphys, The shock troops and The Disgusteens all show there liking for top Droogs Cock sparrer as they put there own spin on some of the UK bands best moments.
Shock Troops (named after a CS lp) "we're coming back" has a bagpipe playing through quite a bit of the song and you have to check a few times to make sure your not mistaken, and its the Dropkick Murphys knocking out the tune. DKM do come up next with "working", this another good Sparrer track they've covered, although not as good as "watch your back", which featured on the split 7" with Oxymoron.

Speaking of Oxymoron, they turn up on the b-side with "A.U." an excellent song, off one of Sparrer's recent album. Oxymoron are definitely the band of the moment and it should be no surprise that this cover is the best on the ep. With its chant-along vocals.
The Disgusteens vocalist probably comes closest to re-creating the sparrer vocals on "I got your number", a more pop-punk
number than full on oi! Its still fairly catchy though.
Overall four top tracks, a great tribute to a great streetpunk band.
Longshot Music : #606-233 Abbott St. Vancouver B.C. V6B 2K7 Canada.
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V/A - Give 'Em the Boot 2.
4.5 out of 5.

Is it better than the first comp or not ? Well its hard to decide, both have loads of stand out tracks from bands on and not on Hellcat.
The first comp showcased what Hellcat was going to be about and it looked impressive. But now we all know about the bands what could the 2nd cheap sampler give to old fans. Well a new Hepcat song "Riding the region", whetting the appetite for the new album. Rancid doing an OK bass heavy version of one of their fave live covers "If the kids are united". Album tracks from the Gadjits, Pietasters, US Bombs, DKM, Choking Victim, Dave Hillyard Rocksteay 7, Rancid, and the Slackers all of which have had albums out on Hellcat since late '98.

But the best tracks are the Rancid/Reggae collaborations. Buju Banton with "misty days", the Rancid and Buccaneer single "Bruk out" and England's Mad Lion on the excellent "Tell me what your feeling".

Plus there's Mouthwash's excellent "Fools gold" (NOT a Stone roses cover) and the Hepcat rhythm section Vanity five performing the instrumental "flight of the Phoenicians" Also there's tracks from Hellcats new signings Tiger Army, F-Minus and the Distillers.
The US version has a Joe Strummer track.
Hellcat Records.
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V/A - Mashin Up The Nation Vols. 3 & 4.
3/5.

 One of the albums that started it all, ‘Mashin up the nation’ was originally released in 1988, when Ska in USA was only played by a few. Volume 1 and two followed and now on one CD, to celebrate ten years of US Ska and the anniversary of the first comp volume 3 and 4 has been released.
The first five tracks are from bands who appeared on the original comp, 6 others are bands with members who appeared on the comp, but with different bands and the other 10 tracks are from up and coming bands.

Something Old...

The album kicks off with Gangster fun’s ‘Blue serge suit’ this is one of the best tracks of the Fun’s latest album, proving that 10 years down the line their still skanking to an original beat.
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, showcase a 1996 demo ‘Who’s Foolin who?’ the track features Dave Aranoff on Sax and organ. The track isn’t  fast punky number, nor does it have Dicky growling down the microphone, but it does have a catchy 2-Tone rhythm. Not one of the best bosstones tracks, but could have fitted in on ‘Lets face it’ alongside ‘The Rascal king’ and ‘Royal oil’ The Toasters keep up the two-tone beat with their brand of the pop/Ska winning formula with  ‘Worry remix ‘98’.

Bim Skala Bim who helped set up the original compilation put out the excellent ‘Rain and pour (re-mix)’ this an excellent slow organ led Ska track.
Let’s Go Bowling’s ‘You take me’ is taken from their live ‘Freeway Lanes’ album. The harmonica intro kicks off the 2-tone track, which is good as any other Let’s go bowling track.
‘She took of my Romeo’s (live)’ by  Steady Earnest is a pretty good poppy/Ska track.

Something borrowed....

Dion Knibb and the Agitators provide the best traditional Ska track with ‘Turn your lamp down low’, this is a fantastically catchy song and it would be well worth looking out for their debut album, which should be out soon.
The Pilfer’s remix ‘Generation’ to great effect this punky Ska track is probably how the Voodoo Glow Skulls would sound if they played a more Ska/punk brand of music. The Pilfers have ex members of Bim Skala Bim, The Toasters and skinnerbox.
AKA Rudie with Emma Grandillo put out a live version of ‘True confessions’ this is a soul/trad Ska track which like the traditional Ska of The Allstonians ‘Cricket’ is quite good.

Skinnerbox team up with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones Trombone player Dennis Brockenborough, for a cover of the Buzzcocks ‘Why can’t I touch it’ Skinnerbox transform the late ‘70’s punk outfit’s song, into a traditional Ska track in the way that on King ‘Django’ baker could.

and something new!

One of the best up and coming bands has to be Spring Heeled Jack, on the evidence of their ‘Waiting, watching, drinking  (demo)’ This Ska/punky/soul number is about the best track on the album, it has an excellently distorted punky guitar, soul like vocals and catchy horns.
Strangways offer ‘Mango Man’, fans of Hepcat will like this band as they offer a similar style and also the vocalist sounds quite similar to Hepcat’s Greg Lee.

The Remix of ‘Evil Eyes’ by Metro Stylee is pretty good, the New York band have their debut album out and its sure to include some poppy Ska track like this one, the female fronted band obviously will have to put up with No Doubt and DanceHall Crashers comparisons, but their sound is more like The Selecter than anything.
Eastern Standard Time instrumental “Barbados (live)’ is a mix of Jazz and Traditional Ska, that works fairly well. Defacto’s offfer a similar style with “Sunshine” but this is a more upbeat trad Ska than EST.

Johnny Socko, offer the excellent and very funny ‘Hasselholff’ not quite as crazy and in the polka Ska style as newer tracks I’ve heard, but this tribute to David Hasselholff , from Baywatch is excellent anyway. Including the lines  “ The bay is watched,
the lines are botched, screen is filled, with my bulging crotch !”
Unsteady keep up the Asian Man output with “stop looking at me” also featured on the “Mailorder is fun” comp, this is a more crazy, polka style, which is excellent and also has a pre verse horn part that
sounds a bit like the theme tune to ‘Playdays’, what more could you ask !
Mobtwon, keep up their pretty good brand of catchy traditional Ska, playing ‘Zuit suit samba (re-mix)’
Magadog, from Tampa, Florida, skank up The Kinks ‘Situation Vacant’ this horn swaying track is pretty good especially as it got a pretty contagious organ bit.

The album ends with The Smooths track ‘Get by’ this is a slow 2-Tone track with horns, which only picks up for the Ska/punky chorus.
It’s very rare for a compilation to have a bonus track, but this CD has. The extra track is a dub version of Bim Skala Bim’s ‘Rain and pour’.
All in all it’s a pretty good compilation, but their are better new Ska bands about than shown on this compilation. Although it’s a great introduction for bands like Spring Heeled Jack and Metro stylee.
DVS media.
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Punk-O-Rama III - Various.
3 1/2 out of 5.

The first two compilations, have been the soundtrack 1990’s punk as well as the guide to bands on Epitaph’s roster. Volume three continues this trend.
NOFX, Rancid, Pennywise, Voodoo Glow Skulls, New Bomb Turks, The Humpers, Down by law, Pulley and the old Bad Religion are all here again, but their are new additions, quite a few appeared on the Roadkill sampler, earlier  in the year, The Dwarves, Gas Huffer, (the now ex) Red Aunts,  (all offer the same tracks as used on the Roadkill comp) and Zeke.
The album has twice as many exclusives as the last comp, so we get two here !

At £3.99, as Kerrang pointed out when reviewing this, “if NOFX’s sterling ‘We threw gasoline on the fire and now we have stumps for arms and no eyebrows’ were a single it would be worth buying for that price alone. This is the best track one the album and is one of NOFX’s best tracks also one of their longest at over 3 mins.
Rancid give the pure punk ‘Rats in the Hallway’ taken from their self titled first album.
The Humpers ‘Steel toed sneakers’ is pretty good rock/punk and New bomb Turks offer one of the best efforts from their latest album, ‘Defiled’ is a punk ‘n’ sax track which also featured on the Roadkill sampler.

Bad Religion offer one of their best track in ‘you’ taken from 1989’s ‘No Control’ the punk/pop number is one of the best on the album.

Hardcore thrashy punk is offered by Straight Faced, but hardcore punk by Union 13, whose ‘never connected’ track is quite good, the return of hardcore veterans Agnostic frost and bouncy punk from Undeclinable Ambuscade.
The plastic punk of All, with the catchy ‘World’s on Heroin’ and the Bouncing Souls ‘say anything’  are  probably fairly good.

Looking up, could be a band well worth checking out, there ‘3 times 75’ is a punk number with hints of ska and X-Ray Specs style sax playing.

The Voodoo Glow skulls offer one of the best tracks from their latest album ‘Band Geek Mafia’ in the hooky brass lick of ‘Delinquent song’
Also returning from the second comp, are Down by Law, their tried and tested brand of punk is here with ‘No equalizer’ which isn’t as catchy as some of there other tracks. Pullley’s ‘If’ is pretty good blend of hardcore punk, but is outclassed by the last track and second exclusive by Pennywise ‘Wake Up’, although not as good as most of the tracks on the bands last full length release ‘full circle’ its still a pretty good hardcore punk track.

Old timers the Cramps are here with ‘Haulass hyena’ and ex-MC5 man Wayne Kramer offers ‘Bad seed’ a live track, which drags on a bit.

Osker’s ‘Alright’ is one of the gem’s uncovered amongst proven bands and average hardcore tracks. The melodic chorus mixed with hardcore punk works pretty well.
Ten foot pole wade in with ‘A.D.D.’ which is quite good, as it’s more poppy and catchy than hard and fast.
Burning head’s ‘Times up’ is OK, due to a catchy riff, and thrashy shouty chorus of  “Times up ! Times up ! Times up !”

All in all it’s a pretty good offering and show’s the strength and amount of bands on Epitaph’s roster, if not quite the same impact or excellentness of the upcoming bands as on previous Punk-O-Rama comps.
Epitaph Records.
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V/A - NYC Ska Mob & Friends.
4.5 out of 5.

This album is wicked! A Cool compilation of songs from the Stubborn Stable, loads of unreleased stuff and brilliant songs.
12 out of the 16 tracks are outstanding. Rocker T is the real star of the album, I'd really like to get his solo album. There's three ace slabs of dub on this comp from the ex skadanks man.
Rocker T was the star of the Version city comp, dubbing on "Bread Alone" and "One Fe his Majesty" two of the best songs on the album.
He also did his T'ing on the latest Stubborn All stars album, teaming up with Django for "The Road song".
On this comp "one More" is the best song on the comp, "Fita Bun Roam" is a cool laid back dub reggae romp and "Not Guilty" is pretty  good too.

The Stubborn All stars put out a more laid back demo version of "Tired Of Struggling" a early song "Rude Boys", not sure who the vocalist is on this upbeat 2-tone track, a danceable semi instrumental skanking "Bald man jump" and finally the All Stars cover the Clash/Tymon Dogg's  "Lose thin skin". This is a laid back cool cover, with the Violin replaced with a harmonica, quite a bit different to the original.

Django's other band Skinnerbox knock out "I got to know" a good rocksteady number, a early Jam style ska/punk track "Trying to be cool" which is good and a cool previously released top dub track "Jump dung".

The Radiation kings demo version of "NY Blues" is here, it one of their best tunes.
Victor Rice and Crazy Baldhead both put out instrumentals and Da Whole thing have bass heavy jazz/swing/ska lo-fi track called "Seven" which is good.

Add to that the Checkered Cabs and the Skoidats, both brilliant bands and you've got a n unmissable comp.
The Checkered Cabs with Caz Gardner  on vocals knock out the uptempo soul stomper "Fight for your woman" and the Skoidats have the absolute classic Skinhead/Reggae tune "Smash your fucking head in" - how do they get trad ska to sound hardcore punkish.
Grover Records.
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Various - Oi! Fuckin' Oi!
4 out of 5.

Containing nearly all the leading bands from the original Oi era O.F.O. is a great starter point.
Sticking the boot in straight away are The 4-skins "One Law for them" an anthem for skinheads all over  the country as no-one could understand the beliefs or the attitude of the disenchanted youth. This song is a classic and is well worth getting whether your a skin or not.
Cock Sparrer  try and follow Oi's finest and do a pretty good job with "England belongs to me", a bit more poppy than the harder 4-skins.
"Working class kids" by Last resort, is a pretty good hard edged song on a typical Oi subject on life as a working class kid going out on the piss at the weekends and beating up punks.
Long standing street punksters The Business turn up and bash out the brilliant "Harry May" making it understandable why there so liked by many of today's bands.
Blitz knock out "warriors" which is not a bad effort, that a has a fairly catchy chorus riff from the 2 punk 2 skin outfit.
"Greatest Cockney Rip off" Sees the Cockney rejects gather round the old joanna for an Oi singalong.
The Blood go "stark raving normal" which turns out to be one of the best tracks on the album with their hardcore Oi sound.
Another great track is the Angelic Upstarts "Murder of Liddle Towers" a full on Oi screaming outburst at the police.
The album also lets you hear the talents of Infa Riot,  The Crack, The Oppressed, Peter and the test tube babies, Menace, Red Alert, The Gonads and The Partisans.
Its well worth getting just to hear all the well known Oi bands that led the early times.
Harry May Records.
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V/A - Plea For Peace.
3.5 out of 5.

Asian Man's 2000 sampler is only £3.99 at its a benefit for the Plea For Peace Foundation - that spreads the word and ideas of peace and unity.
As with the Mailorder is fun series, this summer comp gives you a taste of what's been out in the last 12 months on the label, plus there's material from a guest label, this time its Suburban home records. Also there's stuff by non AM or Suburban homes bands.
Best tracks are Chris Murray's "Let there be peace" - its amazing how he gets that authentic roots ska sound. Slow Gherkin's new track, "Tap dancing" is a good taste of things too come. Also The smoking popes from Double zero records sound like the American Smiths - with a live track "Not that kind of girlfriend".

There's album tracks from Softball - all gril Japanese punk, Honor System / Lawrence Arms / Alkaline Trio - howing punk life after Slapstick and the Broadways. Link 80 put out "intoleance" from the "struggle" album and there's ska/punk from Blue Meanies, MU330, Skankin Pickle and the Impressive Big D and the kids table. Mike Park and Dan Pottshat go acoustic, Dan puts out the unreleased "down so long".
The Chinkees have a christmas-y "santa clara county" more ska/pop from King Apparatus and Pushover have a more punk/indie sound with horns. Non Asian man band Ee are similar to Korea Girl, space giants are a punky Chinkees with female vocals, Trust foundation are indie / punk, polystics - devo / robot style rock and Astropop3 - acoustic La's style indie/pop.

The Suburban homes stuff is nearly all punk , the gamits, fairlanes and homeless wonders being the better outfits.

Overall most of the Asian Man stuff is good but Astropop3 and the smoking popes aren't bad either.
Asian Man Records.
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V/A - PUNCH DRUNK.
4 out of 5.

Streetpunk from one of the USA's best labels. This in fact is TKO's first cheap sampler, and after a few listens some of the songs turn out to be real killers. There are a few duff tracks on the comp. But for only £4 you cannae complain.
Anyway top tracks include US Bombs "The captain", from the "Hoboken dreams" ep, this track is about as good as any on the last album. The Reducers, Lower class Brats, The workin' stiffs, The Bodies, Loose Lips (streetpunks answer to the New Bomb turks), Dead End Cruisers, Anti Heroes and The Truents.
The only problem with album is there's no exclusives, all the songs are from TKO's releases, although some are out of print.

There's also really outstanding tracks by The Forgotten with the catchy "Fists Up!", the brilliant Randumbs with "Can't drink anymore", Suburban threat with "American Punk" and our very own Peter & the test tube babies (not actually signed to TKO) deliver the cool "1.4.7.1". Plus for all you  not owning the split DKM/Oxymoron 7" there's a chance to hear what your missing when the Dropkicks cover Iron Cross' "You're a Rebel". Class!

Its not really Harcore Oi! Its more melodic streetpunk, sick of Epitaph, well check this out!
TKO Records.
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Various - Screams From the Gutter.
4 out of 5.

One of the biggest emerging street punk talent has been in Sweden where many bands influenced by the '80's English Oi!  have developed there own scene, behind the banner of SHARP. (SkinHeads Against Racial Prejudice)

This 18 track album sees 9 bands blast out 2 tracks each.
Overall its pretty impressive. Guttersnipe, Voice of a Generation and Bombshell Rocks put forward 6 great songs.
There also a one good track each from Clockwork Crew, Bullshit, Agent Bulldog and Poblers United.
Guttersnipe stick to the Oi! Rulebook with a hard honest sound. "stick together" is a rallying cry for kids on the street to unite and the excellently catchy chorus of "working class power" is about being proud to be working class.
Voice of a Generation "The Greatest lie" and "Not my my cup of tea" and both pacey tracks and are actually better  than anything on their disappointing latest album.

Bombshell Rocks continue there brilliant Rancid style punk from there Underground radio EP to there debut album and now to this comp. "Small town" starts off with a lick similar to Oasis, but after the first chant of Oi and punky riff there's no doubting its Sweden's finest.
"The Spirit" is up there with the Rocks' best tracks. A track for all street fans to join in on the chorus: "you've never spirit, you've never heard the sound, you'll never understand, cos the answer is underground."

Overall its a good album, most the tracks here are unreleased so there's something for new listeners as well as the fans.
Sidekicks Records.
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Various - skarmageddon.
3 out of 5.

Moon Ska’s ‘94 ska comp includes stuff from the Moon stable of ska and ska/pop as well as other less known US ska bands.

Included on the album is the original version of The Pietasters ‘without you’ named ‘model citizen’ an early Slackers track ‘sister sister’ which is a more two-tone track before the band included horns.
Durango 95 also appear with ‘don’t give up’, the band surely are the ‘90’s version of Dexys Midnight Runners, they even have some-one on violin ! Actually this is one of the best tracks on the comp.

MU330, Skinnerbox, Mustard Plug, The Exceptions, Spring Heeled Jack, Skavoovie and the Epitones, Skapone and Thumper all appear with early material.
The Skunks, Agent 99 and the Checkered Cabs all have

pretty good tracks on the album
Early ‘90’s acts Mista Mina, Invaders, The Pacers and Tiny Hat Orchestra are among the 31 tracks on the album which can be ordered direct from Moon Ska at Moon Ska Europe, PO Box 184, Ashford, Kent, TN24 OZS.
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Various - Skins 'N' Pins.
4 out of 5.

This sampler's got about all the best US talent from GMM, TKO and Knockout along with DKM for a cool comp. Its well worth getting, if the only band you've heard here is the Dropkicks as there's bound to be something here for ya.
Pinkerton thugs, Major Accident, The Burdens and Ducky Boys all deal in streetpunk of the more catchy variety than hardcore oi! Which comes from the likes of Pressure Point (with Skinhead Justice), Patroit, Working stiffs and English bands One Way System and condemned 84.
DKM and Oxymoron have recent album tracks, "curse of a fallen soul and "bleed".

US chaos sound like early Bad Religion, there's all girl skinhead band Man's Ruin and the Anti-heroes.
Top tracks are Murder City Wrecks "you can't take it" fast punky rock. Think Teenage frames mixed with US Bombs, and The reducers "let it go" very '77 punk with nice guitar lick.
Plus fast sleazy punk from the choice and Randums. "Martin Decker" by the randums is about a school outcast.
The Choice's ridiculously infectious "Alex" make them another band worth checking out.

Also Adolph and the piss artists "I'm a piss artist" another catchy streetpunk number.
Overall 28 tracks, 75% of which are pretty impressive and its only 6 quid from pulped.
GMM Records.
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Jump Up! Sampler - Smash Your Radio!
4 out of 5.

Back in 1997 Jump Up put out the definitive Ska/punk, midwest sampler ‘Ska American Style’ 11 bands, 19 tracks showcasing stuff from the jump up vaults so far. It was brilliant and still to these day remains one of my favourite albums. So what happened in 1998, well Skapone, Greenhouse and Gangster Fun had new albums out that were OK.
(See review in Jump Up special, issue 3)
Telegraph had an EP of live tracks and demos that will tide you over till a new release, plus there was Everything offbeat 2, a CD full of new midwest bands plus cool stuff from Deals gone bad, skapone, an old Blue meanies song, a ‘98 remix of ‘our town’ by the adjusters and Greenhouses’ excellent take on Wham’s ‘wake me up before you go-go’.
But overall it was a bit disappointing and not as good as 1997, the year ska/punk broke. It was probably to be expected as its unlikely bands who had albums out in ‘97 would have a follow up in ‘98.
So ‘smash your radio’ is more of a look back to ‘97 and quick review of ‘98 and a preview for ‘99.
From ‘97 there’s album tracks from Telegraph, Parka Kings, Hot Stove Jimmy, Suspect Bill and the Exceptions. There’s
2 from the eclectics, deals gone bad, adjusters and suspect Bill.
From ‘98 ‘smash your radio’ includes 1 album track from Greenhouse, Gangster Fun and Skapone.
But its still worth getting even if you’ve got most of the 97/98 tracks as there is a new greenhouse track (taken from a forthcoming 7”) ‘822 anywhere’, which is better than most of there other stuff, a hard to find cover of the Rezillo’s ‘somebody’s gonna get their head kicked in tonight’ by Telegraph.
Hot Stove Jimmy return with west wing’ from their new 7” and album. ‘Radio song’ by Parka Kings is taken from their new double live CD.
We also get a chance to hear album tracks from Run for yer life, a female fronted funky ska/pop band that I haven’t really got into yet.
First Grade Crush play ska/punk/emo that might be the first blot on the Jump up copybook.  Alderman are slightly better
and feature two members from Deals gone bad. Thankfully First grade crush and alderman are the only disappointing tracks as The Peacocks ‘this is what you’re gonna to want’ is a brilliant mix of psycobilly/ punk /ska. Think the cramps playing harder punk with ska ! maybe !
Overall if you’re gonna buy any jump up sampler (and you should) buy Ska American Style, if that’s not there get this. It’s only £3.99.
Jump Up Records.
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V/A - Smash Your Radio 2.
4 out of 5.

Jump Up's annual sampler returns with a batch of new bands and the return of some past heroes.
Whilst many of Jump Up's original bands have passed by, Adjusters, (to moon) Parka Kings, Greenhouse and Suspect Bill, (split) and Gangster Fun, Skapone and Exceptions (in non recording activity) smash your radio 2 sees the return of The Eclectics, Telegraph, Hot Stove Jimmy and Deals Gone bad.

New signings the Stand knock out the Hammond soul with "bad 'ol days". Dr Ring Ding does his re-mix dancehall ska style thing on "Call the doctor". Megasuperultra go mod with "down but not out". The teenage frames rock with "Metropolitan world". The Porters get souled up on amphetamines before "follow" and the Inciters bring the house down with Northern soul on the likes of "me myself and I" and "Dynamite exploded".

The best of the Chicago label's 1999 releases are here with album tracks from the psychobilly  peacocks, metal-ska Thumper, rock-ska orangetree, ska/punk harmonies Dr Manette and hard punk/ska with First Grade crush.

Horace Pinker have been plying their hard punk / emo trade for a few years and have now signed to Jump Up. "seven hours" shows some of the bands better work.
The Eclectics and Telegraph both return with a more mature sound, swapping ska/punk for emo-rock with horns but both outfits still sound good.
Hot stove Jimmy have turned up their brand of ska-core a notch to outdo the Blue Meanies, leaving only Deals gone bad to return with a similar sound having used the break to improve their ska/rocksteay tunes.

Loads of good tunes to show that the Chicago's finest label is expanding beyond ska/punk to soul, emo, mod and punk rock.
Jump Up Records.
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