Search - Fishbone :: Give A Monkey A Brain And He'll Swear He's The Center Of The Universe

Unassailable...!!!!

Campbell Roark | from under the floorboards and through the woods.. | 01/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My fave Fishbone album. This one has it all- a seamless, and I mean seamless, blend of styles. I'm not talking Mr. Bungle mix of styles (not that it's a bad thing- far from it, long live the cult of Patton) I'm talking each song sounds like the pinacle of whatever genre Fishbone happen to inhabitting/shredding at that given moment.Take your pick- maelstrom-metal, funk, ska, reggae, psychedelia, and even a hint at Gospel (No Fear- stylisticaly- is a gospel song... well, the organ just makes it sound like Gospel, or in this case Gospel-funk rock without the odious 'oh-please-breathe-on-me-oh-God lyrics and afro-american yodeling that passes for gospel singing... militant atheist that I am...) On ONE FREAKIN ALBUM!!!! They manage to summon the mothership, send out the best mosh-anthem I have EVER heard, Channel the ghosts of Eddie Hazel and Sid Vicious (in one song no less), crank out one of the few reggae tunes I can stomach, skank-their way to paradise in a way that most 3rd wave skasters can only drool at, Out Kool both Kool AND The Gang and invent a cure for sanity and the drab pabulum that chokes media of all species. I mean, it's just impossible to take any of the 'hard' bands out there seriously after putting their albums next to this. They seem flat, monochromatic, lifeless, dull. Unfunky. Lyricallly Fishbone may not be the most original but they play to their strengths, are inventive and funny and certainly capable of stuff as poignant/eloquent as anything that 'Dear Charlotte' have ever penned. And yet, this album kinda tanked (despite their prominent Lollapalooza placement... I don't get it- that was the first year that People bitched about Lollapalooza- year 3... but Primus? Dinosaur Jr? and Fishbone? It was one of the best shows I'd ever seen, ah but I digress...)These guys couldn't fail even if they were drop-kicked into the studio with Avril, baby Spice, Nick carter, the result wold still leave you wondering what the hell assulted you and left you wanting more... Oh, I'm 25 years old and have been to more concerts than I can recall and still will unhesitatingly state that Fishbone put on THE BEST live show I have ever seen- I don't care what your bag is, The Bone will stuff it for you. And they play for hours. You will leave the venue sore and deaf and maybe (as I have been known to do) you will drive a couple hours to see them again the next night in a different town or state."

Amazing

weapon_h | Scottsdale, AZ USA | 07/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album has aged amazingly well - whenever I'm in the mood for Fishbone, I put this one on. Although "Truth & Soul" is probably their best, it sounds a bit dated today. "Monkey" is simply amazing in its breadth, from the crunching metal of "Servitude" (which at first I didn't like but might now be my favorite track) to the more melodic rock of "Black Flowers" and "No Fear", to the straight-up P-Funk style "Lemon Meringue", to the fantastic sunny ska of "Unyielding Conditioning", quite possibly one of the happiest-sounding tunes ever recorded (though with somber lyrics). This is the last album recorded before the weirdness with Kendall caused the band to turn into the "speed metal with horns" incarnation. This album captures that ferocity balanced with the melodic hooks of their previous works. You gotta love it."

A dizzying, enlightening array of music

Daniel Grillo | Rochester, NY USA | 11/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fishbone is one of those bands that refuses to be painted into a corner. Primus would be the other band that comes to my mind that fights categorization like a frightened cat. Fishbone's music spans the musical spectrum, tossing in funk, ska, punk, metal, rock, folk, blues, reggae... the list could go on and on. GAMABAHSHTCOTU is not only the longest album title I know, but also one of the finest representations of a band and what they're about, like Moving Pictures for Rush. It's also damn good. The opening track, "Swim," gets little press, but immediately tells you that you are in for an experience("The pool is now open!"). "Black Flowers," "They All Have Abandoned Their Hopes," and "End The Reign," are wonderful highlights. "Drunk Skitzo" is a paranoid, anxiety-ridden track that keeps the listener on edge, a true artistic venture. Another reviewer brought up the fact that most music today is easy to consume, served up hot on a plate for its customers. Sure, it's nice to be waited on like that sometimes, but most of the time, I find it far more rewarding to work a bit for your meal. Listening to an album like GAMABAHSHTCOTU is more like hunting for your food, processing it, preparing it, and eating it. It takes a little more effort, but it just seems to taste better due to the work you put into it. A great album."