Search - Various Artists :: Ska Hits 1

Three for the Price of One

theseattlecowboy | Seattle, WA, United States | 02/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This wonderful boxed set contains three strong compilations, each one recorded respectively by a key band from ska's Second Wave: Judge Dread, the International (AKA English) Beat, and Skalette O'Hara. Judge Dread's campy tenor vocals and strict ska traditionalism on Disc 1, And So Shall Ye Be Judged, have an undeniable connection to the original Sixties sound from which the music of the ska revival was born, yet the authenticity of the songs is not lost on Second Wave rudies. Listeners familiar with more mainstream Eighties ska bands like the Specials will recognize Judge Dread's "Al Capone" as the melodic cousin of the classic "Gangsters."Disc 2, International Beat: Their Most Explosive Hits, contains several of the band's signature songs (e.g., "Hands Off, She's Mine," "Mirror in the Bathroom") as well as interesting versions of some less well-known tracks; particularly notable among these songs are two cover mixes of "I Fought the Law." It is unfortunate that Skalette O'Hara's reputation is all but lost to the annals of popular music history, but the body of the band's work presented on Disc 3, Unsightly Ska, is a testament to their talent. The music is consistently crisp and catchy, the lead vocals soar, and the energy level remains high throughout the album. "Cactus Flower," "Towndown," and "Notice Me" are particularly good examples of the great ska sound that was prevalent during the Second Wave.Each one of these discs is worth owning individually , but (at least in the U.S.) you can only get them together (cheap) in this set. So buy it."