Fishbone on DeBaser: ska, funk, punk

The Profile

Fishbone is an American band formed in Los Angeles in 1979, celebrated for a high-energy fusion of ska, punk, funk, soul, reggae, and rock. Fronted by vocalist/saxophonist Angelo Moore, they became key figures in the late‑80s/early‑90s crossover wave.

Formed in Los Angeles in 1979; American nationality; genre-blending approach spanning ska, funk, reggae, punk, and rock; key member Angelo Moore (vocals, sax). Noted albums include Truth and Soul (1988) and The Reality Of My Surroundings (1991).

Four DeBaser reviews celebrate Fishbone’s riotous crossover brew of ska, funk, reggae, punk, and hard rock. The Reality Of My Surroundings is hailed as a genre pinnacle, while Truth and Soul gets props for cohesion and punch. Give a Monkey a Brain earns five stars for its heavy funk/rock surge. Across the board: horns blazing, rhythms bouncing, and zero boredom.

Notable Quotes

❝ The Ska of "Unyielding Conditioning" makes me smile with genuine delight because Fishbone is, first and foremost, a band that has made fun a reason for living.

❝ I therefore recommend giving this very deserving band a chance, especially now that summer is over, this music will bring some light and good cheer into the dark and cold autumn and winter days.

❝ It's funkified rock filled with jazz and bouncy ska, and the music (compared to their future work) is still naive, less thought-out, a natural reflection of their way of being and living.

❝ This album, "The Reality Of My Surroundings" is perhaps the perfect work of the genre, considering also that excellent works like "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" did not have the exuberant spontaneity always preached in this musical field (while remaining praiseworthy albums).