SOUNDTRACK: FISHBONE-Fishbone EP (1985)
After listening to “It’s a Wonderful Life (Gonna Have a Good Time)” at Christmas, I had to bust out the old Fishbone discs, which I haven’t done in quite some time. So I’m beginning with the EP that started it all.
This EP will always have a special place for me. It is fast, funny, energetic and is an awesome mix of ska, punk and just plain old offensive silliness. There’s 6 songs. “Ugly” has the chorus “U-G-L-Y, you ain’t got no alibi, you’re just ugly.” They are surely not the first bunch of people to say that (I seem to recall saying it as a kid myself), but they certainly do it in the most catchy fashion. It also sets the tone for the EP: fast ska, silly lyrics and totally fun. “Another Generation” is more serious, but as a good sign for things to come, it is no less catchy, and it highlights the various singers in the band. “? (Modern Industry)” is a favorite. It’s just a list of radio stations, but it’s set to an awesome skanking rhythm. And it’s fun to pick out the stations near where you live (if any are still around 22 years later). “Party at Ground Zero” will always be an amazingly fun song. The horns are great, the tune is great. Everything: great. “V.T.T.L.O.T.F.D.G.F.” Twenty-two years later I finally learned that this title stands for Voyage to the Land of the Freeze Dried Godzilla Fart. Thanks internet. And of course, the last track “Lyin’ Ass Bitch” always made us laugh in college. It is silly and rude. As a sensible grown up, of course, I disapprove of the lyrics, but really it’s very funny.
Fishbone was headed for greatness in just a few short years.
[READ: December 26, 2008] “Show Me Yours…”
This story comes from the special Arctic issue of the Walrus. When the story began I was concerned that it was a story steeped in Inuit tradition as I was pretty lost for the first couple paragraphs. (more…)
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