Experimental ska/funk/punk/metal fusion band Fishbone is in good form in their latest release,
Still Stuck in Your Throat, which finds the band energetically working through a series of new and previously unreleased cuts filled with the kind of fun we've come to expect from the group, which is now down to only two of its original members, with other members exploring side-projects (Philip "Fish" Fisher, for example, is currently the drummer for
Wicked Wisdom). Angelo Moore comes in strongly on vocals, as is Norwood Fisher, the bassist who has highly influenced the bass styles of everyone from
311 and
Incubus to
Mr. Bungle. Joining the band is
Suicidal Tendencies guitarist Rocky George, who gives the band the heavy edge it needs for its harder tracks.
Aside from a memorable cover of
Sublime's "Date Rape" (reappearing from the 2005 tribute album
Look at All the Love We Found), there are party tunes like "Skank 'n Go Nuttz", the humorous political effort "Party With Saddam", road stories like "Frey'd ***in' Nerve Endingz" and "Forever Moore", tracks recounting street fights ("Let Dem Ho's Fight", with distorted vocals and grinding guitars) and snowboarding wipeouts ("Faceplant Scorpion Backpinch"). Also on board is "Premadawnutt", a reminder that the sun does not shine out of your ass and "Faceplant Scorpion Backpinch".
As always, Fishbone show a strong level of musicianship, experimentation, quirky energy and musical diversity. The appropriately-titled
Still Stuck in Your Throat reminds listeners of the kind of originality that Fishbone is known for, the kind of energy that would soon pave the way for many similar alternative rock acts. Furthermore, the album is endlessly entertaining, whether you are directly listening to it, or sticking it on as background music. Recommended.
