The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Ska-core, The Devil And More (1994)
Universal Music Group

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Contributed by: joeg
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on February 18th 2005

Take ska. Add punk. Add horns. Stir. Easy, right? Lots of kids in 1997 were doing it. But at the end of the day, none of them could play nearly as well or with nearly enough charisma as the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Not only were they one of the firsts, but they’ve been playing and improving on this style year after year. So after releasing a trio of records, the Bosstones decided to pay respects to their musical influences and came up with an EP of covers with some extra live tracks tacked on at the end. And while cover songs can be tricky, the Bosstones don’t disappoint as they come through in quintessential skacore fashion as only they can.

Starting it off with the instantly recognizable horn intro to their most popular song not called “Impression That I Get,“ the excellent “Someday I Suppose” is a proper introduction to the boys from Boston. To those of you who‘ve only heard their hit record, brace yourself for the hardcore side of the band. Guitarist Nate Albert starts it with the opening riff to "Think Again" from legendary D.C. punks Minor Threat. Here, they throw a metallic slant on it and turn it into a galloping speed romp with Dicky and the gang shouting “Think again! Think again! Think again and again and again and again!“ The horns in the chorus and the interlude nicely complement the song. Next up, they spit out a ripping, over-before-you-know-it cover of the Angry Samoans’ “Lights Out” and follow that with the menacing sludge of “Police Beat” by fellow Boston old schoolers, SSDecontrol. Thankfully, they decided not to include any ska or horns on here because, frankly, there is neither the time nor the place for it.

The Bosstones turn down the thrash and pay homage to their ska/reggae roots by covering Bob Marley’s “Simmer Down.” This is one to just kick back to and enjoy. You get a bouncing ska line with breezy horns as trombonist Dennis Brockenborough sings the Rasta vocals. They then give you a taste of their frenetic live show (and in particular Dickys’ classic growl) with some live tracks. The classic chant of "Mighty Mighty….BOSS-TONES!" is a nice inclusion before the band jumps head first into “Drunks And Children,” “I’ll Drink To That,” and “Howwhywuz, Howwhyam.”

Cover songs can be tough. Often times, it depends on what the individual listener wants out of it. But the Bosstones are sure to satisfy all tastes here without any hitches. They use discretion and faithfully stick to the originals while adding their own flavor to the songs when appropriate. And lucky for us, Dicky’s throat is unmistakable. So the end result? Another solid outing from the only guys in Boston who could possibly make wearing plaid suits seem OK.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (February 23, 2005)

i like dicky's morning show on the radio. it's hilarious, plus good music when he's not playing the station's "required songs."

joeg (February 22, 2005)

"haha, wasn't devils night out just reviewed?

scores for the cover of 'simmer down' , and them playing it at their 97 show in pittsburgh

paul"

twas me. i can't help it! :(

Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

haha, wasn't devils night out just reviewed?

scores for the cover of 'simmer down' , and them playing it at their 97 show in pittsburgh

paul

meh (February 21, 2005)

I usually just read things but never post, in fact I just registered specifically to thank fuzzy for the impact unit mp3s.

Crookedsuperhero (February 21, 2005)

Perfect name for a b-sides album.

The Mighty Mighty B-sides.

Slice.

BrandonSideleau (February 21, 2005)

I'm sorry but i just cant stand this fucking band

Crookedsuperhero (February 20, 2005)

The DVD you sent me just wouldn't work in anything, regardless of if they were region-free or not dvd players.

Damn, that's so weird. Sorry about that. If you still haven't seen it, i've got a copy on a VCD now that i could send you, free of charge. Tell me if you want it,.

Fuzzy (February 20, 2005)

The DVD you sent me just wouldn't work in anything, regardless of if they were region-free or not dvd players.

Crookedsuperhero (February 20, 2005)

on another note, i know there was some news posted awhile ago about the 2 tone documentary but it was only airing on brit tv. i was willing to pay anybody to record it for me. well i finally found a website that's streaming it with real player. i don't know if its the whole thing (i'll found out soon) but it is 30 minutes long. the link is in the middle of the page. enjoy!

Mark Lammar is the narrater.

sXenester (February 20, 2005)

how bout spreading the love with them there b-sides?

anyone else wish the bosstones would re-master and re-release everything?
In a perfect world, they'd fix all audio problems, add b-sides to each set, and a full live show from each era...
for example-
Question the Answers B-Sides = CD1
'94 Hometown Throwdown = CD2
Maybe even a dvd with the videos for that album...

anyone else wet-dreaming of a bosstones dvd?

joeg (February 20, 2005)

i finished watching the documentary. its not too long, about 40 minutes but really fucking good. i wish there was some way i can get it on video. got interviews with all the main 2 tone bands, tons of great footage. only thing is there's like a 5-10 second delay between the sound and picture that's kind of annoying but still worth it.

joeg (February 19, 2005)

yep, you got all the B-sides fuzzy. thanks again for the impact unit. i just got around to listening to it. good stuff!

on another note, i know there was some news posted awhile ago about the 2 tone documentary but it was only airing on brit tv. i was willing to pay anybody to record it for me. well i finally found a website that's streaming it with real player. i don't know if its the whole thing (i'll found out soon) but it is 30 minutes long. the link is in the middle of the page. enjoy!

http://www.cityhifi.net/

Fuzzy (February 19, 2005)

Here's my list of rarities

joeg (February 19, 2005)

I grabbed thiose too. Makes a damn good extra album. And a Rudie Can't Fail cover. Slice

-Right on. There were a few B-sides I left off but I basically got me another Bosstones album. Chocolate Pudding with Johhny Vegas, Together, At It Again, Providence Is. Great songs.

Crookedsuperhero (February 19, 2005)

-I've got all their B-sides and burned em on cd. There was this site called toxic toast that had them all but the site doesn't exist anymore. I'm glad I d/l them before it went down.

I grabbed thiose too. Makes a damn good extra album. And a Rudie Can't Fail cover. Slice.

joeg (February 19, 2005)

"I think I currently have every single song they've ever released. Including alternate takes, early versions, etc. God I love them"
Do you have the song from the "Meet the Deetles" soundtrack"

-I've got all their B-sides and burned em on cd. There was this site called toxic toast that had them all but the site doesn't exist anymore. I'm glad I d/l them before it went down.

Anonymous (February 19, 2005)

"Pay Attention" is an underated album. Take out the couple of filler songs and you have a top 3 Bosstones album.

Anonymous (February 19, 2005)

"I think I currently have every single song they've ever released. Including alternate takes, early versions, etc. God I love them"
Do you have the song from the "Meet the Deetles" soundtrack?

Fuzzy (February 18, 2005)

I've seen them upwards of 15 times, and they are easily the best live band ever. I'm biased, since they are also what used to be the only thing that got me through the day. Let's hear it for high school (8 years ago!)

joeg (February 18, 2005)

"I gota get on this, still plenty more Bosstones albums to be reviewed"

Dude, review More Noise and Other Disturbances or Lets Face It b/c Don't Know How to Party was already reviewed. My fav Tones albums in order:

Don't Know How To Party
Question the Answers
Devils Night Out
More Noise and Other Disturbances
Lets Face It
Jackknife to a Swan
Ska Core Devil and More
Pay Attention

I've seen this band 5 times and every time, they always hit on all their albums which I've always appreciated. Some bands only play their current record and refuse to play old stuff but the Bosstones did everyting from Devils Night Out to the current album. This is hands down my favorite band of all time.

Fuzzy (February 18, 2005)

Order of Favorite MMB albums? I have no idea, this is just off the top of my head.
Don't Know How To Party
More Noise
QTA
DNO
LFI
Jackknife
Pay Attention
Ska-Core

I think I currently have every single song they've ever released. Including alternate takes, early versions, etc. God I love them

sXenester (February 18, 2005)

I gota get on this, still plenty more Bosstones albums to be reviewed.

A guy I work with the other day said he loved "Let's Face It," then destroyed his cred by saying "Too bad it's their only album."

I think maybe I'll do "Don't Know How To Party".

Tin Soldiers, Illegal Left, Holy Smoke, Someday I Suppose, 737/Shoe Glue... classic fuckin' album.

Anyone heard the new Slapshot EP? Fuckin' Righteous!
Makes me glad nobody's curbed Choke yet.
Anyone know their next MA show?

Anonymous (February 18, 2005)

I dunno about the best ska band ever (still Fishbone for me) but still they were consistently awesome, even when they were commercially popular for 5 minutes back in '98.

Joe

Anonymous (February 18, 2005)

Hahaha...the bosstones cover SSD? I gotta hear that.

-Ken

IheartAdam (February 18, 2005)

Who's letting Gittleman dredge up all these albums? When's the Gang Green reveiw coming next?

Anonymous (February 18, 2005)

This band is ska done right.

TahoeJeff (February 18, 2005)

Fuzzy, I also would like to thank you for those songs

skankin_in_the_pit (February 18, 2005)

That should say I don't have much time now, but after work I'll be rushing home to check those songs out.

It's 3:53 in the fucking morning. Excuse my retardedness.

skankin_in_the_pit (February 18, 2005)

"Lights Out" alone is worth a 10. I really can't believe this hadn't been reviewed yet.

Thanks for those songs Fuzzy. I don't have much time now, but after I get home from work today I'll be rushing home to check those songs out. If anyone wants anymore info on Impact Unit check out this site. http://homepages.nyu.edu/~cch223/usa/impactunit_main.html

joeg (February 18, 2005)

thanks fuzzy for those songs.

TahoeJeff (February 18, 2005)

Great album! I do like Question the Answera more though! That was the album that introduced me to ska

Crookedsuperhero (February 18, 2005)

Could the Bosstones be better? No.

Anonymous (February 18, 2005)

Nice Apple shirt. http://thesixman.com/justin/mystuff/ebay/

Anonymous (February 18, 2005)

The Bitch with the Gourds is ugly..
10 Points to whoever can find her

TheOneTrueBill (February 18, 2005)

Fuzzy, thank you from the bottom of my heart for posting that Impact Unit link. You have made my day.

TheOneTrueBill (February 18, 2005)

First Bosstones CD I ever got. My friends had the later stuff so I knew all of it, but this is what really got me hooked on them. I'm so thankful that I was able to see them the last three times they pulled through Chicago.

Everytime I listen to them I get a schizo feeling of elation and extreme disappointment.

niveK82 (February 18, 2005)

Amazing cd, amazing band.

notfeelingcreative (February 18, 2005)

First ska cd I ever owned, I figured I'd buy it and check it out if I didn't dig it, I was only out a few bucks, I'm now on my fifth copy!

Fuzzy (February 18, 2005)

http://justin.thesixman.com/mystuff/mp3/

Fuzzy (February 18, 2005)

REGULAR BOY'S HAIRCUT

Hit me up on Aim and I'll send it to you.

joeg (February 18, 2005)

"why does nobody ever talk about dickies old hardcore band? 10 points to whoever gets it right"

i know he was in the band impact unit and that it was a straight edge band but that's all i know about them. tell me more!

Anonymous (February 18, 2005)

My favorite band

Anonymous (February 18, 2005)

why does nobody ever talk about dickies old hardcore band? 10 points to whoever gets it right.

theundergroundscene (February 17, 2005)

hands down the best ska band of all time