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The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Question the Answers (1994)
Universal Music Group

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Contributed by: coldjuly
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on September 17th 2001

I don't tend to get into too much ska....because we all know bad ska music is some of the worst known to man. Ska is an intricate style of music..blending many many styles and elements, so it's always good to really be able to incorporate all those styles and do it sucessfully.

Thats why I love the bosstones..they helped put the term "ska-core" on the map. This is the first album I had ever heard by them..so I was a little weary at first. Actually it took a lot of listens for me to appreaciate this. This music changes a lot..it goes from where you feel you should be slamming in the pit somewhere...and the next moment, you fell like you should be in a jazz lounge in vegas.

After a while this came into regular stereo rotation...and gave me new found hope in ska music. The total talent of this band is unbelieveable...all the instruments seem to fall exactly into place, (something you dont see with a lot of ska bands) and Dicky Barrett has the most awesome vocal range Ive heard in a while.

This is a really great album...definitley my favorite out of them all. "kinder words" "hell of a hat" "dollar and a dream" "bronzing the garbage" and their radio hit "pictures to prove it" are just a few of the songs that stick out. Just all around good musicianship, good lyrics just works out to be some kick ass music.

The band has sure had their line of successes, even in their ups and downs they still remain a driving force to many in the ska scene today. also check out "don't know how to party" which ranks up there with this record...but they're all great. Hell, any of their albums are well deserved of a 7 or more. Check this out.

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klasticono (November 5, 2003)

What an amazing album. I wouldn't really have them improve a thing (besides, perhaps, a few sub-par lyrics). It's unique, catchy, has a lot of range, perfectly-employed horns.... And I love Dicky's voice. Too bad there aren't more songs. I need to buy more Bosstones CDs.
The best tracks, in my opinion, are Hell of a Hat, Toxic Toast and A Sad Silence.

popetastoc (March 18, 2002)

The best Bosstones cd. Thye have yet to put up a cd so good from beginning to end. The first four tracks and last four tracks are incredible. The horn section really shines on this cd, even more so since Nate's guitar sounds so damn awesome. Check out "Kinder Words," "Jump Through the Hoops," "Toxic Toast," "A Sad Silence," and "Dogs and Chaplains."

Anonymous (March 17, 2002)

if udont like the bosstones fuck off, they are a very talented and unique band, catchy horns, awesome bass,and nate does a great job on guitar, there are a lot of tru and loyal tones fans out there but they take a lot of criticism for lets face it because in a way they sold out, give 'em a break, this was a great album and great lyrics
b tones rock!

degenerate (March 15, 2002)

not bad, pretty tight musically but the singers voice just doesnt work. if u want ska then get less than jake or reel big fish, both of which kick the bosstones ass!

Anonymous (March 6, 2002)

To be honest I dont really like it, however the brilliance of "sad silence" is definately worth a mention. I would listen to Dicky growel to no effect and just irritate me if I could listen to this track at the end (oh yes its that good). Maybe my tastes leave a lot to be desired but this track is not appreciated like it should be. Forgive the cheese but this song gives the bosstones the 2nd mighty as the first was simply put there to sound well, err good I suppose - debatable that may be.

Anonymous (September 18, 2001)

Well talking about how Dicky doesn't "growl like he used to", He made an announcement before "Let's Face TI" came out. And that was that he felt he was tearing up his voice way too much,a dn he was going to stop screaming as much. He didn't want to be 40 years old and unable to talk,a s he'd seen happen to some of the ssingers of bands he admired when he was younger.

I agree that their last two albums (excluding the live on) have not been up to par from their old stuff, but i respect their decisions. They dont want to make any albums that sound the same, adn they succeeded. None of them do. I think this album is good, but nowhere near as good as More Noise and Devil's Night Out.

Anonymous (September 18, 2001)

The band wasn't trying to find middleground here to please any labels...how many times do I have to say this..one word, experimentation. Lots of bands do it sometime or another.

cos (September 18, 2001)

again, i must digress.

"Question the Answers" is a direction-less album from a band struggling to find some strange middleground between hardcore metal and ska and appease its increasingly impatient major-label masters.

The true classic is the second CD, "more noise and other disturbances" which is near perfect. There are few better ska-punk songs than "Cowboy Coffee".

--Cos