Fishbone: The Essential Fishbone : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Early on, in the mid-Eighties, Fishbone were a mildly interesting ska band in bohemian clothes -- never as exciting on record as their dreadlocked-and-mohawked appearance or their frenetic live show led you to hope. That changed as they moved into the late Eighties and early Nineties: At their height, they were doing gloomy, tuneful metal covers of Curtis Mayfield ("Freddie's Dead"), experimenting with the shimmering sound of Minneapolis soul (on "Bonin' in the Boneyard") and, during the exultant breakdown at the end of "Everyday Sunshine," serving up faithful gospel praise. "Sunless Saturday" closes out this collection, a fantastic coda that shows this band of eccentrics could rock plenty well, even without bells and whistles.

JON CARAMANICA
(From RS 921, May 1, 2003)