Customer Reviews

Band Geek Mafia

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It totally rocks. Take the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, make it 5 times louder, 5 times faster, and 5 times more PUNK! The songs are real moshy, jump around, and beat your best friend silly. Put this in, and any punk fan will be moshin with you. The good songs are all of them, except Left For Dead, which is too slow for me. Hit A Guy With Glasses has hilarious lyrics, like "The science club is pissed and they are after me, they want compensation for the optomitry." Human Pinata is great, and The Band Geek Mafia (The Horn of Justice) is more slow, but hardcore metal/punk and great. Don't miss this. "If we all try to walk the same path together, sooner or later someone will fall astray."

When I first heard Voodoo Glow Skulls' first album, "Who Is, This Is?" I immediately became attracted to their super fast, horn-heavy, ska/punk/hardcore sound. Then I saw them live in 1996 at the Cactus Club in San José, CA and fell madly in love with these seven boys from Riverside. It goes without question that "Who Is, This Is?" is the Glow Skulls' finest CD, with "Firme" coming in at a close second. So, when I found out that VGS came out with a new CD, I was very interested to see if they could redeem themselves after their dismal last attempt ("Baile de los Locos").

And it sounds like they have. Somewhat.

Their newest album, "Band Geek Mafia," starts off in classic VGS style with "Human Piñata," a raucous thrash-fest replete with a compelling bass guitar hook and horns, horns horns. The title track delivers much of the same satisfaction. The juxtaposition of tribal tom-tom drum beats ("And meanwhi! le, back in the jungle...") played off against what can only be best described as Chubby Checker-esque piano riffs - yes, I said Chubby Checker-esque - ("And meanwhile, back in the States...") makes "Stranded in the Jungle" the most refreshing track on the whole CD by far.

What I didn't like about the CD, however, is how easily the boys can fall into the same pattern and commit the same mistakes they made on Baile; by nature ska/punk/hardcore plays hard and fast; but there's a difference between an adrenaline rush and an aneurysm. Apparently, it is possible to go too fast; after a while, every song blends into each other, and the melody is lost.

If you compare this CD to "Who Is, This Is?," be prepared to be disappointed. I haven't heard anything in their following CDs that even comes close to such classics as "Dogpile" and "Ugly Stick." However, "Band Geek Mafia" does have its bright moments. Buy this CD, if on! ly to fill out the rest of your VGS collection. There are e! nough good tracks on the CD that validate listening to it over and over again. Who knows; the rest of it just might grow on you.

Favorite tracks: "Human Piñata," "Brodie Johnson Weekend," "The Band Geek Mafia,"Stranded in the Jungle."

This is a really good CD, but it doesn't even compare to who is, this is?, or firme. VGS sorta changed thie style on this CD. I can still listen to this CD over and Over again, but i'd much rather be listening to another one of their's. This CD is a tad bit slower than before but it is still good. hen you buy thisCD don't be looking for Who is, this is?, or firme, because you will haTE it if you do. Good CD. Get it after you get the other VGS CD's

This CD is absolutely rockin'. It was my introduction to the Voodoo Glow Skulls, and it has hooked me thoroughly. It's got the fast beat of a punk band merged with the unique sound of ska horns. Songs such as "Human Pinata", "They Always Come Back", and "Band Geek Mafia" have great sounds and "Stranded in the Jungle" is downright addictive. I definitely endorse this album; it is a must have for any ska or punk fan.

the band geek mafia is the sexiest vgs album ever, it reminds me of when i broke my ankle and had it in plaster, and i hired out the nintendo game banjo & kazooee. i put it in and played it over and over, so now when i see banjo & kazooee at the video store i intanstly start humming 'love letter' or that 'guy with glasses' song. ohhhhh i love it and so will you it is very skankalicious. besides if it wasn't good mark adkins wouldn't endorse it now would he? yum yum yum yum 4 stars, 4 yums.

I've never been much of a fan of the Glow Skulls' earlier stuff, but this album just really hit perfection on the nose. A lot of people were turned off by the vocals of the fat, bald guy yelling monotone into the microphone. But it's not about that. This album doesn't even NEED vocals as far as I'm concerned. Instead it gives you a wicked super-charged brass section. The only other band I've ever heard come close to that is the Mad Caddies, and they didn't come very close. This is by far the best fusion of ska and hardcore out there, mixed with a Latin edge and taken to speeds guaranteed to get you pulled over even on the Autobon. Every song is worth listening to, and if you eat up this kind of sound, you won't find yourself touching that "Skip" button on the stereo much.

At first, the singer dude sounded all whacked out and stuff so I really didn't like it. But after a while, I started thinking that this was pretty cool, so I started liking it. The horns are kind of funny and also unique because they're used like in different ways and stuff like that. The guitars are like insane and really cool, and so is the bass. So this is a pretty cool CD and I'd recommend it to like ska/punk heads of course. This is kind of what my band sound like except my voice isn't as deep as this guy's.

The best song is They Always Come Back. The cover art is kind of funny, with the nerd guy and stuff. Also check out Aquabats, The Clash (who wouldn't?), River City Rebels, Catch 22, Less Than Jake, and Reel Big Fish.

This is my second VGS cd. The first one I got is Who Is This Is and that really rocked but when I bought this cd it was even better. They keep pumping out great tunes that nobody else can do( that I know of). I definetly recomend this cd because it is the best ska-punk cd to me. I found out about VGS through the Punk O Rama cd. They just all around rock.

I really enjoy this CD, I listen to it a lot cause I never get bored of it. The songs are catchy and they have tons of horns. I love it!

I got this cd for Love letter and The deliquent song. I like them b/c theyre are so different from other bands! this cd is good too!