Band: Various Artists Release: Big Indie Beats: BIB Records Sampler State: MA Label: BIB Records PO Box 441606, Somerville, MA 02144 http://www.bibrecords.com/ Contact: N/A I have mixed feelings about this compilation. I enjoy it, but wouldn't listen to it a ton. There are four Bim Skala Bim songs on it, so it's almost like getting a Bim Skala Bim CD. The CD opens with Bim Skala Bim doing "Three Legged Dog", one of my favorite songs off "Universal". Johnny Socko continue with their polka-ska madness, minus the polka in this song. But with a song title like "If I Didn't Have A Goiter" you know you're getting some pure craziness. Dion Knibb & the Agitators continue with their reggae/rocksteady blend of ska. Ain't sounds reminescent of the Lunachicks, and I don't dig them too much. Concussion Ensemble is great. They have four percussionists and you can really tell. Pretty hard hitting. I don't really like the first Steve Westfield song on the CD, "Electrocute Me". It reminds me of a bad 60s singer/songwriter. Too repetitive too. I like Steady Earnest a lot, but I don't like the lyrics to "Skin it Up". I'm not too down with the pot smoking scene. Metro Stylee are great. Female vocals over "soul garage ska". Johnny Socko continue the madness. The next Steve Westfield song is levels above the first. It sounds pretty rockabilly to me. The Joint Chiefs, who I expected to be a reggae band, aren't one. Their chorus is really relaxing though. Steady Earnest deliver another good song. By then, I'm easily tired with this almost 74 minute CD and i kinda ignore the last 4 songs, even though Rippopotamus aren't a bad funk band, like I expected them to be. For no more than $3.99, it couldn't hurt to own this if you're into the more original side of the ska scene. Tracks: 1. Three Legged Dog - Bim Skala Bim 2. If I Didn't Have A Goiter - Johnny Socko 3. Dont Say I Love You - Dion Knibb & the Agitators 4. Shoveful of Dirt - Ain't 5. Possession - Six Feet Deep 6. Wise Up - Bim Skala Bim 7. Nausea - Concussion Ensemble 8. Electtrocute Me - Steve Westfield 9. Skin It Up - Steady Earnest 10. Nude Reggae - Metro Stylee 11. Vasectomy - Johnny Socko 12. People in the World - Bim Skala Bim 13. Brainwreck - Steve Westfield 14. Drop Out - Joint Chiefs 15. Juma (Way too Long) - Steady Earnest 16. Crunch - Burma Jam 17. Pretty Flowers - Bim Skala Bim 18. Outta Bounds - Daddy Long Legs 19. Swim - Rippopotamus