Features

• Original recording reissued

Subjects:  1. Christmas    2. Christmas / Chanukkah    3. Christmas Music    4. Holiday    5. Pop    6. Rocksteady    7. Ska    8. Xmas Vocal Collections   

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (37)

Why This Band Wasn't Considered Among The Elite Remains A Mystery To Me...
The Urge's 1998 release "Master Of Styles" delivers a hard-hitting pure rock sound accompanied by jazz, ska and hip hop elements.The word "flawless" comes to mind at the thought of 12 solid tracks that display originality and creativity all polished by Steve Ewing's amazing vocals.Though none of the tracks could be considered a "filler," if I had to choose the album's weakness, it would be within the song "Identity Crisis."Even "Gene Machine," a cover of an old Bad Brains' song, is quite impressive.Highlights of the album include:"If I Were You," "Straight To Hell," "Played Out," "Closer," "Going Down" and "Prayer For Rain."I would strongly consider these 6 songs for a top 50 songs of all time list!PTMFUS!

Shape Shifter
Funk plain out funk.You can here the wow wow pedals and the funkafied riffs.The songs are so stunning.The first song is a shape shifter "If I Were You" sounds like Funk,Rock,and Jazz.
Great stuff from a great band!
I'm new to listening to rock, but I remembered having this CD a long time ago, but something happened to it, so I ordered it again. The Urge has a really great sound to them, a sort of alternative rock/ska sound with a touch of jazz on some songs due to the trombones added. Favorites have to be: Jump Right In, Played Out, My Apology, Divide and Conquer, and Prayer for Rain. The whole CD seems to flow together, sans for three songs that are considerably heavier rock than the others (Straight to Hell, S.L.O.B, and Gene Machine), but those are still done quite well and are just those types of songs to amp you up for a fun event. Definitely recommend this CD for Urge fans, or fans or alternative rock. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Popular Music    4. Post-Grunge    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Ska-Punk   

Features

Reviews (22)

Agent M is hot
This cd rocks and i had the pleasure of meeting Agent M in 2001 when Tsunami Bomb was opening up for The Living End. I also saw them play at Gilman St. in 2000 and i bought this cd after that performance. The only thing that is missing is the song "Obligation" that doesn't really fit with this album but it rocks pretty hard. They have since drastically changed their sound which is ok but this album is their best.

gooses review
This cd was pretty good.Although I feel cds with less than 10 songs shouldn't be released I bought it anyway.The first song on this cd is what you would expect from the artwork on the cd.I would have to say the best song on the cd is "not forever" because I heard another version of lemonade that was better than the one on this cd which left me somewhat dissapointed after getting this cd.having said that "lemonade" and "marionette" are the other songs on the cd which are of really good quality.People who really like this group will say they enjoy the invasion from within and no ones looking.Because most of the songs on the cd are at the very least acceptable I can see this cd selling well.

My girlfriend got me into this band.
Let me first say that music like this normally isn't my thing. I pretty much just listen to melodic death metal. Well my girlfriend had this cd and everytime we took a drive she played the album. At first I was like what is this happy jumpy music. Than after a while this album stuck on me and I couldn't believe it. Their is just something about this band that I love. Anyways, out of all the punk bands that are out right now Tsunami Bomb are in a league of their own. I love Lemonade. If my friends catch me listening to this oh oh!!! LOL ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Punk    3. Punk Revival    4. Rock    5. Third Wave Ska Revival   

Editorial Review

Reggae's golden age was as bright as the following years have been dim for the once glorious genre. Indeed, it's the work of the pioneers of the '60s and '70s that, more than ever, defines reggae decades after the heydays of Marley, Toots, and Tosh. This four-disc, chronologically arranged box set (in contrast with 2001's similarly expansive but more wide-ranging Read more

Features

• Box set
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

Must have
Next to Tougher than Tough, this is one of the best reggae box sets out there. I hope they come out with a second volume of 1976-1980, that would be sweet!

A Sonic Goldmine
Roots, rock, reggae.The 4-CD set ENDS with Burning Spear's Marcus Garvey.I worried about sound quality with vintage cuts, but the sound is as good as U.S. rock singles from the same periods. And the tunes!Great music, Bob and Peter and Winston and Sly and Robbie had teachers.Hear them.

Very listenable for casual reggae fans
As a person who doesn't even own that one Bob Marley album that everyone seems to have (Legend?), I was surprised to get this as a Christmas present. I must say it was one of the best gifts I got, since it introduced me to this whole world in a very palatable way.
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Subjects:  1. Box Sets (Audio Only)    2. Lovers Rock    3. Nyahbinghi    4. Political Reggae    5. Pop    6. Reggae    7. Reggae Collections    8. Reggae-Pop    9. Rocksteady    10. Roots Reggae    11. Ska   

Reviews (100)

Every New Day
Again, Just for Every New Day, it's worth buying the CD.When your battery's totally drained with all the crap in this world, this CD has the ability to lift you up.Highly recommended.
An amazing album by an amazing band
This album fundamentally redefined how I listen to music.
O Canada ROCKS
Never heard of these guys till 3 days ago, but I had been sung O Canada nearly every night my friend and I attened our hockey games.She finally found the CD and let me borrow it.And man O Canada is AWESOME!
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Post-Grunge    4. Rock    5. Ska    6. Ska-Punk    7. Third Wave Ska Revival   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

underated
They are the most underated band and norwood fisher is the most underrated bassist ever. They are so good. They are a good mix of the red hot chili peppers(best band in the world) and no doubt. THEY ARE AWESOME TRY THeM OUT

This is the one to own...
This is a solid 16 song collection from this reggae tinged, punk inspired, ska influenced, funky alternative rock & roll party band. Needless to say, I love these guys. Most of their albums are inconsistent, but this is the one to own.

Also Consider Crazy 8's "Big Live Nut Pack!"
I'm a big fan of Fishbone, and I really like this album.However, I just realized that another favorite band, The CRAZY 8'S (now defunct) would be popular with Fishboners.If you like OINGO BOINGO and FISHBONE, you'll LOVE The Crazy 8's!(...especially "Big Live Nut Pack!") ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Funk Metal    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Ska-Punk   

Reviews (1)

Solid songwriting and catchy hooks
Elvis Cortez proves once again that he is one of this generation's finer singer/songwriters.While wearing his influences on his sleeve, he shows that the best way do be different is to be better.So yes, Left Alone will remind you of Social Distortion and Rancid, they will show that they can improve on the old formula as well.Although they are an all Latino band, they don't try to market themselves on their ethnicity or makethemselves into cultural charicairtures either (like many celt-punk bands do).They're not sell-outs either.They may not address specific culturals issues in their songs like P-K-Dores or Los Crudos, but their sound definitely comes from a Chicano heart.What may sound like a ska influence to a Caucasian fan reminds me of old cumbias my mom made me listen to.The CD only has one song in Spanish (La Pregunta) and it is a golden oldie from their underground days.This does lead one to wonder how Patricia Day got co-writing credit when it was recorded and released years ago on their own label before they even came into the Hellcat family.Noe sounds better than ever with the higher production quality and Ramrod keeps all of the songs moving. This is highly recommended for anyone who likes passionate, spirited, and fun music. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Punk Revival    3. Punk-Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Ska-Punk   

Editorial Review

Frantic touring and sudden stardom took their toll on the Specials. On their first album they'd sung "Too Much Too Young" and now they were living it. Read more

Features

• Enhanced
• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (15)

An odd, odd album...but great!
I agree with everybody else that the first Specials album was probably the greatest ska album ever--a fist-pumping pleasure from beginning to end.However, I cannot help but admire Jerry Dammers' artistic courage in refusing to repeat himself, and instead driving the band into new territory on this album.The result was a unique work--incorporating hard ska, dub, lounge singing, and muzak (!) influences into one really strange trip of a record.
Hosed Again
Why do these record companies put out remasters and then remove a song or two from them?One has to wonder where Rat Race disappeared to?It isn't on this cd anymore.Oh, nevermind.I found it on the Hits disc.How Lame.They did the same thing with the remaster of English Beat.Don't buy this crappy version of this cd unless you either can't find the original issue or you absolutely have to have the video of Ghost Town (a pretty good vid) and Rat Race (a pretty crappy vid).

Not The Self Titled ..
Do your best to try not to listen to the reviews saying "one good song, the rest are fillers."
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Subjects:  1. England    2. New Wave    3. Pop    4. Popular Music    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Ska    8. Ska Revival   

Reviews (63)

If you like Sublime, you are in for a treat with this No Doubt CD!
Unknown to many Sublime fans, Gwen Stefanie and Bradley Nowell of Sublime did two duets together.The common one most people know of was on the Sublime cd Robbin' the Hood, Saw Red.BUT, on the No Doubt Beacon Street Collection, Bradley came over and did the Total Hate 95 tune with Gwen.Check it out!

Blue in the face... Caise your always in a hurry....
Beacon Street Collection is with out a doubt one of the best No Doubt cd's they ever produced. Second, barely, to Tragic Kingdom. the Beacon Street Collection is just great, true ska.

No Doubt back when they were ska!
I'm having a hard time deciding if I like this one more than No Doubt's self-titled album. They are both excellent albums and everyone should listen to them at least once. Here's a song by song:
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Post-Grunge    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Ska-Punk    7. Third Wave Ska Revival   

Editorial Review

"Pure Reggae" mysteriously includes Arrow's sizzling soca anthem, "Hot Hot Hot," but let's not quibble. The compilation's interesting conflation of reggae history places Jamaican Brit Millie Small's 1960 international hit, "My Boy Lollipop," next to "Boom Shakalak," an '80s hit from another U.K. Caribbean, DJ Apache Indian. The set opens and closes with Bob Marley & The Wailers--"Stir It Up" and "Exodus"--but it's a reggae grab bag in between. Give thanks for the inclusion of Desmond Dekker's "Israelites," The Melodians' "Rivers of Babylon," and Dawn Penn's "You Don't Love Me." Chaka Demus & Pliers' "Tease Me" megahit and reggae forefather Lord Creator's anthemic "Kingston Town" are also featured. --Read more

Reviews (12)

The Correct Order of the Track Listing
That Track Listing is wrong. Here is the track listing in the correct order:
Great mix
This is one of my favorite CD's. My friends like it, my wife likes it, and even my kids like it. I love the variety, the pacing, and how the songs go from one great song to another.

Good Introduction to Pop Reggae
This CD is a great CD for those who are not great fans of reggae.Is it a down deep Rock Steady Compilation - NO.But if you are looking for somethng to play at a party that anyone can enjoy, this CD works.You may convert a few listeners and then feed them the classics later.All of the songs are fun even if they are not all pure reggae - at least you'll have a CD that doesn't get ripped out of the player and replaced with Britney. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Contemporary Reggae    2. Dancehall    3. Pop    4. Reggae    5. Reggae Collections    6. Reggae Music    7. Reggae-Pop    8. Rocksteady    9. Roots Reggae    10. Ska   

Reviews (7)

Retro 80's. Nice flashback vibe of ska & soul, Like no other.
This is a super album. Not to diss the British but The UNTOUCHABLES master that soul/ska sound better than THE ENGLISGH BEAT. "I Confess" is the only song I can deal with by them. The UNTOUCHABLES are far more intelleGENT with their sound selection. Favorites "I Spy For The F.B.I.", "Freak In The Streets", "What's Gone Wrong", "Free Yourself" etc. I'm not dissing the BEAT but with that beat, they need some UNTOUCHABLE soul..like this!!!!

Great collection - horrible quality
As much as I love The Untouchables and was dying for someone to put all their classics to CD, this is not what I thought I'd be typing here. Cherry Red's remastering has terrible sound quality. Compared to the original vinyls, it sounds like you're listeing to these songs through giant ear muffs. None of the edge and liveliness, neither the great guitar kicks nor the low beaty thumps, that IS the distinct Untouchable sound gets conveyed here.

Excellant UT cd!
For all of you LA based ska-brothers this is an excellant CD! This CD has almost all of UT's good songs! The only songs missing are The General, Tropical bird, Twist & crawl and Dance beat (the singles). This is a"can't miss" cd! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Rock    3. Alternative Pop/Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. Ska Revival   

Editorial Review

While he's generally classed as a ska artist, Dekker's biggest hits, which he recorded with producer Leslie Kong, were prime examples of rock steady and early reggae. But what hits! "Israelites," "007 (Shanty Town)," "It Mek" wrapped the cool riddims around some glorious pop music to become international hits, all led by Dekker's high distinctive voice. To be fair, when you get past the prime period, not everything here is USDA, but most of the tracks here are juicy enough to get you salivating. And when he was great, Dekker was up there with the giants; 30 years later, the best still sounds wonderful. Read more

Reviews (16)

Just try to keep your feet still
I like reggae, but I'm hardly an expert. I first heard of Desmond Dekker after falling in love with "The Israelites" while wathcing "Drugstore Cowboy." I eventually bought this CD, and it's been a favorite for several years. It's a pretty comprehensive catalog of his best work, and there isn't a song on it I don't like.

Dear Rhino, get this back in print now
I have no idea what is happening to Rhino Records. They used to have so many great compilations. Their "Greatest Hits" CDs where better than all their competitors, with percise and dead-on song selection. What are they producing now? The greatest hits of Sugar Ray and Ole Diry Basterd. That wouldn't bother me so much, but all their great old compilarions are going out of print. Please, go back to being the greatest record label ever like you used to be. But enough of that rant. As for Desmond Dekker, if you only need a single album this is the one to pick up. Every song is a classic, showcasing his emense songwriting talents. He is by far one of my favorite Jamacian artists. To pick my favorite song is an impossible task. Most of his big classics is included on this disc, and each song contains incredible lyrics and songwriting skill. Many of his songs have gone on to become rude-boy anthems, and they are certainly worthy of that status. He could create an up-tempo ska tune and a mellow yet not at all weak rocksteady tune. Anyone who wants to venture beyond Bob Marley in the spectrum of Jamacian music has better check out Desmond Dekker.

The first international reggae star
Bob Marley is by far the most famous reggae performer there has yet been, but even he probably owes some of his success to Desmond Dekker (born Desmond Dacres), who blazed the trail for reggae music in the sixties.
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Subjects:  1. Bluebeat    2. Jamaica    3. Pop    4. Reggae    5. Reggae Music    6. Rocksteady    7. Ska   

Reviews (73)

Great debut album, excellent music
No Doubt's first self-titled album is an excellent ska album. It starts off with a really cool instrumental and has a bunch of cool songs that are fun to listen to and are totally different from anything you hear in popular music today.
This album is great!
This was No Doubt's first album and has heavy use of ska and punk elements. You may not care for this style of music, but it is certainly worth a listen. Here's a song by song:
The beginnings of Gwen Stefani's voice
Though a bit Bare Naked Ladies in humor, which I appreciate, my favorite part of this album is listening to Gwen's huge control in her voice; what was she like 19 or 20? She's a huge talent as well as her brother. Though ska driven, I find it fun and quirky, couldn't give it 5 stars though because it does take a certain taste. I found Tragic Kingdom was more structured since it was with a larger label, this is what makes bands successful, but this first album was fun. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Post-Grunge    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Ska-Punk    7. Third Wave Ska Revival   

Features

• Import

Reviews (2)

Don't Argue!
A superb compilation of the A & B sides from every single released by the Specials, STEREO-TYPICAL is a a great collection for anyone who loved the band, Ska, or the semi-underground club scene in which both flourished during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Great Collection and More!
Whether you're new to Ska or a seasoned fan of the Specials, this 3 CD set will be a welcome addition to your CD collection.Unlike so many "out of the vaults" boxed sets we're seeing nowadays, these CDs are not full of stuff that would have been better left forgotten. This is the best and the rarest music from the most important Ska band since the birth of British Ska in 1977.Read more

Subjects:  1. England    2. New Wave    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Ska    6. Ska Revival   

Features

• Original recording reissued

Reviews (109)

Pretty sweet
I love this album. There are a lot of good songs on it and there's quite a bit of variety on this. Some songs are fun, some are relaxing, and some are great to listen to when you're mad! Congrats on a great album, Goldfinger.

Classic
This is a classic 90s ska album.It's just perfect to sing along with.After this, Goldfinger just went downhill.There are a few songs today that are good, but most of them suck.Why did you get rid of the horns John?Whyyyyyyyyyyyy??????

this is talent
This is my favoriot CD.This was before the band got caught up in bad lyrics and peta. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Rock    4. Rock/Pop    5. Ska    6. Ska-Punk    7. Third Wave Ska Revival   

Reviews (7)

Van's warped tour rocks
the 2006 edition of the warped tour compilation is totally cool, you have great bands like Moneen and Anti-Flag, 51 bands for $8 totally rocks.

Depends on what you like in music
I will confess, this is not traditional punk... but if you're like me, I wasn't that big of a punk fan... I didn't like the warped tour until last years cd.It's a very diverse cd.... it has music such as Relient K that are much less hardcore than normal punk bands, and Underoath, who stomp the [...] out of the punk bands.I like the first cd more than the second cd in the set.
Everything about the music!
I was reading through these reveiws trying to see which songs I should listen to first ( I can't ever just dive into a cd, I need someone to tell me where to start) and I started to get really ticked off. People are complaining about bands not being "punk" enough and the tour having lost its credibility. Well, news flash people. Its about the MUSIC not the LABLES WE PUT ON IT!
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Emo    4. Pop    5. Post-Hardcore    6. Punk Metal    7. Punk Revival    8. Punk-Pop    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop Collections    11. Ska-Punk    12. V/a Compilations   

Features

• CD-single

Reviews (23)

Fun CD to listen to
I can't speak with authority as to the styles of music on this compilation because I don't listen to a lot of it. The only band on this CD I'm familiar with is Dropkick Murphys, but I bought it to try something different and for the most part enjoyed it. Not every song is a keeper, but most are good to listen to. I liked the Murphys song as well as the ones by Hepcat, The Business, Voodoo Glow Skulls and Swingin' Utters. There is a nice mix of punk and ska and I'm sure other styles I don't know the terminology for. It's a strong compilation and a good way to try out new bands and new musical styles.

Punks Learn How To Loves Ska On This CD!
As we all know that Hellcat records is owned and runned by Lars from Rancid. Well being a punk, I know that right now, all that is considered 'punk' is either A)This main-stream crap which sucks badly or B)All these emo and hardcore/metal bands appearing in the underground right now. So being a dude waiting for some new punk band to change everything in the punk genre...they havent made it. Punks should steer clear, but SKA FANS LISTEN UP!!
(For those of you unfamiliar with the Give 'em the boot series, it is a sampler series of bands on the Hellcat Records label.The label has an eclectic mix of punk/hardcore bands and ska/reggae/dub bands)Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Hardcore Punk    3. Pop    4. Popular Music    5. Punk    6. Punk Revival    7. Rock    8. Ska    9. Ska Collections    10. Ska-Punk    11. Third Wave Ska Revival   

Features

• Explicit Lyrics

Reviews (87)

Why all the complaining?
This CD is, for the most part, classic MEST.I don't know why many people seem to disagree."Take Me Away" is one of the best rock songs of the year, not some screamo garbage or standard pop-punk.It is such a cool song."Graveyard" is another standout.All that's missing is the FUN MEST - I love cruising in my RX and listening to "Destination Unknown" and I hope MEST does another album like that one.But their sound is unique, a gorgeous, beautiful sound."This Time" is an emotional ballad better than anything Coldplay could ever write.As a band, the performances are the best on this CD, but the songs are not ALL good (most are.) MEST has the potential to break the sound barrier with their next CD if they combine the rocking fun of "Destination" with the musical sophistication of this album.Tony if you read this don't ever give this up.You guys will have your time on top of the world, and it will all have been worth the wait.

Are you kidding?
I simply can't believe that the band who wrote "drawing board", "cadillac" and the entire s/t punk masterpiece of 2003 could be behind this crap, but they are. "photographs" is a complete 180 from past mest releases, and I for one plan to never buy a mest record or go to a mest show again. Bands who change so much shouldn't even continue under their old name. Change the sound? Change the name. Simple as that.

This is everything but mest
What the hell!!! My friend bought me this album for my birthday and it looked to be a darker and more mature Mest. I put it in my stereo and this is not Mest they have turned pop as hell! Mest is the band that wrote "Drawing Board" "Cadillac" and "Breaking Down", this is a new Mest trying to make it to the MTV mainstream, if you thought the old Mest were too punk then you will definitely like this album, but if you're a big Mest fan then i suggest you make your way across the cd shop and go check out Cauterize or Saves The Day ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Pop    2. Punk Revival    3. Punk-Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Ska-Punk   

Reviews (15)

ska-rific
This has become my favorite Bosstones album, bumping 'Let's Face It' to a very close second.'I'll Drink To That' is probably my favorite Bosstones song.In fact, the first seven tracks on this album are fantastic, with the only slowdown occuring at the start of 'Guns And The Young'.It almost seems awkward to have the Bosstones delivering a serious message.Aren't these guys just about partying and ripping through their unique blend of ska-punk-rock?Nevertheless, a very excellent outing and definitely the first album I would recommend for purchase to anyone getting into the Bosstones.

One of the best small venue bands EVER!!!
I have been listening to the Bosstones for about 13 years maybe 12.I have seen them live countless times.From large venue (Horde tour, Warp Tour) type festivals to club shows.If they ever play a club near you jump at the chance to go. Don't skip to see them on a large stage, just don't get all hyped up it will be a let down.Nothing to do with the Band they sound great, just not the same type of atmosphere as the club gigs.
If u don't know who the bosstones are kill yourself now!
I started listening to the bosstones when Let's Face It came out and even though it's an amazing album More Noise and Other Disturbances is the kind of album that you will play again and again and again.Every bosstones full length has it's own sound and this is no exception as all the tracks are catchy but also make you think at the same time.If you've only heard some of their more recent stuff you'll be glad you picked this up. It is a little short but who wants an album thats over an hour long and sucks?There's no bad tracks on this album so get it now! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Pop    3. Popular Music    4. Rock    5. Ska    6. Ska Revival    7. Ska-Punk    8. Third Wave Ska Revival   

Reviews (15)

buy it now.
If you've heard some good stuff about the slackers, or you just want to listen to some damn good music, buy this album. It is definitely on my top 5 albums of all time list. Vocalist and keys player Vic Ruggiero's amazing song writing ability really shines through in this cd. All 19 tracks are solid. Buy it now.

Vic Ruggiero Rules!!!
If you enjoy roots reggae, great lyrics, ska and a kick arse band these guys are for you.Probably their best album to date even though they all rule.Vic is far and away one of the best singer/songwriter of this generation.The guy cannot write a bad song.Everyone I have exposed these guys too becomes instantly hooked!

Top Deserted Island Disc
Regardless of what genre of music you're most into, The Slacker's The Question is among the best albums of any genre. The Slackers play with an authentic Jamaican ska sound. Ska/rocksteady/reggae such as this by The Slackers is great music. It's got soul, heart, a groove, harmonies, unique melodies, it's usually catchy as hell and it isn't meant to be commercialized! It's meant to be enjoyed and DANCED to!
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Indie Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Ska    6. Third Wave Ska Revival