Ska madmen
Bad Manners make incredibly catchy, fun, and dance-friendly songs that epitomize the ska-pop movement in Britain. Recorded throughout the '80s, this collection is traditional in its approach, leaving out the punk influence that crept in through the decade. A few of the tracks are live, but for the most part this is taken from albums and singles with a bias toward their poppier material. The production is also top-notch, giving the music a wide-open sound that really compliments the approach. The shame of the genre is that there was such a glut of like-minded musicians that many great bands, including
Bad Manners, were lost in the shuffle. But for a solid chunk of British ska with memorable hooks and a great sound,
Vive la Ska Revolution is an excellent choice to begin a
Bad Manners collection. ~ Bradley Torreano