PHOENIX CITY ALLSTARS: Skatisfaction (2013)

The stock-in-trade of ska supergroup Phoenix City Allstars (boasting members of Kasabian, Pama International, The Bongolian, The Delegators, Sidewalk Doctors, Intensified, Dub Vendor All-stars and The Loafers) is Studio One ska-style versions of classic standards. As stock-in-trades go, it’s not a bad one and when it’s executed this well, it’ll have you skankin like Frankie Dan. Whereas first LP Two Tone Gone Ska re-imagined seventies and early eighties Two Tone classics, the band’s second effort, Skatisfaction, finds the band cherry-picking Rolling Stones …READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

CRABS CORPORATION: The Many Faces Of The Crabs Corporation EP (2013)

The many faces of the Crabs Corporation indeed! The Sort displays ‘funky reggae’ face, Breakdown adopts ‘James Taylor’ face and, most pervasively, Do It, Hush It and The Hard Mod Beat (the latter two featuring former Belle Star legend Jennie Matthias and UK ska stalwart Andy Keys respectively) give good ‘second wave of UK ska’ face. Indeed, the Jennie Matthias track is not only the sparkliest jewel in the crown on this gem-encrusted drop but a bona fide modern ska classic. Rock it in your car, nod to it on your headphones, …READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

PHOENIX CITY ALLSTARS feat. FREDDIE NOTES: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (2013)

It’s been a while since I was so excited when I heard a track that a little bit of wee came out but who cares about a few drips when something’s this good? A brand-spanking-new, dancefloor-gold ska version of (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction featuring legendary Trojan Records vocalist Freddie Notes and backed by the Phoenix City Allstars who feature members of Pama Intl, Intensified, Kasabian, TheSidewalk Doctors, Dub Vendor All-stars and The Delegators. Now can you see why I’m excited? Thought so. And this is only …READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

BOMBSKARE: ‘Triplet Fiasco’ video (old school skanking masterclass feat. Frankie Dan) (2013)

Did you know there were somewhere around eighty or ninety different styles of ska dances back in the day – all with their own name? Nope, me either. Nor, it seems, Bombskare, “Scotland’s ska juggernaut”), who were dismayed to find that these ‘skanks’ are apparently undocumented. Given that it’s the sort of history unlikely to turn up on the new curriculum of that prick Gove, the band invited original dancehall champion Frankie Dan to …READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

DAYTONER: Treat Me EP (2013)

One of my favourite tracks off Daytoner‘s Sunburst Radio LP from last summer was the Motown-groove-with-nineties-indie-vocals of Treat Me. It was clearly single material and is here given the full EP treatment with remixes from Suonho and Tenoshi. Suonho replaces that sixties Motor City beat with something that’ll have them trippin’ …READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

THE CAROLOREGIANS: UK tour (2012)

THE CAROLOREGIANS: UK tour (2012)
Ahh Belgium – famous for luxury chocolate, lager for wife beaters (allegedly), and boss reggae. Er – rewind a second – it sounded like you just said ‘boss reggae.’ I did actually – and with soul-fied heavy syncopation to boot. That’ll be The Caroloregians then, who (PR hype has it) rock their shit like The Meters getting it on with The Upsetters. And for once – that’s not wide of the mark – check out Donna Donna below off their latest long player and…READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

LITTLE ROY: Lithium (2011) + video

LITTLE ROY: Lithium (2011) + video
Studio One legend Little Roy releases his sixties ska version of Nirvana’s Lithium next week. It’s the best track off his Battle For Seattle album (produced by Prince Fatty and Mutant Hi-Fi) and the relentlessly upbeat backing manages to reduce Cobain’s grungey miserablism to a faint undertone of melancholia on an otherwise jaunty number…READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

Chart - August 2011

Chart - August 2011
(NEW) 1. Totalcult – Cyan Rock Steady

Massive hip-hop skank and MB’s favourite Totalcult track to date…READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

HARVEY K-TEL: Ranking In The Deep (2011)

HARVEY K-TEL: Ranking In The Deep (2011)
RATING: 5/5
I had a rank in the deep once. It was nearly as good as this. And by ‘this’ I mean the latest effort from the man named Harvey K-Tel. Like one DJ Shepdog before him, K-Tel works his mash-up magic with a certain Adele acapella but substitutes Sly & Robbie for something a little more upbeat and rocksteady – sounds a bit like an old number by The Jamaicans. And what do you know? This refix is just as good…READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM

JOE DRISCOLL: Mixtape Champs (MR BENN ‘Nod To The Creator’ mix) – 2011 – Free download 26 April

JOE DRISCOLL: Mixtape Champs (MR BENN ‘Nod To The Creator’ mix) – 2011 – Free download 26 April
RATING: 5/5
Personally, I would have paid cold cash money for this on a slice of wax since Mr Benn has once again delayed his own solo LP to apply his boom-skankin Midas touch to folksy-roots-hopper Joe Driscoll’s original. However, in the words of Mr Benn himself, “Just got the word from Joe D, this is gonna be released on 26th April and even better, it’s gonna be given away absolutely free.” Free yes, but alas, digital-only wax heroes! Ironic really, seeing as…READ FULL POST @ MONKEYBOXING.COM