Fishbone 101 - Nuttasaurusmeg Fossil Fuelin' the Fonkay

In this two-disc retrospective of Fishbone’s career, the first part contains a fairly standard program of Fishbone’s greatest hits. Here we watch the group transform from the uproarious ska jesters of “Ugly” to the monstrously heavy funk band of “Sunless Saturday.” What remained unchanged throughout Fishbone's career was its commitment to merriment and unpredictability. This is part of why the second disc—with demos, B-sides, and other lost recordings—feels just as essential as the songs from the first. Making sure everything had a slightly cacophonous, improvisatory feel was central to Fishbone’s mission. “Pink Vapor Stew” is recognizable as a protean version of “Party at Ground Zero,” while “Alcoholic” was later rerecorded for 1996’s overlooked Chim-Chim’s Badass Revenge. New and old fans alike should delight in true oddities such as “Slick Nick, You Devil You,” “Mister Zero," and an epic cover of Parliament’s “The Goose.” Lest anyone assume this band was nothing but manic energy and silliness, listen to “What Have I Done,” a mournful reading of a timeless reggae rhythm.