Fishbone
Stockholm Syndrome
*** out of *****
Going into the band's 46th year of existence, Fishbone saw some major changes and public feuds/ personal issues, as only Angelo Moore and Chris Dowd from the original band remain. Throughout all of the infighting the group felt inspired to release their most politically charged album, Stockholm Syndrome.
Moore (vocals, saxophones, theremin) and Dowd (keyboards, trombone, vocals) are joined by guitarist Tracey "Spacey T" Singleton, drummer Hassan Hurd, trumpeter JS Williams, and bassist James Jones. Gone are foundational members John Norwood Fisher (bass) and his brother Philip "Fish" Fisher (drums), and the major difference can be heard with less of a focus on the heavy low-end thumping, but things still remain funky.
The opening number features legendary guest George Clinton, but "Last Call In America" takes its musical cue less from P-Funk and more from mid-80's James Brown as the call for change is fairly smooth funk. Things kick back into more classic sounding Fishbone with "Adolescent Regressive Behavior" which uses punkish energy, random quirky changes and freaky funk as the band bangs forward.
Dowd adds excellent vocals to "Dog Eat Dog" which deploys metallic riffs and "Why Do We Keep Dying" which is pleading reggae with a great guitar solo. Two of the best tracks are the quicker direct banging drums and raw punk aggression of "Racist Piece of Shit" and the skanking, almost 50's rocking "Hellhounds on My Trail" both of which don't mince sentiment, railing against those currently in power.
"Suckered By Sabotage" cycles through all of what makes Fishbone unique (punk, reggae, funk, rock) but goes on a bit long. Other missteps are the spacey/new-wavey offerings "Secret Police" and "Living On The Upside Down" whose combo of protest lyrics and dream pop sound out of place next to the other aggressive direct numberings. The slow ballad "Love Is Love" interestingly tries to the end the protest record with long love ballad calling for unity which is admirable in conception but doesn't quite stick the landing.
Fishbone work best when they are raging, for a party, against the machine, or delivering their own unique funky vibes. Stockholm Syndrome keeps that feeling alive at times while also trying out new musical directions, all the while getting as politically active as they have ever been.
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