From CMJ New Music, July 1996 (p38)

FISHBONE  Chim Chim's Bad Ass Revenge   Rowdy-Arista

Surely Fishbone must be ranked as one of the great live bands.  They may not
be the tightest musicians, and their live magic can't quite be captured on
record, but at their best, they achieve a Sufi-like abandon with their
fusion of funk, rock, ska and rap.  Following some rough years and two
disappointing albums, Fishbone is back on a new label with Chim Chim's Bad
Ass Revenge.  Part tongue-in-cheek goofing, part political manifesto, it's a
return to the kind of all-out ska-funk madness of their earlier albums.
Although guitarist Kendall Jones has left, the remaining members are in fine
fettle.  Between lead singer Angelo's almost operatic outburts, and furious
blasts from the horn section, Chim Chim's best moments have the passion of a
revival meeting.  While three spoken-word interludes set a political agenda,
it's the songs that really get the message across, like the blistering
"Rockstar," which makes some points about racism in the music business.  For
laughs, the mellower "Alcoholic" includes a catalog of the woes being drunk,
including "Makes you burn the spaghetti!"  Few bands can make an
eight-minute song about being stuck in a toilet entertaining; but on "In The
Cube," Fishbone does it.  'Nuff said.  
--Heidi MacDonald

DATALOG: Released May 21.
FILE UNDER: Part at ground zero.
RECOMMENDED IF YOU LIKE: Weapon Of Choice, Funkadelic, early Red Hot Chili
Peppers.