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Truth and Soul (1988), Fishbone's second album, captured the band
at their most ambitious, as they slammed back and forth between heavy
metal and funk, throwing in an acoustic number and a cover of Curtis Mayfield's
"Freddie's Dead" for balance. The album expanded their audience
and charted at number 153. However, the band didn't record a new album
for another three years. In the meantime, they made two EPs -- Ma and
Pa (1989) and Bonin' in the Boneyard (1990) -- which basically comprised
several B-sides. Before 1991's The Reality of My Surroundings Fishbone
added second guitarist John Bigham. The Reality of My Surroundings didn't
depart from the band's reckless eclecticism, it refined it. The album
was a hit, peaking at number 49 and receiving positive reviews. However,
the record didn't establish the band as a mainstream success, nor did
1993's Give a Monkey a Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe,
despite their appearance at the third Lollapalooza. Even when the third
wave ska revival began to rise to popularity in 1996, Fishbone was left
behind, as their 1996 record Chim Chim's Bad Ass Revenge -- their first
album for Arista -- was ignored, as was the double-disc compilation Fishbone
101: Nuttasaurusmeg Fossil Fuelin. Despite their poor sales, the group
remained a popular concert attraction, issuing the all-star Psychotic
Friends Nuttwerk in the spring of 2000. Unfortunately, Hollywood Records
had little support for the album and it disappeared after a few disappointing
months. They were dropped from the label the following summer, with side-projects
and various other things keeping them busy during this rough period. An
EP featuring a twenty minute jam with Primus entitled Friendliest Psychosis
Of All was released on their own label in the spring of 2002, followed
by a live album full of new songs (Live at the Temple Bar and More) in
the summer |