Fishbone: Truth and Soul (Epic)
Everett True, Melody Maker, 15 October 1988
FISHBONE'S PROBLEM is obvious. They're rooted in bitter redundancy and are trying to please too many of the people too much of the time. At various stages on this record Fishbone sound like Phil Lynott, Jimi Hendrix, Ozzy Osbourne, Joe Strummer, Nancy Chapman, Prince, The Untouchables, Steve Ignorant, The Temptations, Sly & The Family Stone, The Special AKA and Curtis Mayfield, and that just ain't healthy. By spreading their considerable talents so thinly they lose sight of their primary quality, the basis round which any group's sound should be centred.
Total word count of piece: 401