Feel Like Jumping! [live]

by David Jeffries Live albums recorded by ska revival bands way past their golden age aren't supposed to be recommended, especially when the album in question is reissued, renamed, and has "Greatest Hits Live!" on the cover. Despite all these warning signs, Feel Like Jumping! is a red-hot party by a band with a frontman with a name that says it all -- Buster Bloodvessel. Bad Manners are as powerful as they are playful. Captured live here at some unnamed venue in what seems to be the late '90s (judging from the track list), the bandmembers are also as tight on their instruments as they are sloppy with the vocals, coupling a driven, skittish ska party with wonderful British bowery belting. Despite 22 sweaty tracks whipping by in 66 minutes, the listener isn't going to be exhausted till it's all over. The pacing of a couple hits, then a couple new ones, then a couple covers works splendidly, and Buster and crew quit on a high note, making you think they've got another couple hours in them. "My Girl Lollipop," "Fatty Fatty," and "Lip Up Fatty" are just some of the fan favorites that get righteous workouts here, but the group also offers a wicked and almost out of control "Wooly Bully" and kick Max Romeo's "Wet Dream" up a couple notches. The call and response with the "audience" on "Wet Dream" also brings up the album's only bummer. Nobody's singing along and it doesn't take long to realize the audience is canned -- a tape loop to flush out what was probably a direct-from-the-board recording. It's an old trick from the old Receiver label -- the label that originally released this set as Don't Knock the Bald Head: Live in 1997 -- and while it's a pitiful move, it doesn't interfere as much as expected. The liner notes are decent, and "Live!" is in a larger font than usual, so kudos to Sanctuary for keeping it real and keeping an awesome performance available, faux crowd and all.