HMX Recommends Ska (re: Podcast Episode 35)

[HMXPope]

If you haven't already checked it out, on this week's podcast we talked at length about one of my favorite musical genres, Ska. Give the podcast a listen if that interests you, and let's start a discussion like we did with Hardcore Punk about your favorite Ska bands and albums!

Here's three from me:


The Specials - The Specials
Produced by Elvis Costello, this 2nd wave band's debut album is a scorcher from start to finish. I guarantee you 100% if you put this record on at a party, people will dance. The Specials defined what was known as the 2-Tone era of Ska, and this album stands as THE DOCUMENT that music archaeologists will look to for explanations of what was happening in late 70's England. The influence of the burgeoning punk scene is hugely prevalent, but the songs retain a dancey musicality that the Specials' punk contemporaries rarely could pull off. And, man, did these dudes have style!?! These songs are ON POINT politically and socially, espousing the youth's desire for racial unity in Thatcher's England. Key tracks: A Message To You Rudy, Doesn't Make It Alright, and Concrete Jungle.


Desmond Dekker - Rudy Got Soul 1963-1968
Desmond Dekker is pretty widely accepted as the originator of Ska music. Toots and the Maytals (another early pioneer) even wrote a song admitting that Desmond came first and that Toots was second! Dekker is absolutely essential listening if you want to hear the music in its original form. His voice is one of the best in music history, right up there with the greats of Motown and Stax. Dekker's influence gained fans all over the world, with the Beatles' "Obladi Oblada" being their homage to him, even naming that song's main character after him. Almost every ska band you will see play will cover a Desmond Dekker tune. My favorite thing about Dekker is how his songs started off entreating the youth to follow their mother and father's rules, but then transitioned into a Rude Boy singing about being rough and tough. Key tracks: 007 (Shanty Town), A It Mek, Intensified.


The English Beat - I Just Can't Stop It
Coming up at the same time as The Specials, The Beat (known in the states as The English Beat to differentiate from another US band called The Beat) knocked it out of the park with their debut album. The dueling voices of singer Dave Wakeling and "Toaster" Ranking Roger makes the band's sound a unique one. Toasting was sort of an early form of rap started in Jamaica, with DJ's spinning dub reggae/ska tracks and freestyling over them. This album is also solid from start to finish, with some straight up traditional ska/reggae covers, to more straightforward pop/rock songs. Key Tracks: Two Swords, Whine & Grine/Stand Down Margaret, Mirror in the Bathroom.

[hmxhenry]

I am nowhere near the ska superfan that HMXpope is, so my picks run a little newer and veer more towards punk or ska core.

Less Than Jake - Losing Streak

I had never heard of these guys when I saw them play at a festival in '96, right as Losing Streak was released and they blew me away. Most of the bands I was into took themselves so seriously, and projected such a serious stage presence, so seeing these guys running around with trombones, goofing on each other and eventually stripping while throwing scratch tickets into the crowd was a real mind blower. This album is tons of fun, with songs about Johnny Quest, breakups, stealing cars and rock and roll pizzerias. One of my most reliable go to pick me up records.

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - More Noise And Other Disturbances

From full on party anthems to songs that will make you skank until your legs are tired, this album is jam packed full of energy. Lead singer Dickie Barrett's distinctive growl is an awesome complement to the peppy, upbeat horns. "Awfully Quiet" is a schizophrenic tribute to the calming attributes of noise, "Where'd You Go" is a non stop sing along and their cover of Slapshot's "What's At Stake" puts a fierce funk spin on a hardcore classic. Not to be missed!

Catch 22 - Keasbey Nights

A surprisingly sensitive album, mixing raucously defiant horns and group shout outs with songs about depression, death and mortality. Sometimes touching, sometimes tender, sometimes angry, this album stands out as one of the more thoughtful modern ska albums I've heard.

[HMXThrasher]

I only have one - and its the most important ska recommendation, nay, BAND recommendation, you'll ever receive. Now pay attention closely...it's a now-defunct, but purely legendary, outfit called Headboard.
Learn more here:
http://www.headboard.com/headboard_history.html

[HMXthebeststeph]

Hey, it's me, thebeststeph. Hey. Hey, guys. I only have a couple of recommendations.

Operation Ivy, Energy
I received a copy of this tape when I was a wee lass of maybe 14, and I loooooved it. I played that cassette non-stop. The album, of the ska punk variety, was originally released in 1989 on iconic Lookout! Records and then rereleased in 1991 as a CD with an added eight tracks from the band's EP, Hectic. Energy is an all around great album, but some of my personal favorite tracks are "Bombshell," "Take Warning" and, of course, "Sound System".

The Ethiopians, Engine '54: Let's Ska and Rocksteady
Let's ska and rocksteady indeed! The Ethiopians are a Jamaican band that got together in 1966, and Engine '54 is their first album. It features the classic ska reggae track, "Train to Skaville". Other songs that highlight the band's smooth vocals and fun horn section include "Come On Now", "Train to Glory" and, of course, "Engine 54". These dudes like trains.

[JTHomeslice]

Yeeeah~! I love ska! 3rd wave to be more specific. I fully back Keasbey Nights and the Streetlight version is great as well. I'm also with Steph on Op Ivy. The collection Hellcat released a while back was a great find for me.

Reel Big Fish
Man, Reel Big Fish is one of my favorite bands ever. They, along with TMBG, were one of the bands that got me seriously into music. The mix of upbeat, fun music with depressing lyrics is wonderful. Not all their songs have depressing subject matter though, "Trendy" is about their rising popularity in the 90's, "She Has a Girlfriend Now" is about a girl who leaves Aaron for another girl (this actually happened to one of my friends!), and "In the Pit" is about moshing meathead jerks. They also do some of the best covers around. "Take On Me" is GODLY. Turn the Radio Off is their best studio album, but I'd recommended either getting Our Live Album is Better Than Your Live Album or their recent greatest hits album if you want to check them out.

Streetlight Manifesto
After Keasbey Nights, a bunch of members of Catch 22 left the band and later formed Streetlight Manifesto. This is one of the best ska bands past the ska boom in the late 90's. All their albums are super great, even their rerecord of Keasbey Nights.

I also want to note The Arrogant Sons of *****es and The Aquabats. People, go here and download Three Cheers for Disappointment. You won't be disappointed. Also check out Bomb the Music Industry on there. They're kinda ska and kinda a whole bunch of other stuff but all awesome. And I got into The Aquabats with the release of Charge!!, a departure from their previous ska sound. It was more of a synth rock album, but still super fun and awesome. The Fury of The Aquabats! is, in my opinion of course, their best album of their ska sound. It even has Travis Barker drumming on it! And their newest album Hi-Five Soup! is also a super fun synth rock album. How can you not like an album with fuggin Biz Markie and Strong Bad on it?!

I love ska and you should too.

[TheAuthorityClinton]

Nice discussion. I'm glad you finally mentioned that The Slackers is indeed available on RBN. One of our authors plays in The Toasters and is on the road with them right now. When their next record is done we should be putting out a song or two from it.

Check out Everyday Is Sunday by The Slackers now on RBN for XBOX! Pass it on.

[SCFox]

I agree wholeheartedly with JTHomeslice.

I love 3rd wave ska! Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, and The Aquabats can always put me in a great mood.

[skyttskytt]

Mad Caddies - Just One More
I'm not hugely knowledgeable about ska, but I figured I'd add one to the mix since I definitely enjoy the sound. I found these guys from a couple songs scattered across various Warped Tour CDs I had bought back in the early 2000s and have followed them since. They're a kind of ska punk band, and have all kinds of different sounds across, and even within, their albums. I'm going to try to link some of their more horns-heavy songs, because a lot of their stuff is pretty heavily split up across different genres.

Silence (this one is live and faster tempo than the studio version I have, hard to find the studio version for some reason)
Spare Change
Villains
10 West
Last Breath
Drinking For 11 (probably their most well-known song)

I've been listening to some of the stuff that Pope had recommended to me over twitter (yes I did pay attention ), and so far have gone through a bit of The English Beat and The Selecter and enjoy both of them and would recommend them to others.

[thedaniel]

I feel the need to seconed Operation Ivy strongly. If you haven't listened to it then go do that.

I'll recommend The Offs. First Record is great.

Some songs
You Fascinate Me
Everyone's A Bigot

[HMXPope]

i've been listening to some of the stuff that pope had recommended to me over twitter (yes i did pay attention ), and so far have gone through a bit of the english beat and the selecter and enjoy both of them and would recommend them to others.

this makes me so happy!