Ska Discussion- Love it, hate it?

[Dre Okorley]

So, remember that weird special on TV about ska music(I'm thinking it was MTV) about 10 years ago, then it blew up into a trend, along with Moon Ska Nyc? It might be my imagination, but it seems to have lost a lot of popularity since. So I'm wondering, who has been keeping it real and is a diehard fan? There are only a few I'd listen to in the genre, ie. Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Chinkees, BLB, Kemuri....otherwise it's too cheesy to me. But I defintely *love* the Toots, the Skatalites, Desmond Dekker, Issac Green part of the genre.

[KatieKutthroat.]

i really like Toots and the Skatalites.

[Starbursting]

It's not my favorite genre, but I don't hate it.
So I like it.
Voodoo Glow Skulls is one of my favorites, so is Less Than Jake.

[hairsprayqueen]

I love ska, but I'm more into the third wave ska I guess (streetlight manifesto, big d etc)

[TheOtherAndrew]

So, remember that weird special on TV about ska music(I'm thinking it was MTV) about 10 years ago, then it blew up into a trend, along with Moon Ska Nyc? It might be my imagination, but it seems to have lost a lot of popularity since. So I'm wondering, who has been keeping it real and is a diehard fan? There are only a few I'd listen to in the genre, ie. Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Chinkees, BLB, Kemuri....otherwise it's too cheesy to me. But I defintely *love* the Toots, the Skatalites, Desmond Dekker, Issac Green part of the genre.
I've been meaning to check out the Chinkees for a while, but got less enthused when I realized their singer (Mike Park) has a few solo records and they're not that great. Are they that good?

[KatieKutthroat.]

I love ska, but I'm more into the third wave ska I guess (streetlight manifesto, big d etc)

same here.
my favorite is Catch 22 circa Keasbey Nights and Streetlight. oh, and BOTAR.

[Starbursting]

same here.
my favorite is Catch 22 circa Keasbey Nights and Streetlight. oh, and BOTAR.


I forgot Streetlight Manifesto, that's also one of my ska likes.

[Dre Okorley]

Just recently heard Streetlight. Though I'm not too impressed with pop ska and the genre in general (minus the few bands I listed), I can see them having a good future.

[versus_god]

I'd hate to seem like I'm all over this guy's nuts but this thread (http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=265931) is a great read for anyone interested in ska music.

[Starbursting]

same here.
my favorite is Catch 22 circa Keasbey Nights and Streetlight. oh, and BOTAR.


I like your avatar, Katie.
It'd look awesome if it was bigger.

[KatieKutthroat.]

I forgot Streetlight Manifesto, that's also one of my ska likes.

have you listened to Catch 22? Because if you havent, you should.

[Dre Okorley]

I've been meaning to check out the Chinkees for a while, but got less enthused when I realized their singer (Mike Park) has a few solo records and they're not that great. Are they that good?
I liked their sound. I'd check out "The Chinkees Are Coming", and I believe you can preview songs off of Amazon. I think what i really liked about them was their anti-racist message and bluntless about it.

[hairsprayqueen]

have you listened to Catch 22? Because if you havent, you should.
Katie, your other avatar was awesome! ah well


to me Catch 22 and Streetlight sound too similiar (well.. duh.. same dude right?) love it anyway...

i really like the aquabats and Mustard plug though (more third wave stuff)

[Starbursting]

have you listened to Catch 22? Because if you havent, you should.


Yeah, I've probably listened to every Victory Records band in my time.

[versus_god]

Katie, your other avatar was awesome! ah well


to me Catch 22 and Streetlight sound too similiar (well.. duh.. same dude right?) love it anyway...

i really like the aquabats and Mustard plug though (more third wave stuff)

I just got my Cadet Package. Totally sweet.

[KatieKutthroat.]

I like your avatar, Katie.
It'd look awesome if it was bigger.

haha, some day I'll hit 10k and it will look awesome. thanks though.


Katie, your other avatar was awesome! ah well


to me Catch 22 and Streetlight sound too similiar (well.. duh.. same dude right?) love it anyway...

i really like the aquabats and Mustard plug though (more third wave stuff)

Which one? haha, I've changed it like, four times today. I can't decide on one.
and I love Mustard Plug and the aquabats. a lot. I also think I'd like any ska band that Tomas Kalnoky was the lead singer of, like C22 and Streetlight.


Yeah, I've probably listened to every Victory Records band in my time.

haha.

[El_Jeffe]

as most people know i listen to a huge variety of tunes, but if i had to pick a favourite genre it would probably be ska. i LOVE it haha. i couldn't care less what the average johnny mainstream music listener thinks of ska (or the american based punk/ska racket of the late 90's) traditional ska has alway always remained consistent since it's creation & is still as prevalent today as ever

such a is criminally overlooked genre. writing off ska music having only heard (no offence to any fans of the following) less than jake, reel big fish, etc is like writing off all rock-based music after having only heard creed, cute is what we aim for, panic at the disco, hinder, etc. we all know & appreciate that rock-based music has a long standing music history & many many many side branches to the genre... but what makes you guys think ska music is any different? ska is such a wonderful genre, with such depth & bands who keep that glorious galloping beat, wailing horns, poetic lyrics, vocal harmonies & are as much ska as they are soul. that's the real ska music. also ska has given birth to rock-steady, reggae, rap/toasting, dj'ing, dub, remixing, electronic effects, dance hall & incorporates all that & more like swing, jazz, punk, funk, soul, r&b, rock. however all that is just the tip of the iceberg with so much fused into many band's sounds, ska music has so much complexity & insight, so much emotion (yes more than "happy") & has so much to offer you guys. yet many write it off as a bad trend, i just really don't get it...

oh & shout out to versus god for linking my thread haha

[Dre Okorley]

as most people know i listen to a huge variety of tunes, but if i had to pick a favourite genre it would probably be ska. i LOVE it haha. i couldn't care less what the average johnny mainstream music listener thinks of ska (or the american based punk/ska racket of the late 90's) traditional ska has alway always remained consistent since it's creation & is still as prevalent today as ever

such a is criminally overlooked genre. writing off ska music having only heard (no offence to any fans of the following) less than jake, reel big fish, etc is like writing off all rock-based music after having only heard creed, cute is what we aim for, panic at the disco, hinder, etc. we all know & appreciate that rock-based music has a long standing music history & many many many side branches to the genre... but what makes you guys think ska music is any different? ska is such a wonderful genre, with such depth & bands who keep that glorious galloping beat, wailing horns, poetic lyrics, vocal harmonies & are as much ska as they are soul. that's the real ska music. also ska has given birth to rock-steady, reggae, rap/toasting, dj'ing, dub, remixing, electronic effects, dance hall & incorporates all that & more like swing, jazz, punk, funk, soul, r&b, rock. however all that is just the tip of the iceberg with so much fused into many band's sounds, ska music has so much complexity & insight, so much emotion (yes more than "happy") & has so much to offer you guys. yet many write it off as a bad trend, i just really don't get it...

oh & shout out to versus god for linking my thread haha

The El Jeffe has spoken.

[El_Jeffe]

The El Jeffe has spoken.

haha nah i'm just fan of the genre like everyone else here mate. this was a good thread & i hope it leads to more discussion. ever since i came to ap (back in '03, but under a different name) i've tried to promote all sorts of ska music to the members here. just recc'ing people bands, bringing up news of new albums, tours, etc. just anything to get people excited & into the the depths of this wonderful genre. it's taken me 4 or so years, but i think (well hope!) it's finially starting to work haha

[KatieKutthroat.]

haha nah i'm just fan of the genre like everyone else here mate. this was a good thread & i hope it leads to more discussion. ever since i came to ap (back in '03, but under a different name) i've tried to promote all sorts of ska music to the members here. just recc'ing people bands, bringing up news of new albums, tours, etc. just anything to get people excited & into the the depths of this wonderful genre. it's taken me 4 or so years, but i think (well hope!) it's finially starting to work haha

I think it is starting to work.
I've seen more ska threads over the past month than I ever have here.
Which is good news. :-)

[xZiggyStardustx]

Yeah Im a new fan. I went to a local show a little while ago and a Ska band performed. Easily the best performance of the night. Ive been a fan of the genre since.

[recall reality]

So, remember that weird special on TV about ska music(I'm thinking it was MTV) about 10 years ago, then it blew up into a trend, along with Moon Ska Nyc? It might be my imagination, but it seems to have lost a lot of popularity since. So I'm wondering, who has been keeping it real and is a diehard fan? There are only a few I'd listen to in the genre, ie. Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Chinkees, BLB, Kemuri....otherwise it's too cheesy to me. But I defintely *love* the Toots, the Skatalites, Desmond Dekker, Issac Green part of the genre.

Good call on the Asian Man Records stuff, I listened to a lot of that stuff back in the day, and still do. The latest Bruce Lee Band record (beautiful world) was great. It was basically RX Bandits backing up Mike Park (and I'm a bit of an rxb nut). There will always be so-called third wave ska albums I'll always like, but I've lost a lot of interest in the genre. I definitely lean toward a more traditional sound now, stuff like The Slackers, Satori, Westbound Train, The Aggrolites... plus catching up on classics I missed. El Jeffe has been great with reccs as far as that goes.

have you listened to Catch 22? Because if you havent, you should.

Keasby Nights will always be a fantastic record to me, and its gotta be the original version. Streetlights sounds so weird to me. If anything, I'm most excited about new BOTAR. Apparently they have a bunch of songs done. A Call To Arms sounded great. The wind instruments, strings, piano and such added so much to the music.

[KatieKutthroat.]

Keasby Nights will always be a fantastic record to me, and its gotta be the original version. Streetlights sounds so weird to me. If anything, I'm most excited about new BOTAR. Apparently they have a bunch of songs done. A Call To Arms sounded great. The wind instruments, strings, piano and such added so much to the music.

I definitley like C22's orginal Keasbey Nights opposed to Streetlight's. It's one of my favorite records of all time. :-)

I'm wicked excited for new BOTAR.
I didnt know they had new songs done. I can't wait to hear some!

[level8loser]

the blue meanies, slapstick, bomb the music industry!, and rocket from the crypt.

nuff said.

[recall reality]

I definitley like C22's orginal Keasbey Nights opposed to Streetlight's. It's one of my favorite records of all time. :-)

I'm wicked excited for new BOTAR.
I didnt know they had new songs done. I can't wait to hear some!

well, not done... but they have a ton of songs written. knowing these guys it could be a while... still, new stuff is coming, and it should be good.

oh and you rule for apparently having the same saxophone as me ha.

[KatieKutthroat.]

well, not done... but they have a ton of songs written. knowing these guys it could be a while... still, new stuff is coming, and it should be good.

oh and you rule for apparently having the same saxophone as me ha.

hahah oh yeah, that was you in that thread.
Yeah, I've been playing sax for about seven years and I just got that sax last Christmas.

[Scott Irvine]

Some of the better shows I've been to have been ska shows. Suburban Legends are always a good time, and Streetlight is a good band to catch live once or twice.

[Dre Okorley]

Maybe I should check out SL...

[Intertwined]

Streetlight Manifesto is pretty effin' awesome.

[x togepi x]

where i live used to have all sorts of ska shows. i miss those days, like freshman year finally seeing the toasters.

[stupidtyonparad]

i dislike streetlight a lot, i think they're too dark of a sound

personally im a reel big fish and big d and the kids table fan
and mad caddies cause they're pirates

[versus_god]

Maybe I should check out SL...

I think they're pretty lame to be honest, but different strokes for different folks.

[noisefloor1989]

Ska is just okay for me.
I really got into the mainstream stuff like Streetlight and ASOB for a while because some kid I fooled around with played them all the time.

I just don't understand how people can listen to it all the time; that shit never tones down. It's constantly moving.

[KatieKutthroat.]

Ska is just okay for me.
I really got into the mainstream stuff like Streetlight and ASOB for a while because some kid I fooled around with played them all the time.

I just don't understand how people can listen to it all the time; that shit never tones down. It's constantly moving.

that's why I love it. Ska always puts me in a good mood. :-)

[emericagal182]

I love ska, but I'm more into the third wave ska I guess (streetlight manifesto, big d etc)

same here as well

[KatieKutthroat.]

I used to only be into third wave ska, but I listen to some of the older stuff now too, as well as third wave.

[El_Jeffe]

I just got my Cadet Package. Totally sweet.

are you familiar with the good man romantic_rights, a poster on ap? he's a big ska fan in general, but also a huge aquabat nut. he see's them live every chance he gets, is a part of that club thing of there's, has the cadet outfit, etc. i'm not into the band, but it sounds pretty fun

I think it is starting to work.
I've seen more ska threads over the past month than I ever have here.
Which is good news. :-)

haha cheers, i hope it's working, cause i don't plan on going away anytime soon haha. i'm not sure if you were a part of the boards then, but the music forum used to be split up into several forums, classified by genre (ie rock, punk, pop, etc) & i pushed for a ska forum, which got a fair bit of support from the members here. but not long after, tate made the music forums all one anyway, which is awesome, i seem to find more ska fans this way

Ska is just okay for me.
I really got into the mainstream stuff like Streetlight and ASOB for a while because some kid I fooled around with played them all the time.

I just don't understand how people can listen to it all the time; that shit never tones down. It's constantly moving.

try some ken boothe, fly my pretties, burning spear, the black seeds (latest album) the abyssinians, pressure cooker, beres hammond, the ethiopians, the slackers (they have both upbeat & really toned down, even acoustic, tunes), the aggrolites (latest album), etc. all fantastic mellow ska & reggae. this is what i touched on earlier about depth to the genre, it's all there guys. like all genres, you just have to dig a little deeper

[versus_god]

are you familiar with the good man romantic_rights, a poster on ap? he's a big ska fan in general, but also a huge aquabat nut. he see's them live every chance he gets, is a part of that club thing of there's, has the cadet outfit, etc. i'm not into the band, but it sounds pretty fun


I've never seen him around but it sounds like we'd be good friends, haha. I don't have the whole uniform yet because shit's expensive, but I've given those guys a fair share of my money over the years (power belt, t-shirts, CD's, concert tickets, cadet package, glow-in-the-dark sweatsuit haha). The Aquabats are just a good time in general, and I think I enjoy them even more now that they've separated themselves from the American ska-punk scene.