Episode #29: Bringing Ska Back

Well, maybe not bringing ska back to its Third Wave Revival prominence of the mid/late 1990s, but a nostalgic look nonetheless at a genre that was irreverent most of the time, fun all of the time, and even helped catapult bands like No Doubt and Sublime into the mainstream. While those giants of ska are included here, there is also a roster of great ska/punk bands that have their best days behind them in terms of popularity and cultural relevance. However, that’s precisely what Music Hound is here for – to dig up forgotten treasure troves of music that is hidden from everyday view.

Incorporating elements of two-tone British ska, traditional Jamaican reggae and dub rhythms, and even infusing flourishes of melodic punk/hardcore, Third Wave Ska is a genre that brims over with unbridled energy and danceable hooks. While some dismissed the often juvenile or “sophomoric” lyrical content (songs about beer abound) of ska music, the infectious nature of the genre allowed it to breakthrough to the mainstream, peaking around 1998.

Third Wave Revival ska was certainly not monolithic. Some may prefer the ska that feature more hardcore elements of pop-punk or hardcore showcased here by tracks from Sublime, Less Than Jake, Rancid, Operation Ivy, and The Impossibles. Others may opt for the more straightforward odes to Jamaican reggae such as “Bones” by Bim Skala Bim or traditionalist skinny-tie ska like Hepcat’s “Earthquake and Fire” and Allstonians’ “Homeward Bound.” Whether you like your 90s ska laden with lots of horns or sprinkled with punk chords and shout-along choruses, ska music was the product of a rich musical tradition that incorporated a variety of other approaches to make something new and that was at its core simply FUN. Although it didn’t quite have the staying power for the long haul, it’s great to skank your way down memory lane anyway…

Give it a listen and enjoy.

Track List:
1) Take Warning (2:44) – Operation Ivy
2) Earthquake and Fire (2:28) – Hepcat
3) Mass Appeal Madness (3:06) – Spring Heeled Jack U.S.A.
4) Girl Take It Easy (3:54) – The Pietasters
5) Homeward Bound (4:15) – Allstonians
6) Don’t Let The Bastards Grind You Down (2:49) – The Toasters
7) No Face (1:53) – Suicide Machines
8) 40 Oz. To Freedom (3:03) – Sublime
9) Widowmaker (2:07) – The Impossibles
10) Super Rad (3:03) – The Aquabats
11) Beer (3:41) – Mustard Plug
12) Trapped In A Box – No Doubt
13) Bones (3:41) – Bim Skala Bim
14) Stuff (3:09) – MU3330
15) Ruby Soho (4:49) – Rancid
16) Boomtown (2:45) – Less Than Jake
17) Thick Ass Stout (4:53) – Skankin’ Pickle