The Pros And Cons Of Modern Ska
 

I am something of a ska purist/traditionalist who likes first wave (1960s) ska and second wave (Two-Tone) ska, but has reservations about modern ska. Bear in mind that what I'm about to say reflects my own personal tastes, and it is not my intention to offend fans of modern ska. I can see both positive and negative points about modern ska.

First the negative points: To me, a lot of modern ska sounds too polished and rather shallow. It seems to lack depth, feeling and power. And some of the so-called ska-punk hasn't got any ska in it at all. A lot of it is just punk with saxophone.

Now the positive points: At least modern ska (especially ska-punk) is bringing ska music to a generation who might otherwise never have even heard of it. Maybe it will serve as a gateway for them to get into the purer stuff, just as Two-Tone did for me in the early 1980s. As it happens, I'm going to see Spunge and Uncle Brian in my home town of Swansea (Wales, UK) tonight.

Hi Prince Burridge,
Im new here. This my first post here actually. I just came into this one because I like ska and the fans are uaually fun. Your prob gonna hate me for askin this but could you name some first and second wave bands please. I only got into the whole ska scene last year but find it hard to learn bout it! I dont really know what type of ska i like but here are few of the bands i have.
Mad Caddies,
Spunge,
Randy,
Reel Big Fish
Aquabats,
Strung out,
Mighty Mighty Bosstones,
Floggin Molly's
Dropkick Murphys

If i like the new stuff sorry.

Hi Megzer

I'm more than happy to give you information about first and second wave ska! The first wave (1960s) artists were nearly all Jamaican (which is where ska came from and later evolved into reggae). They include Prince Buster (acknowledged as the King of Ska), Laurel Aitken, The Skatalites, Don Drummond and many, many others. The Trojan label does first wave ska compilation CDs which can be found in HMV record shops.

The second wave bands I know of were all British-based (though many of them had Jamaican members), and were at the height of their success in the 1979-82 period. The most well-known is Madness (who later did a lot of non-ska stuff). The others are Bad Manners, The Specials, The Beat, The Selecter, and The Bodysnatchers. Some of these bands still do tours and gigs, but with slightly altered line-ups. Occassionally some of the first wave artists also do gigs.

You don't have to apologise for liking the new stuff. Everyone's tastes are different. I like some of the new stuff myself. I've just listened to a Mighty Mighty Bosstones CD and I thought it was brilliant!

Prince Burridge

Thanks
 

Sorry bout that pressed the wrong button!
Thanks for replyin. The only first wave Bands i knew were the Skatalites. But i knew a lot of the second wave bands! I even went to see Madness a while back! They amazin so much fun! Mighty Mighty Bosstones was the first ska i ever heard!!! They're real good. But i'd say my fave band at the mo is the slackers.
Well thanks again!

Hi Megzer

You're welcome. I think fun is the key word when it comes to ska. It's the most exhilerating and uplifting music I've ever heard! Some of the late 1970s/early 1980s gigs were rough though. At that time, ska's main fan base were skinheads, and some of them were just out to cause trouble. Most fans weren't like that. It was just a minority spoiling it for everyone else. We don't see much of that now, thank God! I guess they were rougher times (a lot of unemployment etc),

Prince Burridge

hi both, if i can come into the conversation, i have the feeling there's a "3rd wave of ska" in the 90's, taht's the revival we're in, and it's true some of the bands inside are just rock-punky bands with a saxophone; especially in France where i'm from there's a revival of reggae ska music at the moment, with several "options", more rock like "La Ruda Salska" and more "Roots" like "Jim Murple Memorial".
For the US part i wouldn't call bands like Slackers and Hepcat "lack depth, feeling and power", even if they cannot be called "first generation" either...
the third wave of Ska is very linked here with all protestation movements, against the war, against globalization, G8, GMO, against Bush... well it's sort of a generation with strong feelings of freedom and what links them is more the claim in lyrics than the roots of Ska, that explains how some bands are called ska for just including a trumpet in the band...
So i'd rather classify the bands by the feeling of ska they have than by year. Lend an ear to "Jim Murple Memorial" and you'll know Rootska's not dead ;)

hope i'm clear, forgive my english as it's not my mother tongue
ChN1

Were you around for the old gigs??
Cool! Sounds good though apart from the skinheads. My mates in england now and he said he's bought lots of ska cds so i acant wait to listen to them when he gets back. And im goin to america soon any suggestions of cds i might like to get. They're a bitch to get here.

Whoa, there some rad bands there.
but Strung Out is not a ska band at all. there just punk.
Dont get me wrong though Strung Out is one of my favourite bands of all time, and im glad to find another fan on this forum site!

I luv strung out! i only have one album though but its deadly!
But any advice on cd's to get in America?? Its so hard to get them here. And they cost loads cause they're specially imported.
Let me know,

I would have no idea, i would be interested to know how much the average cd costs though in the states. cause i come from Australia and a new album is about $32.00 AU, which would be something like $18.00US

Anyways, what strung out album do you have, i got em all, and they all rule!!!

Hi Megzer

I was a teenager in the early 1980s and I was crazy about the music, but I must confess I didn't go to any of the gigs. I know about the violence because I read it in the music press, and some of the bands themselves admitted that there was a problem with an element among their fans. Also, some of the ska 'fans' in the school I went to were thugs. Some were even racist/fascist, which is weird considering that ska was originally a black music. A lot of people didn't know that ska came directly from Jamaica. Some thought it was a British offshoot of reggae or some kind of blend of reggae and punk. Others didn't even know it had any link with reggae or Jamaica.

Most of the trouble makers were only into ska because it was the 'in thing' at the time. When it went out of fashion they moved on to something else. They were not true fans. After second wave ska died out, a hardcore of the skinheads embraced Oi (a form of punk music with a skinhead fan base). Most of the others stopped being skinheads and became 'casuals' (who wore mainstream designer clothing and carried on the tradition of football hooliganism). I have to say that not all skinheads are bad. I've met some who are really cool, including one who is a mate of mine. There is even a movement called Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP).

I'm not really sure what ska CDs you could check out in the USA. Look for anything on the Moon Ska label. They are USA-based and do a lot of ska compilations. They'll also be cheaper over there because they're not imported.

Prince Burridge

Hi ChN1

When I said a lot of modern ska is shallow, I was referring to the music rather than the lyrics. A band could have very meaningful lyrics but the music could still be shallow.

I don't like to bring ethnicity into it, but one of the things I love about ska is its 'Afro-Caribbeanness' (though I am white myself). Most of the modern ska bands are white, and therefore don't have direct experience of Afro-Caribbean life, and maybe this is reflected in their playing. I would also say that those among the modern bands who are inspired by second wave ska take their cue too much from Madness. They would perhaps do better to pay more attention to other second wave bands such as The Specials, Bad Manners, The Beat, The Selecter and The Bodysnatchers (all of whom sounded more 'Caribbean' than Madness).

I'm not saying all modern ska bands are crap. Some such as The Splittters (a British band) and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones are brilliant. Even ska-punk is growing on me. It's just that usually, when I listen to a CD of modern ska, I end up feeling disappointed.

Prince Burridge

Hey!
I'll tell what they cost next week! Hehe! In Ireland ska cds usually cost around 25euros, thats around $30. Yay! ITs such a rip off. Oh well.

I have American Paradox by the way. There are no more albums in the shops here so what are the names of the others? And how many are there? Is there any other bands like them that I should check out? Sorry bout all the questions, just curious!

Thanks,

heya, the albums i can think of at the moment are : 'Anotherr Day In Paradise', 'Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues' , 'Crossroads & Illusions' , 'The Skinny Years Before We Got Fat', 'Twisted By Design' (my favourite), 'Element Of Sonic Defiance', 'An American Paradox'
I think thats all of em.

Ok, other bands ey...um you should diffinatly (if you havent already) check out 'Thrice'
one of the raddest bands ever!!!! and check out 'rise against'

most of todays ska is more punk than ska. but their are the bands that keep it closer to the trad roots and twotone sound. which i always like. but the new stuff is basically punk and doesnt really fit into the definition of ska, but is put there due to the the upbeats and horns. some of it is good, dont get me wrong i like it. but i have grown awaya from the punky stuff.