• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

SKA IS DEAD!

#21
John Deppel said:
"Although structurally simple, ska has a bevy of influences, synthesizing American R&B, jump blues, Jamaican mento, calypso and other Caribbean styles, big-band
swing, Afro-Cuban jazz, pocomania and other local religious folk music, and European ballroom dances."

"A more rock-oriented take on ska became popular in the U.S. during the '90s, although it was much farther removed from the music's Jamaican origins than the
British version had been."

Most people who you ask, they would describe the type of punk that is popular mostly in the US right now as a cross between Punk and Ska. If you say that Ska has nothing to do with Punk rock, then why are ska bands (such as the Bosstones, LTJ, etc..) on the Warped Tour?
Click to expand...


I didn't say ska had nothing to do with punk rock, there has been a cross germination, but one doesn't make the other.

The fact is Ska was the Jamaican dance music that was inspired by swing, R&B and mento. It became something that was entirely new and unique to the country (and also the precursor to reggae). There isn't any punk influence in people like Desmond Dekker, The Skatalites, Toots and they Maytals or the early Wailers. That came with the Specials.

Just saying you should show respect to the ones who started it, and be concious of the musics roots. Punk breakdowns + horns does not a ska band make.
 
#23
Ok, first, before all the psuedo-"open-minded" wizards wave their "it's all music" wand over this thread, let me say that I'm not arguing about genre, I'm arguing about Music History.

Deppel-I'm sorry if I came off salty. All I was trying to say is that you should look into the history of music, be it ska, punk, swing, polka whatever. You'll probably find some surprises and a lot of hidden gems and diamonds in the rough. I used to be all into ska-punk and thought, yes, that ska was punk + horns. Then I picked up a Hepcat CD, I was taken aback by how "unpunk" it was. I started looking more and more into the past and found that a lot of the roots stuff was better than the modern pop-punk ska that was being played. No disrespect to ska-punk, I still love Slapstick and MU330, all I'm saying is knowledge is power.
 
#24
Against Will said:
Deppel-I'm sorry if I came off salty. All I was trying to say is that you should look into the history of music, be it ska, punk, swing, polka whatever. You'll probably find some surprises and a lot of hidden gems and diamonds in the rough. I used to be all into ska-punk and thought, yes, that ska was punk + horns. Then I picked up a Hepcat CD, I was taken aback by how "unpunk" it was. I started looking more and more into the past and found that a lot of the roots stuff was better than the modern pop-punk ska that was being played. No disrespect to ska-punk, I still love Slapstick and MU330, all I'm saying is knowledge is power.
Click to expand...

Hey man, it's all good. In fact, I was unaware of the early days of ska back in the 60s. I mean, when the "new ska" came out big in the mid-90s, everyone called it "ska," so I figured that's what ska was, and I liked it. I have listened to the older ska, but was unaware that it was also ska, just in its "original" form.

And sorry if I stepped on your toes as well.
 
#26
Timbo said:
Hm.. I love ska.. I really want to see the Mad Caddies in concert. I heard that they put out AMAZING concerts.
Click to expand...

That's funny that you mentioned them in this thread. I went to school with Chuck, Carter (is he even in the band anymore?) Sascha and Mark. I know their lineup has changed many, many times - but it's cool to see that they slowly gathered a very loyal fan base. I still have a couple cassette tapes of them when they were called the Ivy League. They used to open for Skankin' Pickle all the time in Santa Barbara before they got hooked up with Fat Mike - talk about skankin' the night away. Those were good times, good times.
 
#28
I was just listening to the Toasters' "Dub 56" while studying. Great, great album with some really good jazz/funk bass lines. For any of your Brit's (or people going to Britain in the future) pick up a copy of the english release of Dub 56, it's got an bunch of extra tracks from their first live show in LA and the bass is mixed very well in it.
 
#29
jade said:
I saw the tour last year with Catch 22 and the Planet Smashers but they aren't coming to Canada this year. :( They were amazing. I love Catch 22! I guess they aren't big in Canada. They played at a small bar here and there was plenty of room for skanking.

The Frostbite Tour is on now! I'm going to see Guttermouth and Planet Smashers (again) in 8 days! :hyper:
Click to expand...

I'm going to see guttermouth and planet smashers too in Ottawa though. In more than 8 days. I think the 16th of march or so.
 
#31
MAJOR METAL said:
Was the attire for ska in the mid 1990's clothes that look like they came from the swing 20' 30's?.
Click to expand...

Kinda/not really.

The perceived 'rude-boy' stereotype and that of the 'swingster' both wore suits, but they were very different styles.

The rude boy image most people think of with ska was popularized with The Specials, their styles and suits were based on the suits worn by the Mods and Skinheads.

The suits swingers wore were based more off the Zoot suits the Latino community was wearing at the time.

But...a lot of the 'swing revival' bands and 3rd wave ska bands mixed, so I'm sure some ended up looking the same.
 
#35
Was Desmond Dekker listed already? I think so. Anyway, the first "show" Oysterhead did (5-4-2000, was that @Jazzfest?) they played a number of covers and one of them was The Israelites. Trey flubs the vocals at a couple points but Les plays some of the meanest reggae funk recorded.
 
#39
MichaelScott said:
haha cool deal

When ever I talk to some one who says "I love Ska" I always say: "So you've heard of Skinnerbox then??" and I get a blank stare. Nice to know someone else likes this band too.

Ever heard of Checkmate? Another good Ska band
Click to expand...


Alas no, my friend may have though. Are they from the East Coast as well?

My friend's ska collection is significantly deeper than my own. Running the gamut from the Pietasters and the Slackers, to Let's Go Bowling, Checkered Cabs, Strangeways and Gangster Fun. I have some real gems though, the Pilfer's s/t and the NY Citizens' "The Truth About...", both of which are fantastic albums (ska or otherwise). The NY Citizens are a group I'm really sad that I missed, I would have loved to see them live, and it seemed like they toured all the time. With everyone from the Ramones, to No Doubt. If you find their album, pick it-er....buy it!
 
#40
John Deppel said:
Hey man, it's all good. In fact, I was unaware of the early days of ska back in the 60s. I mean, when the "new ska" came out big in the mid-90s, everyone called it "ska," so I figured that's what ska was,
Click to expand...

That's what killed ska in the 90's. Everyone kept hearing the term ska, not knowing what it was. Then the Bosstones came out with knock on wood and everyone was like, "oh, so this is what ska is, I don't like it." Not realizing that it wasn't true ska.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back