Common Rider - What Operation Ivy should have become. This is the Singer from Op Ivy's newer band. Unfortunately they broke up a while ago. But the music is still amazing. What you loved about Operation Ivy is here (brilliant lyrics and good basslines and great ska influenced music). The band is full of good musicians. They aren’t amazing but they’re good. The guitar work is simple but catchy, the bass lines are good but not overdone and the lyrics are what you would expect from an Operation Ivy songwriter.
- - You can get some songs off of this [url=http://www.lookoutrecords.com/sounds/index.php3?bnd_id=273&sd=218509379]website[/url] and this [url=http://www.mp3.com/common-rider/artists/338238/summary.html]website[/url]
- - They recently released a split with Against All Authority and you can listen to a song on [url=http://www.purevolume.com/aaacr]purevolume[/url]
Dance Hall Crashers – A group lead by 2 female singers and good musicians. The girls can really sing but the music gets a bit repetitive. Since there really aren't many other female fronted ska bands that is generally ok. Their old stuff is closer to two tone, and their newer stuff is a lot poppier. They don’t really tour anymore, but they do have a [url=http://www.myspace.com/dancehallcrashers]myspace[/url].
Daycare Swindlers – A punk band that has some really good skapunk songs. They’re broken up now but they were supposed to be a very good live act. From their website: “80's influenced melodic hardcore punk rock with some ska-influenced songs.” They have some mp3s on their [url=http://www.dcswindlers.com/news.htm]website[/url].
Distorted Penguins - Ska/Alternative/Rap – Zappa introduced them to me, but they are kind of local to me (ie within 3 or 4 hours). Their debut cd was good and their new cd is even better. They have a lot of talent and potential. They also have a [url=http://www.myspace.com/distortedpenguins]myspace[/url] and a [url=http://www.purevolume.com/distortedpenguins]purevolume[/url].
The Filaments - British punk band, mostly play punk, but when they play ska they do it bloody well. There's a new ska track in the works which is amazing, let's hope it's on the next album! They have a [url=http://www.myspace.com/thefilaments]myspace[/url] but they aren’t together anymore.
Fishbone – They sometimes play ska. Usually they play so many genres that you can’t define what they are. Very talented and diverse. They've drifted from ska since their earlier stuff into more experimental and varied stuff, but its all very good. You can watch a video for their cover of sublime’s date rape on their [url=http://www.myspace.com/fishboneisredhot]myspace[/url] assuming it works on your computer…
Five Hours by Ska Pirate - Five Hours are a pop punk band with a ska flavor (no horns), from Louisville, Kentucky. They wrote extremely catchy songs such as "Peanut Butter and Jelly" and "No racist soul". The bass lines will blow you away, and it's just the kind of music that will have you dancing and singing along - if you can keep up. They broke up in either 2001 or 2002, and everyone is still waiting for a reunion show. They have a [URL=http://www.purevolume.com/fivehours]purevolume[/url] and a few songs for [URL=http://music.download.com/fivehours/3600-8721_32-100367378.html]download[/url] and a [URL=http://www.myspace.com/fivehours]Myspace[/url]
Five Iron Frenzy - Whats that? A listenable Christian band? Yeah, there are going to be a total of two on this list (well, technically Chris Murray and the Slackers have songs that mention god but I mean ones that have songs directed at youth group kids). In any case, they’ve broke up a while ago. The guys voice is amazing though. The band is pretty good too. You can listen to a few songs at their [url=http://www.myspace.com/fiveironfrenzy]myspace[/url].
The Forces of Evil - the singer from Reel Big Fish's side project. They are really good pop ska band. Poppy yes, but the songs are more like early Reel Big Fish, only the singer's voice has gotten astronomically better. These guys are probably fun as balls live. They have a bunch of free songs on their site... here: [url=http://www.theforcesofevil-ska.com/fofmp3s/Angry%20Anthem.mp3]Angry Anthem[/url], [url=http://www.theforcesofevil-ska.com/fofmp3s/Go%20To%20Hell.mp3]Go To Hell[/url], [url=http://www.theforcesofevil-ska.com/fofmp3s/Maybe%20I%27m%20worong.mp3]Maybe Im Wrong[/url], [url=http://www.theforcesofevil-ska.com/fofmp3s/Mistake.mp3]Mistake[/url]. And if you want to see a [url=http://www.myspace.com/forcesofevil]myspace[/url] page, you can
Game Show Host - They call themselves ska-dub-reggae-core, and they are pretty much veterans of the local (Portsmouth) scene now. I really really liked them when I saw them, they seem really laid back and the saxophone player used to work at the bar at the venue. I haven't seen them play anywhere for ages, I can only assume they're on some kind of hiatus, hopefully not permanent! Download Segregate, DHF, and A Change Is As Good As A Rest from [URL=http://www.purevolume.com/gameshowhost]purevolume[/url].
Harpoon Larsen - Ska-punk stuff, sometimes reminiscent of Big D. I haven't brought a proper copy of their new EP yet, but I'm hoping it's better recording quality than the last. They've only been around a year, but they've been on nearly every ska bill in the area since (a combination of luck and judgement), and also the guitarist seems to be everywhere I go - even when I'm in London or at Reading! They have a [URL=http://www.purevolume.com/harpoonlarsen]purevolume[/url] and a [url=http://www.myspace.com/harpoonlarsen]myspace[/url]. They’re unfortunately breaking up soon.
The Hippos – The Hippos are one of my favorite bands. The Hippos fit the ska sound, sort of, but I wouldn’t call them a ska band. Their first album was ska, then they went all moogy. They made beautiful synthy music and had some great lyrics. You might be able to listen to We’re Here [url=http://www.fanscape.com/Music/Punk/The-Hippos/32014.aspx]here[/url] on Fanscape
The Impossibles – This is skemo, that is, ska and emo. Some of the most creative and imaginative lyrics sung and screamed over great ska and pop-punk riffs. Anthology is one of my favorite albums ever.
- - EXTRA SONGS: [url=http://www.fueledbyramen.com/mp3/the_impossibles-widowmaker.mp3]Widowmaker[/url] and [url=http://www.fueledbyramen.com/mp3/the_impossibles-enterreturn.mp3]Enter, Return[/url]
Jaya the Cat - I don't really know what it is about them. Their lyrics are really good, but other than that, all the music is pretty simple. It just sounds so good together. They are probably my third favorite band on here. See what I mean by visiting their [url=http://www.myspace.com/jayathecat]myspace[/url]
The Junglists - Another band that Kith can testify for, they're ska-ish with a violin. They are lovely guys, and are climbing the ladder of scene-ness fast. Either go to their [url=http://www.myspace.com/thejunglists]myspace[/url] or their [URL=http://www.purevolume.com/thejunglists/music]purevolume[/url] to get a better understanding.
King Apparatus - Chris Murray's old band. I could not find these online so I broke down and bought them without hearing anything by them except a song on an Asian Man VHS tape. Those albums are easily two of my favorite albums. King Apparatus is a top example of the post RBF poppy skapunk sound. At least on the first album. On the second one the influence is more Elvis Costello and does some really interesting things with ska. This song is more of an example of their first album: [url=http://www.asianmanrecords.com/media/King_Apparatus-Michael_And_Anne.mp3]Michael and Anne[/url]
King Prawn - More rap than ska at times, they sound different than most things. But great. They are unfortunatly broken up... too many of the great bands are... but they are still great to listen to. You can sample songs [url=http://www.kingprawn.co.uk/]here[/url] by clicking on multimedia->sounds
Less than Jake - A starter ska band. A lot of people really like them and claim to love ska. But their ska stuff is really bad. Now that they’ve switched to Pop-punk and their singer has learned how to sing and write good lyrics, they’re actually pretty good. They have a [url=http://www.myspace.com/lessthanjake]myspace[/url] and a [url=http://www.purevolume.com/lessthanjake]purevolume[/url]. I will say, The Science of Selling Yourself Short is a pretty good ska song.
Link 80 by
Peter (ihatecelebrities): Asian Man Records skacore straight out of the famous East Bay. The band is currently on hiatus and has been since 2002, but most fans anxiously await their return. Link 80, although having one name, is basically two bands- Nick Traina Link 80 and Ryan Noble Link 80. Same band, two very different sounds, yet always played that good ol' skacore. Punk vocals and hardcore breakdowns with an occasional ska riff and many catchy horn lines. RIP NICK. Download songs from [URL=http://asianmanrecords.com/media/Link_80-Intolerance.mp3]Asian Man Records[/url] or go to their [url=http://www.myspace.com/linkeighty]myspace[/url]
Mad Caddies - Great band. Trumpeter is probably the best in ska, though the rest of their horns are nothing special. Their musical variety is only matched by Fishbone. Monkeys is a crazy song that captures the trumpeter at his best, but their songs are typically great. They have a few songs on their [url=http://www.myspace.com/mad_caddies]myspace[/url] including Monkeys.