What are the most promising "4th-wave" sensations?

[Aidan]

What new genre does everyone think the 4th wave (if there is one) will emerge as?
Ex. 3rd wave is Ska-punk, 2nd was 2-tone, what's 4th gonna be?
I've heard talk of Skip-hop, and Ska-Jazz, such as streetlight.
I've also heard a few Ska-Remo bands, such as The Flaming Tsunamis.
Anyone else seen some other scenes?

[Skibz McCullock]

Streetlight is "ska-jazz"? That's a new one...

I've said for a while that if a fourth wave were to happen, I doubt it'd be in America. American ska/ska-punk/whatever hasn't changed enough in the last decade. Even though there are a number of bands who are adopting different sounds (though, in my opinion, nothing really exciting), there's not enough of them to really constitute a 'movement'. My guess is that, should there ever be a fourth wave, it will take place in Japan, since there's a lot of innovative stuff happening over there and ska is still in the mainstream. That or Europe; there's a startlingly large number of new bands coming from Europe.

In America, though, I wouldn't be surprised if trad reggae makes a small splash in the media, what with the rise of The Aggrolites and Tim Armstrong's solo album. Plus Lily Allen has seemed to introduce pop-ska to the American public.

[Brixton Beat]

Some dweeb at my work listens to one of the Top 40 stations on the radio, and the other day I heard what sounded like really poppy acoustic ska! Well, I figured out it was Sheryl Crow's new song, and I went home and looked it up on iTunes. ...No, turns out it isn't ska really, but kinda close.

[Brixton Beat]

Well, the 3 main "waves" are separated by musical style, and geographical popularity. That said, there's really no where for ska to go style-wise and geographically. It's been mixed with everything and its pretty global. I mean, unless Poland blows the lid off Polish ska-bluegrass (or Blue Skrass!), then I don't see a new "traditionally viewed" wave happening.

So the question really is "what's going to be the next 'big thing' in ska music?"

Beats the heck outta me. Someone get on that blue skrass!!

[Skibz McCullock]

You're probably right...there won't be as much a new 'wave' as there will be simply a resurgence of ska in the mainstream, which will hopefully give a proper boost back to scene in terms of new bands.

[Steven Denney Shafer II]

I think a more traditional sound has the best chance of getting popular again. Every time I show hip kids ska they always seem to prefer Slackers or the slower ska tunes as opposed to ska-punk.

[Richarduuude777 "That guy with the hat"]

I really hope stuff like Streetlight won't get in a wave.
But I think Roddy Byers opened a good thing with skabilly.

But for what's playing right now and what the bands do, I hope it doesn't get into a wave. Crappy pop-ska-(so-called)punk with rap solos is an mediatic abomination. If something like ska-jazz became popular, I'd shae my legs, but it would be worth it. How about?... ska'n'roll?
...
nevermind

[Skibz McCullock]

I don't know...maybe we're getting too preoccupied with bands trying to mix ska with new genre. Perhaps the next big ska band will just be another really good third wave or trad act.

...by the way, your LeChuck avatar is awesome.

[Aidan]

I wasn't saying I considered streetlight ska-jazz, just many people do. They do have alot of free-form jazz breakdowns.

Am I the only one who bought somewhere in the between?
It was actually number 40 on the top album charts for a few weeks.
Yay streetlight.
And it was 9th on the itunes alternative list.

[Little David]

I don't know if it's the style itself that will be important, or (more likely IMO) it will just be centered around a band or stylistically-related bands that have:

1) great, catchy, original tunes...duh, but it has to be said

2) a fierce vocalist...this is one thing that KILLS a lot of otherwise great ska/reggae bands

3) personal style - stage presence/energy, attitude, personal style (clothing, not being boring, etc.)

sooooo few bands of any genre have all of this. in my opinion, Sonic Boom Six have all of this - Laila is amazing, their genre bending is original and energetic (not calculated like some bands/artists), they are tight as hell (only heard recordings, though), they have some sense of style as people and collectively as a band. even their website grabs your attention. that's what I'm talking about.

personally, I'm more into trad sounds, and I'd love to see a wave of great bands doing this in a fresh way. gotta admit, though, it would seemingly more likely be something more original sounding like SB6, as it's hard to be trad and fierce at the same time. IMO, YMMV, not in some states, ask your doctor if my posts are right for you, etc...

</.02¢>

[Richarduuude777 "That guy with the hat"]

Thanks
I'm a huge MI fan

[Christian]

I have to admit latin ska - especially in Spain and Mexico is actually getting picked up well, I hear in LA there is a Spanish ska set every weekend with actual youngsters! So I might put my money on that. the only thing would be how it translates over into an english speaking audience. I'm mexican but I don't speak spanish thought from what I'm here I'm really digging the latin ska. Also Japenese ska is pretty good and is growing in popularity so this might reach international proportions!

[Skibz McCullock]

I've listened to Sonic Boom Six, and in my own opinion, I don't think they'd become big within the ska community. They have the ska beat on most of their songs, sure, but their sound is just a bit *too* detached from ska to really identify themselves with the genre (which is probably why they don't describe themselves as 'ska' on their MySpace page). I'm sure they'll find their own following, but just not with the ska fans.

However, I could be wrong. That's just *my* take on the subject.