Trad Ska vs. Ska-Punk

[JJ Loy]

Hey, hey Skaspoters-

I know we've been having this argument since the 90's, but this is the first time Trad-Ska and Reggae Revivalism is actually taking the crowds back from Ska-Punk. Maybe you're happy that The Slackers and The Aggrolites are the new face of Ska; maybe you long for the days of Less Than Jake; or perhaps you think that all Ska styles can coexist.

See what's been said already and add your two cents:
Ska Blah Blah: Trad Ska vs. Ska-Punk

-JJ

[JJ Loy]

Wow-

When I posted this in June, the idea was to get the discussion going on SkaBlahBlah- so I kind of forgot about checking back.

You guys have started a discussion of your own, and making a lot of good points- on both sides. Thanks.

So, just as a reminder, if you want to chip in to the original discussion, click over to
Ska Blah Blah: Trad Ska vs. Ska-Punk
and add your thoughts to the comments section.

[TavoSka]

i love both!!! forget about skapunk ska core ska 2 tone ska trad...is just SKA!!! and i LOVE SKA!!!!

[Sockhops&Sodapops]

to classify something as diverse as music into genras and sub-genras like "trad-ska" or "ska punk" is frankly in this mans opinion insane, and perhaps I'm barking up the wrong tree when i say this on a website devoted to worshiping one genre, but the way i see it is ska is just music, a sound that is likable, though maybe not universally it is likable, but here people are bickering about what is better, "what is more REAL!?!"
"Desmond Decker could beat up Thomas Kalanoky any day"
"my dad can beat up your dad"
theres no argument, when you read into it it all comes down to personal preference there will be no defined end to this fight, you will always have the ska purest types poking newer ska kids with sharp sticks laughing joyfully at the idea that they can even call themselves ska without hearing 12 different renditions of "Your wondering now" and newer ska kids yelling back in anger "get with the times old man" the sad reality is that ska (though not dead) is endangered and if we keep going on like this we are no better than silly scene kids.

[JJ Loy]

I'm not looking to declare a winner, or even be one. I'm really just curious what side of the fence the kids are falling on today. Like I said, the tastes have been favoring the traditional, lately, and this is merely an informal census- a chance to spout off on the topic.

I don't think anyone's musical opinions will be changed by a few of us ranting on a forum, but maybe we can all find some common ground.

-JJ

Sockhops&Sodapops said:

to classify something as diverse as music into genras and sub-genras like "trad-ska" or "ska punk" is frankly in this mans opinion insane, and perhaps I'm barking up the wrong tree when i say this on a website devoted to worshiping one genre, but the way i see it is ska is just music, a sound that is likable, though maybe not universally it is likable, but here people are bickering about what is better, "what is more REAL!?!"
"Desmond Decker could beat up Thomas Kalanoky any day" "my dad can beat up your dad" theres no argument, when you read into it it all comes down to personal preference there will be no defined end to this fight, you will always have the ska purest types poking newer ska kids with sharp sticks laughing joyfully at the idea that they can even call themselves ska without hearing 12 different renditions of "Your wondering now" and newer ska kids yelling back in anger "get with the times old man" the sad reality is that ska (though not dead) is endangered and if we keep going on like this we are no better than silly scene kids.

[chexas]

i love trad ska but i want the scene to grow and change a little, when ever i go to a ska fest i enjoy the bands that do something cool like adding breakdowns and metal riffs and not as a joke. ska is not a joke which is why i alsways hated the 3rd wave not all the bands made it a joke but some of them did RBF for example. i want the scene to be more than dancing and beer. try unity and solidarity and progression. we all the know the roots but we need to take this somewhere else so we can regain what we had in 94-98. BTW bosstones are a skacore band and they brought alot of people in the scene.

[Sockhops&Sodapops]

fair enough but at the same time i do find that people are just bickering, it may not have been you're intent but this topic has just fueled a very very ridicules fire, and if you are looking for common ground we can all agree that ska is pretty much boss, weather it be "the Toasters" or "Reel Big Fish"

JJ Loy said:

I'm not looking to declare a winner, or even be one. I'm really just curious what side of the fence the kids are falling on today. Like I said, the tastes have been favoring the traditional, lately, and this is merely an informal census- a chance to spout off on the topic.
I don't think anyone's musical opinions will be changed by a few of us ranting on a forum, but maybe we can all find some common ground.
-JJ

[Alex ONB]

I'm really happy to see trad ska & reggae taking over ska-punk. I think ska-punk brought a lot of cool things to the scene back in the 90s. It made ska and reggae more accessible to the young punk crowds and helped in many ways make what the scene has become today. Like a lot of people, that's how I got into the scene when I was younger and I'm not ashamed of that at all (i'm saying that cuz some are!).

These days, ska-punk has become cliché and for me, is more something from the past than something relevant even if the bands are still able to draw huge crowds. Trad-Ska and Reggae Revivalism bands have proven to be more innovative and creative these past few years by keeping their sound real and true to the roots but also by making their own brand of reggae / ska by mixing a lot of other influences (soul, country, R&B, folk, garage, rock, old-school punk, etc.), while ska-punks bands stick to their good old song recipes.

Being a trad-ska musician myself, I must say that I'm pretty happy to see more people interested in the genre cuz it allows bands to play in front of bigger audiences than ever before. I just wish that we, North Americans, had the kind of trad-scene Europe has.

[Klaus Vanderson]

Alex ONB said:

I'm really happy to see trad ska & reggae taking over ska-punk. I think ska-punk brought a lot of cool things to the scene back in the 90s. It made ska and reggae more accessible to the young punk crowds and helped in many ways make what the scene has become today. Like a lot of people, that's how I got into the scene when I was younger and I'm not ashamed of that at all (i'm saying that cuz some are!).
These days, ska-punk has become cliché and for me, is more something from the past than something relevant even if the bands are still able to draw huge crowds. Trad-Ska and Reggae Revivalism bands have proven to be more innovative and creative these past few years by keeping their sound real and true to the roots but also by making their own brand of reggae / ska by mixing a lot of other influences (soul, country, R&B, folk, garage, rock, old-school punk, etc.), while ska-punks bands stick to their good old song recipes.
Being a trad-ska musician myself, I must say that I'm pretty happy to see more people interested in the genre cuz it allows bands to play in front of bigger audiences than ever before. I just wish that we, North Americans, had the kind of trad-scene Europe has.

Are you from the One Night Band? If you are, I really dig your stuff.

However, I think that Ska/Punk is every bit as capable of being original and creative. I think what it comes down to is that most trad ska bands really have their shit together as musicians, you don't see many high school kids that can barely play their instruments trying to play Trad Ska or Reggae. I'm of the mind that there is room for both, and I'd certainly like to see more trad style ska coming out. Then again at the same time I think that if there were many more you'd start seeing some formulaic boring trad ska from kids who can barely play. So it's a tradeoff, with more popularity comes more imitators.

[Zach]

I'm sorry, but when you said Less Than Jake was overrated I nearly pissed myself.
chexas said:

less than jake sux what a poor example of ska punk they are soooooo over rated and they generaly suck but i digres the but genre is ska-core and in every region its at the fore front of new and exciting ska so check out band like the flaming tsunamis and folly

I'm sorry, but when you said Less Than Jake was overrated I nearly pissed myself.

[Aidan]

Yeah dude, like i said.
that kid needs to go blow a horse.

[Alex ONB]

Yeah I'm from One Night Band. Thanks for the kind words.
I totally agree with what you said. One thing tho, i think that trad ska and reggae can also be well played by high-school kids. I've seen so many young bands that were just so good in what they do. I think that anyone can play trad music well.

Klaus Vanderson said:

Alex ONB said:

I'm really happy to see trad ska & reggae taking over ska-punk. I think ska-punk brought a lot of cool things to the scene back in the 90s. It made ska and reggae more accessible to the young punk crowds and helped in many ways make what the scene has become today. Like a lot of people, that's how I got into the scene when I was younger and I'm not ashamed of that at all (i'm saying that cuz some are!).
These days, ska-punk has become cliché and for me, is more something from the past than something relevant even if the bands are still able to draw huge crowds. Trad-Ska and Reggae Revivalism bands have proven to be more innovative and creative these past few years by keeping their sound real and true to the roots but also by making their own brand of reggae / ska by mixing a lot of other influences (soul, country, R&B, folk, garage, rock, old-school punk, etc.), while ska-punks bands stick to their good old song recipes.
Being a trad-ska musician myself, I must say that I'm pretty happy to see more people interested in the genre cuz it allows bands to play in front of bigger audiences than ever before. I just wish that we, North Americans, had the kind of trad-scene Europe has.

Are you from the One Night Band? If you are, I really dig your stuff.

However, I think that Ska/Punk is every bit as capable of being original and creative. I think what it comes down to is that most trad ska bands really have their shit together as musicians, you don't see many high school kids that can barely play their instruments trying to play Trad Ska or Reggae. I'm of the mind that there is room for both, and I'd certainly like to see more trad style ska coming out. Then again at the same time I think that if there were many more you'd start seeing some formulaic boring trad ska from kids who can barely play. So it's a tradeoff, with more popularity comes more imitators.

[NcDinesen]

first wave, two tone, skacore, j-ska ...

i love it all. :3


but i think these 'what kind is best' topics are stupid .
isn't it just about dancing and having a good time? <: