Welcome to “Ska, Punk, and Other Junk!” With this monthly column, I’ll highlight all of the cool things I discovered in the ska and punk scenes each month. And, because I listen to more than just those two genres, I highlight some other junk I discovered along the way too! (NOTE: Not actually junk. I just wanted to go with the rhyme). There’s so much cool music out there these days. This is my attempt to cover as much of it as possible.
Hopefully, you find your new favorite band – or at least some cool new tunes to enjoy.
We’re now almost through the first month of January 2023. While I’ve likely broken most of my resolutions by now, one’s still going strong – exploring more new music than ever.
As you get older, it becomes easier to fall back on the classics of your youth instead of learning about new music. Sometimes, it’s just easier to put on your favorite album from your teenage years instead of trying to seek out a new favorite.
Luckily, I love music too much to become that complacent. Sure, I’ll always listen to my old standards because it’s like seeing an old friend again, but I want to continue to make more friends, too. Here are the new friends I met this month!
Ska
Atlas & Oracle featuring Lumpy – “Live This Way”
The new Atlas & Oracle track is a call to arms to keep fighting, no matter what happens in your life. It’s a song of growth, perseverance, and the promise of better times ahead. The tune acknowledges that we’re all struggling, but when we work together, we can make things better for all of us.
“Live This Way” contains the melodic pop sensibilities and ska backbone I’ve come to expect from Atlas & Oracle but with a bit more going on as well. Minnesota’s Lumpy joins the track as a featured player on trumpet. The dual trumpet attack on this song gives it a jazzy, big band feel and more epic sound. I think Atlas & Oracle and Lumpy should team up more often!
The Pomps – “Liquidator 2023”
I wish I’d learned about The Pomps before 2023, but better late than never, I suppose. Their new album, Bottom of The Pomps, will be out next month, so the band released two singles to tide us over. The most recent release, “Liquidator 2023,” is a delightful mix of ’80s new wave, 2-tone, and Police-esque reggae. If this is a preview of what we can expect from their Bad Time Records debut, then we’re all in for a treat.
Yours Sincerely – Anna
Ever since Ska Punk International became a full-fledged label, they’ve been doing an amazing job of finding new artists and allowing them to shine by giving them a larger platform. Without SPI, I probably would’ve never discovered Yours Sincerely, and that would have been a shame. Anna is a joy to listen to, and it’s a great introduction to a new face in ska music today.
Yours Sincerely immediately reminds me of folks like Kmoy, Tape Girl, and even Bomb! the Music Industry. It’s amazing how much laptop ska has evolved since the first time I heard Tape Girl a few years ago. I love how music-making has become more accessible to more people because so many great voices would never be heard without recent technological advancements.
While ska is the main influence here, you’ll also hear shredding guitar solos, emo, and a dash of John K. Samson. The influx of influences warrants multiple listens to hear just exactly how talented Yours Sincerely truly is.
Punk
Alex Melton – Southern Charm
You can find any kind of video on YouTube. Last year, I discovered a guy covering various popular songs in the style of Blink-182. The musician’s name is Alex Melton, and once I heard his versions of songs like “No Scrubs,” “One Week,” and “Wonderwall,” I was hooked. His talent for reinterpreting hit songs impressed me, so when I learned Pure Noise released his debut full-length album, I had to give it a listen.
Southern Charm is broken up into two types of cover songs. Up first are pop-punk renditions of pop-country tunes. When it comes to country, I typically only enjoy the outlaw country of Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash, so I am admittedly not as familiar with the country songs Melton covered. Going into this part of the album almost completely blind, I got to enjoy his choices as if they were really good pop-punk tunes.
The second part of the album was country versions of pop-punk tracks. I’m always a big fan of hearing an artist take on other songs and make them their own. So, while I’m not the biggest country fan, I really appreciated hearing what Melton did with the punk songs he selected. His country tracks should have no problem charting on modern country radio.
If Melton is this good at reconstructing other people’s songs, I’d love to hear some originals.
Anti-Flag – Lies They Tell Our Children
One of the bands I consistently turn to when I’m frustrated and feel helpless about the world around me is Anti-Flag. Their brand of political punk reassures me that I’m not alone and acts as a call to action against the corruption in society. It’s easy to take aim at one side or the other, but Anti-Flag shows that both political parties are two sides of the same coin. Their music highlights that politics isn’t really a left or right thing, it’s a have vs. have not thing.
Lies They Tell Our Children showcases Anti-Flag at its most polished. I guess that should be expected from a band releasing its 13th full-length album of anthemic political pop-punk. They also brought along some friends to help them highlight the cracks within our society, including Stacey Dee, Tim McIlrath, Brian Baker, Campino, and Ashrita Kumar.
I love seeing Anti-Flag live, especially when the audience joins together and belts out the sing-a-longs. This album doesn’t disappoint in that department. From “Victory or Death (We Gave ’em Hell),” which has some serious Pogues and Dropkick Murphys vibes to me, to “The Fight of Our Lives,” that feels like AFI meets Rise Against, I can already visualize how awesome those songs will sound live.
Thirteen isn’t traditionally a lucky number, but it is for Anti-Flag. Lies They Tell Our Children is another classic entry in their discography, as it continues their track record of being one of the most important bands in punk rock today.
Goddamnit – All This Time is Yours Now
I am a sucker for a punk rock album with a gravel-voiced lead singer. Bands like Hot Water Music, The Lawrence Arms, Off With Their Heads, and Avail just hit differently for me. Now that I’ve heard All This Time is Yours Now, I add Goddamnit to that list.
The album clocks in at a brisk 30 minutes and falls down on the more melodic side of punk music. The songs focus more on intricate guitar work and pounding drums. I’d put Goddamnit closer in line with the likes of Hot Water Music. There’s a nice blend of punk, indie, and post-punk throughout the album that makes for some interesting listening.
All This Time Is Yours Now features some traditional “punk” songs, too. My favorite is “Undeserving” with its great sing-a-long chorus and driving melody. If I didn’t know who the band was, I would almost think it could be a Face to Face track.
If you’re like me, after listening to this album, the first thing you’ll think before playing it again is, “Goddamnit. Goddamnit is great.”
Other Junk
The 1984 Draft – Best Friends Forever
One common thread I’ve seen through the albums released in 2022 and so far in 2023 is that COVID gave bands plenty of time to perfect and hone their craft. Best Friends Forever from The 1984 Draft is no exception. The songs on this album possess a ’90s college rock aesthetic mixed with indie and melodic power-pop. Songs like “Two Cow Barrage,” “Hold Steady,” and “Big Star” thinly veil some of the band’s influences.
The tunes on this album discuss life experiences and growth in a melodic and hopeful way. On “Hold Steady,” the band sings about the passage of time and how life has gone so far, making for an earnest and honest look at family and life. The more uptempo and guitar-heavy “Empty” highlights the experience of being a new parent, stained shirts and caffeine included. At the end of the day, Best Friends Forever is an honest and relatable look at life atop some rather excellent Midwestern rock.
Dosser – Violent Picture/Violent Sound
While not a nostalgia act by any stretch of the imagination, Dosser conjures up memories of some of my favorite ’90s alternative and grunge bands. Think Dinosaur Jr. meets The Pixies with a dash of Superchunk. Splashes of Weezer and Foo Fighters occasionally appear, especially in the guitar work and melodies. Dosser’s sound is a love letter to what made ’90s music so good, and they’re not afraid to wear those influences proudly on their sleeves.
While ’90s alternative is clearly a major influence, you’ll also hear hints of shoegaze and Midwest emo on this album. “Joy Thief” and “Kids” deliver a solid one-two punch album opener that really sets the tone on what to expect on the rest of the album. Melodic arrangements, distorted guitars, and dreamy, yet urgent vocals specifically jump out on those tracks. Another highlight is “Weeds,” with its heavy distortion, guttural yells, and pounding drums.
If your formative musical years were in the ’90s, you should really enjoy this album.
Quinn XCII – The People’s Champ
I’m actually slightly embarrassed The People’s Champ is my first exposure to Quinn XCII. Not only has he put out several albums and racked up millions of streams, but he’s also from my home state. It would be easy to call Quinn XCII a singer/songwriter, but there’s so much more to his music. He blends pop music, hip-hop, soul, and R&B in a fun and engaging way.
The message weaving its way through each song on The People’s Champ is an important one. The past few years have been some of the hardest years in this generation’s lives. With the pandemic, isolation, and a tense sociopolitical landscape, it’s easy to just feel hopeless and down on yourself. The People’s Champ urges you not to feel that way. Instead, it preaches being kind and giving yourself grace, especially while maneuvering through challenging times.
The album is filled with down-to-Earth advice on how to practice self-care and spread love. It’s a gentle and vibey reminder to practice positivity and share goodwill. Quinn XCII doesn’t preach this message by his lonesome though. He also brought along friends like Big Sean, AJR, and Chelsea Cutler to help spread the good word.
I didn’t expect to hear the album of the summer so early in 2023, but I will definitely keep listening to Quinn XCII all year long.
If you want me to listen to your ska, punk, or other junk, please feel free to contact me here. You might just see yourself in a future column!