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.
Trying to write this month’s column was an ordeal, and it had nothing to do with the releases I chose to highlight. In fact, February was an embarrassment of riches on the new release front. If I featured everything I wanted to, this month’s Ska, Punk, and Other Junk would need to be split up into parts. While I always jump at the opportunity to add “2: Electric Boogaloo” to anything when I’m talking or writing, I didn’t want to dilute the purpose of my monthly column. So, I whittled the list down to a manageable one, and then it happened.
Michigan had two ice storms in the span of a week that knocked out services all over the state. Unfortunately, my power and internet went out, so my plans to write this column and get it out on time fell through the cracks in the ice (Dad-pun 100% intended). We’re all thawed out here, the power’s back on, and I have Internet for the first time in a week. So, without further delay, here’s my February column. Just do me a favor, and pretend it isn’t March.
Ska
Andy B & the World (featuring Roshambo and Common Sense Kid) – “Apathetic”
When Andy B & the World busted on the scene a few years back, the entire concept of the project intrigued me so much. For the uninitiated, Andy Baker set off to record an album with musicians around the world. He ended up working with over 170 people on his first album. I’ve been craving a sophomore effort ever since. Well, Baker offered up an appetizer of sorts this month with “Apathetic.” While nine artists worked on the song, it features Common Sense Kid and vocals from UK political skacore band Roshambo.
It’s fitting that Jake and Tom from Roshambo lend their voices here because the song is a criticism of the belief that musicians shouldn’t mix politics with their music. There’s always a vocal minority of folks who want public figures to shut up and do what they’re paid to do. On “Apathetic,” Andy B & the World posit that their opinions and thoughts are valid too and either change the dial if you don’t like it, or let them speak their truths. The musicianship matches the quality of the lyrics, with a mixture of traditional ska punk, hip hop, and electronica. It’s a diverse sound for a diverse band. Can’t wait until we heard more from Andy’s world.
Poindexter – “Body Like That”
Hailing from the great state of Michigan, Poindexter is on pace to have a banner year. After releasing an EP in 2020 and a new single last year, they’ve officially signed with Ska Punk International for their first official full-length album. Ahead of its release, we get the first single off the album, “Body Like That.” To me, it sounds like ‘90s Midwest ska (think MU330 and Parka Kings) meets Jeff Rosenstock meets indie rock. The horns are front and center for this one, with the organ laying down the background melodies with percussion. There are so many musical intricacies with this track that it takes multiple listens to appreciate everything Poindexter is doing here. Then partner that with lyrics about gender identity, dysphoria, and celebrating oneself, and you’ve got a song that is just as thought-provoking as it is danceable.
Russkaja – Turbo Polka Party
Listening to Turbo Polka Party is a bittersweet experience. It was released on the same day the band decided to dissolve. For the last 18 years, this Austrian ska punk band has filled their music and stage show with the satirical use of imagery and symbolism from the Soviet Union. They also sing some of their songs in Russian (the lead singer is a Russian immigrant). With the ongoing war in Ukraine, the band just couldn’t continue being the band they’ve been for nearly two decades. While their usage of Russian and Soviet symbols has always been satirical, those nuances have become harder to separate from the real world. So, on their way out, they delivered a high-energy blast of ska punk fury.
Turbo Polka Party goes to 11 from the first song and never lets up. While technically a ska punk band, Russkaja fill out their ska punk sound with polka, hip hop, heavy metal, and traditional Russian music. Their sound is big, bold, and bombastic. There’s a current of energy flowing from song to song that makes it impossible to sit on your hands while listening. It’s meant to be played loud or seen live with a raucous crowd. With the breakup, we’ll have to settle for listening to this album instead. While it’s a shame the band dissolved, it’s easier to swallow knowing they did it exactly how they wanted to. On the bright side, Turbo Polka Party was the perfect parting gift from one of the best European ska bands out there.
The Abruptors – Noticeably Cheerless
When I heard Love and Other Disasters in 2019, I was hooked. It was an amazing debut that came out just as the interest in ska was starting to pick up again. When I was a kid, if I saw Mike Park put out a ska album, I bought it. His Misfits of Ska comps were my introduction to ska music, so I trusted his taste and discovered some of my favorite bands because of it. So, when I learned The Abruptors’ debut was on Asian Man, I knew I was in for a treat. Just like in the good old days, Mike Park didn’t let me down. Their sound was a soul-infused blend of ska and rocksteady that reminded me of bands like Deal’s Gone Bad and Green Room Rockers. For the uninitiated, that means their debut was awesome.
Noticeably Cheerless is a perfect example of “good things come to those who wait.” Originally slated to come out much earlier, the album fell victim to all the global manufacturing and shipping issues happening around the world at the time. So, when it finally got a release date, I couldn’t wait. Upon my first listen, the first thing I noticed is that Noticeably Cheerless was noticeably better sounding than their debut. The first album sounded great, but they really took it up a notch with this album. The songwriting is more mature and the musical arrangements are tighter.
Most of the songs have an up-tempo ska beat that immediately gets you moving. The songs on this album are also extremely relatable considering the current state of the world. “Anxiety” is one that sticks out immediately as someone who struggles with anxiety. It’s the catchiest damn song about anxiety I think I’ve heard to date, but every single thing Toni and Mike touch on in the song is the exact same feeling I have on an almost daily basis. There’s so much to relate to on this album because it’s filled with heart and the human condition. It’s a tremendous step forward for an already tremendous band. The Abruptors are a band to continue to watch. Their brand of ska and rocksteady is refreshing, honest, and just plain good.
The Pomps – Bottom of the Pomps
Remember what I wrote about Mike Park and Asian Man Records above? The part about trusting his taste in ska music and discovering lots of cool new bands because of it? Well, the same goes for another Mike in the ska world. Mike Sosinski, head of Bad Time Records, has been churning out some of the best ska and ska punk albums on his label the last couple of years. He hasn’t released a dud yet, so I just join his record club annually and let him send me everything. So far, a sound decision and wise investment, which continues into 2023 with The Pomps. While not a new band, The Pomps are new to me. After being obsessed with Bottom of the Pomps since I heard it, I’m so glad I know who they are now.
Consisting of members of ska heavyweights like Big D and the Kid’s Table and Westbound Train, they already have a solid nucleus. The Pomps isn’t just a retread of those two bands. Instead, it’s one of the most original and refreshing takes on ska music I’ve heard since Eichlers brought us hyper-ska. The backbone of The Pomps sound is 2-Tone ska and reggae. From there, they infuse Brit Pop, dub, and ’80s New Wave to create a sound that is equal parts familiar and innovative. As I listened to this album on repeat, I kept imagining what scenes each song would fit into a John Hughes movie because I can just see them on a soundtrack of an ’80s rebellious teen movie. I mean that with the most sincerest compliments ever.
This is not an album of singles that you skip around with. It’s a complete album that flows so well together that you can’t help but listen to it from start to finish (multiple times in a row if you’re me). Bottom of the Pomps is an album that celebrates life and getting older. It’s a celebration of a life well-lived and being comfortable with growing up and growing older. As someone in his 40s, this is an album I need every single time I think about how old I am now. Getting older is natural, and it’s ok. This album calms me of that feeling and helps me become more content with the natural cycles of life. I can absolutely guarantee Bottom of the Pomps will be on my year-end list when 2023 wraps up.
Punk
Boss’ Daughter – Bouts With Bummers
Bouts With Bummers is just a kick-ass straightforward punk rock album. Boss’s Daughter is a band that would’ve fit perfectly on Fat or Epitaph back in the day. They aren’t reinventing the wheel. What they’re doing is performing punk rock music at a high level. No frills, just three guys playing their hearts out and singing about what’s important to them. One particular standout to me is “Religious Convenience,” which is a criticism of work culture and numbing yourself to get through the day. When you’re stuck in that cycle, then you aren’t really living. Having that song follow “Singing About Drinking” is also pretty clever tracking.
There’s really no need to hard sell this album. If you like gang vocals and choruses, thrashy and high-tempo skate punk, then this is the next album you should listen to. Not only is Boss’ Daughter a phenomenal band, but they sing about a lot of topics that are important for this generation. No frills, no fuss. Just straightforward punk rock that will smack you in the face and make you think about life while you rub your cheek to massage away the pain.
Fat Heaven – Trash Life
When the first song on Trash Life is called “Quarter Life Crisis,” I feel both seen and attacked. With ten tracks and a runtime of fewer than 30 minutes, Trash Life satisfies, but also makes you crave another hit of dopamine. This three-piece from Brooklyn takes ’90s pop-punk ala MxPx and Green Day and speeds it up a bit. The songs on this album just keep hitting you with pounding bass lines and rhythmic drums as they lay the foundation for each song’s structure. There’s a certain grit with each vocal as well. It’s a merging of two different styles of punk rock – West Coast and East Coast.
There are also plenty of gang vocals and anthemic chorus to sing as you go. Trash Life is just a fun punk album. When I listen to a song like “Tarantula,” I can imagine the crowd pumping their fists in the air during the “Whoa-ohs,” and it’s glorious. I really enjoy their music on record, but it makes me also want to see them perform live as soon as possible.
Singing Lungs – Coming Around
On their second full-length, Michigan’s Singing Lungs came out swinging. The album was recorded by Rich Johnson of Mustard Plug and Jeff Rosenstock fame and mastered by Justin Perkins, who has mastered albums from the likes of The Riverdales, Screeching Weasel, Gaslight Anthem, and The Smoking Popes. They even got Laura Stevenson to offer up her voice for a track. After listening to Coming Around, it’s pretty clear Singing Lungs made the right choice for their sophomore full-length effort. Their sound is equal parts melodic punk, power pop, and grunge. If you’re a fan of the bands listed above, then Singing Lungs is right up your alley. Coming Around is as if members of Face to Face, Menzingers, Gaslight, and Dinosaur Jr. got into a room and created a supergroup.
There’s a lot of heart in the face of hardship on this album. Since the album was born during the more locked-down times of the pandemic, there’s an overarching theme of friendship and connection in troubling times. Those themes shine through on the Laura Stenson track, “Around Again.” The main focus of that song is how it becomes harder to maintain friendships as we get older, and the longing to reconnect. The entire album takes a thoughtful and mature look at life. The subject matter is relevant to how the world changed within the last few years.
Other Junk
Angel Vivez – “A Woman Like You”
“A Woman Like You” is a tender love song with a healthy dose of funk, soul, blues, and jazz. Angel Vivez has a voice that is equal parts velvet and grit. He can offer up smooth crooning for most of the song, and then let out a gravelly exclamation during the crescendo. I love his vocal range and musical talent. If you enjoy Jack Johnson, John Mayer, and Jason Mraz, then Angel Vivez should be on your radar.
Erase Theory – S/T
When letlive. broke up in 2017, guitarist Jeff Sahyoun was left wondering what to do next. This feeling of being lost led to him breaking up with the music industry. It became too toxic and he needed a break. Instead of devoting himself to music, Sahyoun focused on going to college and working construction to make ends meet. Like all passions though, they’re hard to extinguish completely. That was the genesis of his new solo endeavor Erase Theory. After college, he went back to his music and realized there was a lot of really good music left unheard. The first batch of those songs are collected on Erase Theory’s self-titled EP.
Musically, Erase Theory best fits the alt-pop descriptor, but that generalization does them a disservice. There are hints of industrial, synth, EDM, and even a bit of nü-metal. It’s as if Blaqk Audio and 2000s AFI merged with Nine Inch Nails and Linkin Park and then went on a date with The Weeknd. The music is filled with heavily infectious electronic beats that highlight Erase Theory’s lyrical exploration of loss, betrayal, heartbreak, and vulnerability. It’s a concept album of sorts that tells the balancing act between responsibility and passion. If you’re not interested in digging deep into the lyrical content though, the actual music is infectious and approachable on its own.
Joker’s Hand – Seeing Red
Southern California’s Joker’s Hand is such a diversely talented band. The way they seamlessly blend multiple genres is impressive enough, but when you learn Joker’s Hand is a duo, it becomes awe-inspiring. On their latest EP, Seeing Red, the Jokers shift from the late ‘90s – early ‘00s alternative rock to hip hop to electronica to punk too. Sometimes, all of those transitions happen in the same exact song. The group’s musical expertise led to the music sounding diverse and layered instead of muddled.
While the five tracks on this EP are great, Seeing Red is a tease. Why? Because after listening to it, you’ll find yourself wanting a full-length effort. Highlights on the EP include the anthemic pop-punk anthem “Danny Phantom,” which features Jakob Nowell (son of Bradley Nowell of Sublime fame), and “Anxiety.” The latter, while focusing on a weighty topic, is an extremely approachable tune. It sounds like Gym Class Heroes, The Offspring, and 311 got together to jam. It’s a powerful song. It might even help folks out when they can feel their thoughts spiraling because it shows they aren’t alone in having these feelings.
Lucero – Should’ve Learned By Now
For their 12th record, Memphis alt-country rockers Lucero go back to what they do best. It’s an album that finds the band embracing their roots. After the past few moodier albums, it’s a welcome return to form. Lucero’s brand of country-infused rock and roll takes center stage on Should’ve Learned By Now. The songs are catchy – both in melodies and lyrics. The album’s opener, “One Last F.U.,” really does an amazing job of letting you know exactly what to expect as you progress into the album. It’s an album that exudes energy and puts me in the mind of watching a weekend bar band at the local honkey tonk. I can picture the rowdy crowd singing along and having a good time, and I can picture myself with a smile on my face and a cold beer in my hand. Should’ve Learned By Now is just so enjoyable.
Other standouts on the album include the title track and “At the Show.” Listening to “At the Show” really made me feel nostalgic for all the concerts I went to in my teens and 20s. It’s a heartwarming lament of the good old days. Sure, I still try to go to as many live gigs as I can, but they just feel different in your 40s, than they did back in your glory days. It’s a sweet song with piano accompaniment, which fits the album’s return to form a motif. Should’ve Learned By Now is a great album to come back to if you haven’t listened to Lucero in a while. It’s also a great jumping-off point for new listeners.
Vic Ruggiero – Stuff in my Pockets
One of the things that makes The Slackers so special to me is how diverse the band’s tastes are. This appreciation for music of all genres helps make them a much more dynamic and nuanced band. Sure, they’re technically a ska band, but they’re so much more. Their kaleidoscopic tastes bleed into the band member’s other projects as well. For instance, lead singer Vic Ruggiero’s solo efforts are the furthest thing from ska music. His latest album, called Stuff in my Pockets, gives you a little bit of everything. The album starts with some country tunes with slide guitar accompaniment. That is followed by ‘60s garage rock, then some folksy Americana and blues. There’s even some Orbison-esque guitar work here as well.
For those unfamiliar with Ruggiero’s solo career, there might be a bit of a surprise on how much of a departure from The Slackers this album is. If you’ve been following Vic’s solo career, however, then you already know he goes down the singer-songwriter path more often than not with his non-Slackers music. Stuff in my Pockets is one of his best to date. It finds Vic writing and performing with a true understanding of who he is as a solo artist. The songs have heart and tell stories of Vic’s experiences and beliefs in an enjoyable and tender way.
He belongs in the same conversations as Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Van Morrison, and Steve Earle. I believe that Vic is one of the best active vocalists and lyricists in ska music. For ska fans not yet well-versed with his solo music yet, listening to Slackers tunes like “Come Back Baby” and “I’d Rather Die Happy” offers up a rough preview of what to expect with Vic’s solo works.
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!