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.
Today is Cyber Monday. As my deal to you, I offer 15 brand new releases to check out. Some of them are full albums, some are EPs, and there are even a few singles thrown in for good measure. There’s a little bit of something for everybody. It helps that November came out swinging. Bands did not hold back. This month’s releases really kept my attention.
Hopefully, it’ll tide you over through the remainder of the holiday season and into 2024. Why, you might ask? Well, that’s simple. Because this is the last “Ska, Punk, and Other Junk” of 2023. The column goes dormant in December to make way for my “Best 23 Albums of 2023” column.
I hope to see you back here next month to see how much of my Best of column you agree with. If not, thanks for stopping in at some point in 2023. I can’t wait to bring you the best ska, punk, and other junk in the New Year as well.
Ska
Cenzo – Incognito
I’ve been a big fan of Vinny Nobile since the days of Bim Skala Bim and Pilfers. He’s one of the most dynamic and powerful trombone players in ska music. I’ve also listened to his children’s ska band and Cenzo. After all these years, my opinion still holds strong – there aren’t many people who can outplay him.
For Cenzo’s first release in almost 20 years, Nobile teams up with several other musicians including members of Spring Heeled Jack. The band picked a handful of tracks to cover and put that old Cenzo spin on them.
When I keep mentioning the strength of Vinny’s playing, “Good to Your Earhole” immediately comes to mind. Their rendition of Funkadelic’s track is so innovative. An impressive horn blast starts the song off with a bang. The funk sound is still present in the song where appropriate, but it’s more Pilfers than P-Funk. Honestly, it’s these non-ska songs where Cenzo really shines. Sure, they cover tracks from Bim Skala Bim and Skinnerbox, but those songs are more in Cenzo’s traditional wheel house. Incognito sets itself apart on Thomas Dolby’s “She Blinded Me With Science” and Nirvana’s “Breed.” The former has some strong reggae leanings, while the latter has the distorted vocals from the original track, it also adds ska and garage rock.
It’s always a treat to hear Vinny Nobile perform, and this is no different. Cover albums are best when the artist makes the source material their own. This album is a great appetizer for what is hopefully a main course of new original tracks sometime in 2024.
Jesse Wagner with Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra – Bluebeat Holiday
‘Tis the season, right? I always try to find something spooky to add to my October column because Halloween is my favorite holiday, but I don’t necessarily go out of my way to accommodate other holidays. Since I get enough Christmas music pumped into my veins this time of year as it is, I don’t really seek out new Christmas releases. I’ve got my old standards I enjoy, and that’s really enough.
The one bad thing with that line of thought is that, when something new comes out that deserves a spot in your classic rotation, it could pass you by because you stopped paying attention. Thankfully, I didn’t miss this new collection of Christmas standards performed by Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites and the Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra.
Jesse Wagner has the perfect voice for these big band meets jazz, reggae, and ska holiday renditions. His voice is just as powerful as each crooner in The Rat Pack, and he rivals the likes of Bing Crosby on “Jingle Bells.” Seriously, even if you’re not a ska fan, this collection deserves a spot in your Christmas rotation. If you like Sinatra, Buble, hell, even Seth MacFarlane, then Jesse Wagner is right up your alley.
I’ve honestly already started adding his renditions to my holiday playlists because I purposely want to hear them over and over again. Jesse Wagner is one of the best pure singers in ska and reggae today, so putting him with an all-star lineup like Western Standard Time is a recipe for success.
Joystick – Dwell
As an older ska fan, I connect more with bands going through similar life experiences. So, one of those bands near and dear to my heart is Joystick. The four songs on Dwell pack an immediate punch. Not only are they good because they’re new Joystick tracks, but they feature their new saxophone player officially for the first time. The sax work is top-notch and really adds to the band’s sound.
Three of the four songs on the EP deal with aging and the anxiety that goes along with it. Personally, that anxiety comes in the form of wondering if I’m too old to keep reaching for my dreams, or if it’s time to just settle down. Well, “LFG” and “Note to Self” do a good job of reminding you that you only live once, so go for broke. And if the anxiety ever gets too much, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’ve already accomplished so much in life, so everything will be okay.
That’s enough of a kick in the ass for me to keep pushing. Joystick continues to be one of my favorite bands because of their insightful and thoughtful lyrics. It also helps that they’re amazing musicians – a perfect blend of punk, ska, hardcore, and the Gulf Coast.
The Boy Detective – “Date Night!”
I’ve always been a huge proponent of making sure you get to a show early enough to catch the openers. It’s a tough role to fill, so any friendly ear they can get is likely appreciated. Plus, I learned about so many of my favorite bands because they opened for the band I initially paid to see.
Take The Boy Detective, for example. This Michigan ska punk band resides about 30 minutes north of Toledo, Ohio. That means my opportunities to see them are not as plentiful as bands from the Detroit area. Luckily, I saw them open up for J Navarro & the Traitors a few weeks ago, and they absolutely blew me away. The group had just recently released a new single “Date Night,” and I sincerely hope that means a new full-length or EP is on the way.
“Date Night” is a fun and danceable ska punk anthem. Whether you prefer skanking or moshing, there’s something for you on this song. The song also does a good job of capturing the band’s live energy. When I saw their recent set, they only played for a half hour, but the entire room was drenched with sweat because they were such engaging and talented performers.
When I listen to this track through my speakers, I’m immediately transported back to a Lager House set in Detroit where Benny, the lead singer, spent the entire set on the dance floor, while being joined by multiple other band members throughout the night. I have a feeling The Boy Detective will soon be added to my list of favorite bands I first experienced as an opener.
The Inevitables – “The Chemist”
Each year, I try to guess which bands are going to sign to Bad Time Records before year’s end. While I was right about two of my guesses this year, not once did I ever expect The Inevitables to join the BTR family. I was pleasantly surprised when this track debuted this month, and it’s made me even more excited to hear their new album when it hits next year.
The band’s line-up is a ska all-star team. Vinnie from Less Than Jake fame. Alex Stern and Obi Fernandez from Westbound Train (and Big D and The Pomps for Stern). Matt Appleton from Reel Big Fish. John DeDomenici from BTMI and Death Rosenstock. It’s the closest ska music will ever come to The Avengers or The Justice League.
Musically, the song gives me a bit of the ’80s new wave vibes you’d find with The Pomps, but it also has some laid-back reggae rock from the likes of Sublime, Pepper, or Ballyhoo. If their next release is anything like their debut, “The Chemist” will be part of a larger narrative the band is creating about characters in Florida going after Big Pharma. I was a big fan of what they accomplished with the first comic and album, so I am eagerly awaiting more!
The Resignators – Rabbithole
For nearly the last two decades, Australia’s The Resignators have been creating their own special brand of music. Ska sits at the core, but you’ll also hear a masterful blend of funk, punk, reggae fused into their sound. It’s as if Fishbone, Parliament Funkadelic, The Cramps, and the ska side of The Blue Meanies merged together to create Rabbithole.
Part concept album, the songs on Rabbithole follow certain beats from Alice in Wonderland. A certain complexity in the musical arrangements courses throughout the album. You’ll never be bored listening to the journey The Resignators take you on. I was engaged from the first note of “Tea Party,” and they wouldn’t let me go until the biographical “Messenger” ended.
To be completely honest, I didn’t know about this band until this year. I found out about them because I’ve been a GWAR fan for 30 years. When I found out GWAR’s original Jaws of Death was now in Australia performing in a ska band, I had to hear them. They’re an extremely talented band that really check all my musical boxes. Check them out when you get a chance.
Punk
Black Water County – The Only Life Worth Living
Black Water County’s latest, The Only Life Worth Living, is the band at their very best. They were ready to hit it hard in 2020 with a new release and a tour when the COVID-19 pandemic the world shut down. Now they’re back on the road and making some of their most focused music to date. The songs on the album are one part fast-paced punk rock, one part acoustic folk, and sometimes both of those parts combine in one song, like “Here We Are Again.”
The dual male and female vocals on most tracks offer an interesting dynamic of styles. Both singers can really belt it out when they want to, but when they slow down the tempo and hand the reigns over to Shannon Byrom, something special happens.
Given where both bands are from, Black Water County likely gets compared to Skinny Lister a lot. To me though, the big difference between them, and one thing I really like about BWC, is that instead of having “Tim songs” and “Shannon songs,” both lead vocalists share equal singing duties a majority of the time. That approach sets them apart and makes their music that much better.
Blind Adam & the Federal League – The Fields We Know
We go from British folk punk to American folk punk now. I’ve been a big fan of Blind Adam ever since I saw them open up for another band (sensing a theme here with me?). Back then, their music was a tad more rugged in sound, but now, with The Fields We Know, Blind Adam & The Federal League have a much more polished sound. The group reminds me of a more punked-up Gaslight Anthem or Bruce Springsteen.
Don’t let that newfound polish fool you though. This talented band is still just as abrasive and outspoken about their politics and sense of justice. “Meet Me at George Floyd Square” features Micah Schnabel from Two Cow Garage and focuses on police brutality and injustice. “One For The Bootlickers” is a majority acoustic ballad. “Before it Gets Better” offers up a hope for a better future alongside a pledge to be united if things get worse first. The Fields We Know is filled with punk rock for the working class and for those wanting a better life for the oppressed.
Mistons – Extended Play
The Mistons offer up fast-paced garage-punk that would please fans of bands like The Stooges, The White Stripes, MC5, and Norcos Y Horchata. It’s a down and dirty straightforward sound. It’s not necessarily breaking new ground, but it doesn’t have to because Extended Play is five tracks and 12 and a half minutes of raw power and garage rock bliss.
The Young Rochelles – Kicked to the Curb
Kicked to the Curb by The Young Rochelles is a love letter to vintage pop-punk. I mean Descendents, Ramones, Buzzcocks, Screeching Weasel, and Stiff Little Fingers. Each song is about two minutes long and perfectly encapsulates what I consider the traits of a perfect pop song, right down to the similar structure and singable, anthemic chorus. Nothing more, nothing less.
As with some of the best pop punk songs, most of the songs on the album are love songs in some fashion. Whether it’s about a relationship, unrequited love, or a break-up, each phase falling in love is covered. The tunes are immediately relatable and help get you pumped up to finally ask that special person out, or on the flip side, helps you get out of bed and face the day, even though you just broke up. If you want to hear what pop-punk should sound like, check out The Young Rochelles. It’s an absolute joy to listen to Kicked to the Curb.
1876 – “Whistles at Night”
if there’s any band I’m rooting for to break out into being a national act in 2024, it’s 1876. I absolutely adore their music and what they stand for. For the uninitiated, 1876 is an indigenous punk band from the Pacific Northwest that would fit in perfectly on a bill with the likes of Pennywise, Rise Against, Propagandhi, Bad Religion, or The Offspring.
What makes them unique is how they blend skate punk with indigenous music. It’s a great way to honor their heritage and expose folks not as familiar with their culture to a different style of music and storytelling. “Whistles at Night” takes the idea of the belief that whistling at night brings about bad or evil spirits and gives it more power. Stylistically, it’s an anthemic punk song powered by the strength of drums, but the wordplay and meaning with the lyrics takes the song to another level.
If there’s ever a new installment of Tony Hawk Pro Skater, 1876 must be added to the game – they’re that good. While the band is independent now, I could easily see them joining the roster of a label like Epitaph or Fat Wreck Chords.
Other Junk
Odd Robot – Deathmates
If I were to use one word to describe Deathmates, I’m pretty sure that word would be “candy.” Why? Because, like candy, once I start listening the music of Odd Robot, I don’t have the will power to consume responsibly. The band’s third LP features 17 tracks, which means there’s a lot of candy to consume.
The two singles from the album, “Lost Inside Yr Ocean,” and ” Anti-Revolution” represent the album well, but you can find even tastier musical morsels when you dig deeper. Layered guitar melodies, catchy keys, and warm, melodic vocals stick out in my ears. Some of my personal favorites include “You’re a Fucking Nightmare” and “Fake Warm Fuzzies Are Still Warm Fuzzies.”
I’m not ashamed to admit my first real exposure to Odd Robot happened this year. The first reason is because their keyboard player, Nate Phung, is also in an awesome ska band called Poindexter. The other reason is because of “Anti-Revolution,” which feature Poli Van Dam, formerly of California punk band, The Bombpops.
I’m sure I would’ve stumbled on Odd Robot eventually, but I’m so glad they were put directly on my radar in 2023. Power-pop is challenging to do right, but Odd Robot performs it in a way that keeps it interesting and engaging. Whether you’re new to Odd Robot like me, or you’re a seasoned vet, Deathmates has a little something for all of us.
Shadyside – Higher Plans
When Shadyside first started performing music, I was a little more close-minded about specific genres of music. If it didn’t fit into a specific mold, I didn’t give it much chance. Thankfully, I’ve gotten older, wiser, and less pretentious. I used to be Jack Black from High Fidelity. Now, I just look like Jack Black.
While I was maturing, the band was on hiatus because their lead singer, Michael Malarkey, was a working actor in Hollywood. Well, now that he’s set aside that work for awhile, it’s time to get back to rock and roll.
Higher Plans is what happens when a global pandemic helps a band keep a promise to each other. Having only created rough demos and EPs in the past, Shadyside vowed to make music together again and do it better than before. Well, the world shutting down helped immensely with accomplishing that goal.
The songs on Higher Plans are more post-hardcore than punk. The guitar work on each song is intricate and awe-inspiring. Whenever I hear a guitar play more than power chords, I can’t fathom the level of skill and practice it takes to make the instrument sing like it does. Add on Malarkey’s gruff, yet melodically brooding vocals, and you’ve got a dynamic EP from start to finish. I hope it doesn’t take another global pandemic to get some more music out of Shadyside.
Stay Inside – “Sweet Stripe”
“Sweet Stripe” is the latest single off Stay Inside’s upcoming full length, Ferried Away. On the track, the Brooklyn band combines emo, post-punk, and some extremely interesting instrumentation to create an unforgettable track.
One part in the song gives me goosebumps each and every time it happens, even though I now know it’s about to happen again. A little over a minute in, there’s a sound that I can only describe as a guttural, Wilhelm Scream-like sound. With most emo and screamo bands, that would be a spot where one of the singers would let out a growl, but on this track, it’s all done with instrumentation.
The vocals and instruments perform a delicate dance the entire song, demanding the listener’s attention. That back and forth makes for an extremely catchy tune with interesting musical choices and tempo changes. If the strength of the first three singles are any indication, Ferried Away is going to be a hit.
Various Artists – Let the Bad Times Roll: A Tribute to The Replacements
The Replacements are iconic. When you assemble a tribute compilation for such an important band, it’s easy to really blow it. You have to bring together the right artists performing the right songs in the right way – and no one wants generic cover versions. In recent memory, I’ve really enjoyed the Rancid and Op Ivy tribute comps that have come out on the market. After listening to Let the Bad Times Roll, I happily add this tribute album to my list of projects that toe the line between honoring the subject matter but also releasing great music.
Creep Records really put together an A+ group of bands together for this one. Her Heads on Fire adds a little grit volume to the power-pop “Alex Chilton.” Other tracks represent the band’s earlier punk and hardcore days as well. On Tired Radio’s cover of “Bastards of Young,” if you close your eyes and just listen, it almost sounds like Westerberg joined the band. I thoroughly enjoyed Sammy Kay’s treatment of “Favorite Things,” as he took an up-tempo punk song and stripped it down to a harmonica and an acoustic guitar.
Also, one of the things I like most about this compilation is that the artists included seemed to really make mindful choices with the songs they added. It’s easy to just make sure you cover the hits, but you also need to respect the band’s historic output. Thus, the songs represented here are more deep cut than greatest hit variety, which to me, makes this tribute compilation that much more special.
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!