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. Since I listen to more than just those two genres, I also 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.
I don’t know if the back half of the year is just jam-packed with amazing music this year, or it’s just getting hard for me to trim the column down more than I already do each month. I’m sure it’s a bit of the former and the latter. What might be a trick to my editor is a treat to you, dear reader. [Editor’s Note: HAH!]
Enjoy October’s fiendishly good music!
Ska
Devon Kay And The Solutions – World’s Greatest Album
Leave it to the world’s greatest band to release the World’s Greatest Album. Not only is it the greatest album Devon Kay and the Solutions has released, it’s also the most ambitious. Essentially, it’s a concept album about the desires for fame. Think of it as a study in how people’s desire for fame and fortune affects their lives and their relationships. It’s as bombastic as a Broadway musical mixed with the punk, indie, emo, ska, and hardcore that Devon Kay is known for.
Do It With Malice – We Are The Worst
We Are The Worst is one of the EPs that you finish and then immediately start it again because it leaves you wanting more. This is ska punk by way of Propagandhi. It’s tight, it’s melodic, and has a dash of metal and a splash of hardcore … especially the track featuring Justin from PWRUP. Almost 15 years since the last new music we got from Do It With Malice, it better not take that long for the follow-up.
John Kachnowski – Shortcuts
The Exceptions. The Articles. Gangster Fun. Killer Diller. When I think of the essential ska bands to come out of the Detroit area, John Kachnowski has played with nearly all of them. This month, he released Shortcuts, an album that shows off just how good he is on the trombone. The sound is big, bold, and brash in the best ways possible.
When I watch him live with a band like Killer Diller, his solos always blows me away. Shortcuts gives me almost 25 minutes of that experience. Combining ska, funk, rock, and some punk, he definitely provides something for everyone here. Plus, there’s some pretty cool special guests throughout the album as well.
Joker’s Republic – “Passing Through a Screen Door”
Originally performed by The Wonder Years, Joker’s Republic sends “Passing Through a Screen Door” through the lens of their signature brand of ska punk. The cover begins true to the original – a solo guitar and vocal performance but then gives way to a chorus of skank-able drums, percussive guitar upstrokes, and melodic walking bass. All three members of the band get a chance on the mic this time around, which makes it a bit more special.
K-Man & The 45s – Heed The Call
If you’re familiar with Montreal’s K-Man & The 45s, you know how manic and energetic the live shows are. They’re loud, fast, and filled with energy. Previous albums have shown glimpses of the live grit, but they’ve definitely been more polished. With Heed The Call, the band has finally captured the magic of a live set. The music falls somewhere in between 2-Tone, rock and roll, and punk music. Think The Clash meets The Specials meets The Toasters meets Big D And The Kids Table. I think that’s a great combination.
Lady Ybor – “Paper Dreams”
Ska and funky basslines combine on Lady Ybor’s latest single, “Paper Dreams.” For this one, the Florida band discusses the damage that the pursuit of money and popularity inflicts on each one of us. The music business catches a well-deserved stray, too.
Mango Wood – Rock Your Soul
Mango Wood is just so good. Heavily influenced by more traditional Jamaican rhythms, Rock Your Soul sounds like it could’ve very well been released in the ’60s and ’70s. It’s got a gritty feel to it with some amazing organ work to boot. If you’re a fan of trad ska and boss reggae, this one should be on your must-listen list this month.
MUTINY – Shot To Hell
Ska core supergroup MUTINY is at it again – and this time with a bonafide full-length. Shot To Hell continues the narrative from the band’s previous two EPs. Along with sharing more of the story and adding more world-building, the album is epic in every sense of the world. With bridges and intricate horn lines, brutal break downs, catchy skankable riffs, and a dual vocal threat, the group fires on all cylinders. This is essential listening for ska core fans.
Something To Do – A Little Misdirection
One of the things I like the most about Something To Do is the powerful sound. Whether it’s the drums, horns, guitars, or bass, each instrument commands attention in each and every song. This helps the music sound polished, professional, and damned good. A Little Misdirection does an amazing job of capturing the band’s live energy, so I’m hyped for the next time the band comes to Michigan. “Someone I Can’t Deny,” “Living on Thoughts & Prayers, and “I Like That I Don’t Like You Anymore (featuring Dave and Colin from Mustard Plug)” are my favorites.
The Boy Detective – “Dude Illigence”
“Dude Illigence” is the ska punk anthem for the folks who have other, possibly better, things to do during Monday Night Football. It uses awkward social situations and the tendency to fall back to talking about sports as a commentary of masculinity, maturity, and culture. In true The Boy Detective fashion, “Dude Illigence” is bursting with energy that will no doubt translate to their live shows.
The Kittyhawks – “Goodbye:mf”
The latest single from The Kittyhawks tackles the subject of grief and loss. It also addresses the complicated emotions and feelings that accompany those feelings. Musically, it’s as earnest as the subject matter, while still being catchy and filled with wicked riffs. While it’s a ska punk song through and through, I especially enjoy the elements of emo the band added.
Urban Crater – Fueled By Pizza
When the chorus of “Burnout Revenge” hits, many of us can relate to it: “I don’t know why I am sad / I just know that I am sad.” That describes a majority of the population, right? Sometimes, having your feelings so clearly articulated makes it easier to work through them. Not every song on the album is as serious as the opener though. The band also has a song about wanting a calzone, and one about getting hit in the balls. Fueled By Pizza is a nice mix of sincere and silly in the same vein as bands like Diesel Boy and Assorted Jellybeans.
Punk
Blind Adam and the Federal League – “The Front” / “Middle of the Night”
Whenever I listen to Blind Adam and the Federal League, I’m always left inspired to do more to fight the injustice I see in the world. The band wears their hearts on their sleeves and use their brand of antifascist punk rock to motivate and mobilize others. These latest singles were written during the height of ICE activity in Minneapolis and Chicago, serving as a time capsule into what happened during those heady days. If you aren’t angry after listening to these tracks, then you aren’t paying attention.
Doom Scroll – Exhausted Dialogue
As a genre, folk punk is having one hell of a year. Doom Scroll’s Exhausted Dialogue is just the latest in a line of near perfect albums to come out in 2026. A folk punk supergroup of sorts, the group does some really cool stuff with their music. Aside from acoustic folk punk, they provide some pop punk, ska, and multi-part vocal harmonies. This just feels and sounds bigger than most folk punk records. Its epic feel matches the subject matter – facing your internal and external struggles to the point of exhaustion. “Panopticon” is my favorite song on the album, as it highlights meaningful lyrics about the struggles we face.
Hyper Minds – The Dog You Feed
Gritty, garage punk with nice helping of Black Flag-esque LA hardcore, Hyper Minds is aggressive and relentless. It’s an album for the voiceless and the folks who have trouble standing up for themselves. This 26-minute release valve will help you blow off steam and channel your frustration into something productive and motivational. The Dog You Feed is the kick in the ass some of us need to make sure we’re heard.
Moonraker – Me And The Bells
I’m not going to blow smoke with this one. Me And The Bells makes a strong case for being the melodic punk album of the year. It’s that good. Moonraker falls somewhere in between the intersection of The Lawrence Arms, Alkaline Trio, and NOFX in the best way possible. The album covers anxiety, self-doubt, resentment, survival, and the determination to keep showing up.
Ms. Rachel – I’m So Happy
I stand by this choice. Ms. Rachel is more punk than me and likely more punk than most of you reading at home. She refuses to compromise her beliefs and is a loud ally for the disenfranchised in the world. That’s pretty damn punk, if you ask me. I’m So Happy is a great album to boot. The production quality is amazing, and it honestly sounds like it could be a Broadway soundtrack. Mr. Aron did a great job with the music direction here.
The Chandelier Swing – Always Right Here
Always Right Here is a five-track EP with carefully constructed melodic skate punk songs for fans of bands like Four Year Strong and Rufio. I also hear elements of A Wilhelm Scream in the drumming and intricate guitar riffs throughout. The songs are fast and loud, and the riffs and hooks are nice and catchy.
Wes Hoffman – For The Better
Wes Hoffman writes melodic punk music for fans of bands like No Use For a Name, The Menzingers, Social Distortion, and Gaslight Anthem. The earnest storytelling element to every song on For The Better offers up meaningful slices of life and lessons on life, love, and loss.
Other Junk
Myles Bullen – “Bad Dads, Good Moms”
Myles Bullen is back with a song that explores fractured family dynamics and their effect on the greater world at large. Part folk-pop, part spoken word, part hip-hop, he uses the track to question the benevolence of God because of all the horrible things that happen in the world. There’s a lot of meat on this 2:38 morsel, and it unfortunately hits a little too close to home as well.
The Carringtons – Reunion
On Reunion, The Carringtons compose ten perfect pop songs. With each only clocking in at two minutes, there’s no time for wasted notes and riffs. Each track is tightly composed, catchy, and filled with life. Think The Strokes and The Hives, but with a bit less polish.
There’s nothing simple about the song construction here though. The Carringtons really jam a lot of textures and layers into each composition, making for a sound that is as intricate and interesting as it is brief. That they’re able to do so much with the structure of the album just further exposes their greatness.
Here’s a playlist of selections from this month’s column for you to enjoy.
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! You can also reach out to me on Instagram, Threads, BlueSky, TikTok, and Facebook.