Metal Reviews

So, I went to a ska show last night just to have a good time with some friends, and was pleasantly surprised...I was fortunate enough to see two of the best bands in the business in Streetlight Manifesto and The Aquabats. The Aquabats had a great show while Streetlight Manifesto was great musically. I think I have been won over to marking ska as a "hit"--it's really just a better and more creative version of punk, in my ears. So what do you guys think of it--hit or miss?

Miss. Ska never did it for me.

huge miss

I just hate how it's always happy and crap. Whats to be so fucking happy about?

Too lighthearted for a misanthropic mofo like me.

It all depends on the context. Listening to it at home : miss. A live show, and that's if the band's good : hit.

Since it's not a hype scene or anything so that we're sure the musicians do it out of passion for the music : hit.

Impossible poll to answer. Some ska bands are killer; others are complete crap.

I can't decide. I'm not really a fan of Ska, but I don't really have anything against it either.

So, "In Between" for me.

Are we talking about original caribbean ska such as the Skatelites, or Westernized ska of the lates 70s/early 80s, or ska punk a la Less Than Jake etc?

In the first two cases definitely a hit for me, although I am not too knowledgeable about the genres.

Although yes, if you are naturally inclined to being miserable then I can definitely see why you would want to steer clear.

What he said. I tend to like it overall, depending on mood.

hit, victoria has a skafest every year that generally has a nice variety of stuff from dub to punk that go to. I used to love it when I was 15 or so but now don't really listen to recordings of it.

I'll say hit. It's very fun to watch in a live setting.

Hit and miss, haven't heard any ska in a while though.

Miss. I think it's pretty lame. :\

Miss, boring for me. And Ska-P have earned my hatred by being goddamm annoying.

I like 70's and 80's neo-punk outfits like The Alarm and The Skids, I would definitely go with miss. I like big anthematic soudnscapes for this kind of thing. I liked what certain new wave bands did as a progression of thier own punk music. The B-52's are a great example of a great punk band that just took thier sound forward. Big Country are the skids, but with a very proficient Rhythm Section and a more progressive attitude.

I once read in a book "Punk happened. (note tense)" That sums it up perfectly.

I just wish there were bands around that appreciate the bands that expanded and became new wave, rather than everyone revisiting the misfits, the sex pistols and the ramones.

Anybody into punk/ska should check out Catch 22 or Streelight Manifesto's - Keasby Nights. Totally fucking awesome

Streetlight Manifesto is my favorite ska band...although they're pretty much the only ska band I like.

Some random Ska bullshit was playing in one of my classes, and it sounded really awful.

But then I listened to Streetlight Manifesto. Now that's how Ska should be done.

My only experience with streetlight ska/pun k is seeing streetlight and reel big fish together last year because a girl dragged me there.

i enjoyed streetlights music, but the high energy pop of rbf was good too, even though youll never catch me listening to them on disc.


i like stuff like joe jackson and the police but my friends tell me thats not really ska. idk

Not quite ska. Not quite hardcore. But ever since I read that Medium Rare was coming out, I got on a Bosstones kick. I pulled out all my old CDs, and filled a few holes in my collection through eBay (like their split 7" EP with Kiss).

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. Kick ass!