Although the cynics in Propagandhi probably didn’t help, ska has been on life support on and off since The Maytals and The Specials made it undeniably cool in the 1960s and ’70s, with figures like Choking Victim, Jeff Rosenstock, and skate-punk’s superman himself Tony Hawk occasionally stepping in to revive the genre. And while Rosenstock seems to have used his fame to cultivate a fairly sturdy network of young supporters eager to dive into the Arrogant Sons of Bitches back catalog, journalist Aaron Carnes has made it his mission to ensure the patient doesn’t relapse this time.
Having first published his book In Defense of Ska in 2021, today Carnes is re-releasing his pro-skanking mitigation with even more testaments supporting his already air-tight case. He’s also since launched a podcast of the same name where his fellow attorney-at-ska Adam Davis (who also fronts the skacore group Omingone, and previously played with Link 80) joins him weekly to explore the many nuances of a category of music that traditionally gets presented fairly one-dimensionally by its biggest detractors.
And this deep knowledge of the genre comes through with the playlist Carnes and Davis crafted for us in honor of the newly released second edition of In Defense of Ska. Not only do the artists they chose to spotlight lean into genres ranging from post-punk and groove-metal to hip-hop and Balkman music, but they can also be found all over the globe: represented are bands from the UK, Japan, and Mexico—not to mention a Russian band that’s found a following in that latter Spanish-speaking nation (“Don’t let a language barrier keep you from enjoying good music!” Carnes rightly notes).
Dive into their playlist below, and grab a copy of In Defense of Ska’s second edition here. Additionally, you can catch Carnes at a number of live book events through the end of the year at the dates listed here.
The Chains, “Crying on the Dancefloor”
Adam Davis: Steve Borth, my Link 80 bandmate, introduced me to this band. We first toured Copenhagen nearly 25 years ago (playing at the Loppen), and now Steve lives there. The Chains are a new ska band made up of older dudes like me. Every song on this album is a hit, in my opinion.
The Iron Roses, “Screaming for a Change”
Aaron Carnes: If “sing your soul” was a band, it would be The Iron Roses, newly ensembled by Nathan Gray of BoySetsFire and musically much different; more like a political tour de force that’s joy-filled and brimming with ska. “Screaming for a Change” evokes a sentiment that most of us feel at this moment in history: Change! When do we need it? Now!
Call Me Malcolm, “Sleepwalk with Me”
AC: Bands in the UK know how to play ska punk! Call Me Malcolm formed a decade ago, and their songs have become more anthemic with each subsequent release. 2020’s “Sleepwalk with Me” confronts mental health issues while backed by the catchiest, earworm-iest “whoas.” It’s incredibly cathartic, to say the least.
Inspector, “Y Qué”
AD: I saw Inspector with Aaron at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium. It was a packed ska show. This song stood out to me in their set. Even with my limited Spanish, I could pick up the chorus for this one, and this song set the crowd off. Don’t let a language barrier keep you from enjoying good music!
The Kilograms, “I Swear”
AD: Sammy Kay and Joe Gittleman’s new band is barely a year old. You know Joe from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and you know Sammy because everyone knows Sammy. Both are great songwriters and wordsmiths; I picked this song specifically because they both sing on it.
Lollypop Lorry, “Still Hides You”
AC: Russian trad ska group Lollypop Lorry built their audience (mainly in Mexico!) by covering ’60s ska tunes. “Still Hides You” marks a new direction for the group. It’s an original with a more modern flair, honoring authentic Jamaican rhythms but with some groovy synth parts whisked in to make anyone’s head spin.
Dub Trio, “Sick Im Kid”
AD: This one is barely ska-recognizable. What it definitely is: instrumental post-punk dark dub. Greg Rodrigue from Bad Operation sent this to me. Dub Trio’s later albums lean more groove-metal with vocals, but this whole album has an undeniable vibe. It feels like a jam session in a pitch-black room. Sinister and claustrophobic.
Dubioza kolektiv, “USA”
AC: Eastern European crew Dubioza kolektiv creates an innovative fusion of ska, hip-hop, electronic, and Balkan music. They’re a festival headliner over there—you can see why. “USA” is one of those songs that’s so good it’ll inspire a crowd of 50,000 people to jump in unison: a true sing-along anthem! That horn line is what it’s all about.
Bad Operation, “I Don’t Wanna Know”
AD: Speaking of Bad Op, here they are with their most recent single. It’s just as good as all their other material. Bad Op doesn’t miss: great live, great recorded, excellent people I’m always excited to cross paths with. Greg and I call each other probably every other week to catch up.
The Calamatix, “Lady”
AC: Tim Armstrong’s Hellcat Records has been responsible for some of the best US ska and reggae bands over the past few decades. The latest Hellcat band is the Calamatix. The group is rooted in traditional ska, rocksteady, and reggae, but has a slick modern production. “Lady” is the feel-good dance song you’ve been craving.
Kill Lincoln, “Little Ghosts”
AD: I would’ve been super into this band as a teenager, and I’m super into them now. Catchy sing-along choruses, breakdowns, double-time punk parts, and metal riffs—I’m very excited to hear this one live. As someone who likes my ska mixed with hardcore and punk, this song does it for me.
Los De Abajo, “Skápate”
AC: Los De Abajo formed in the early ’90s in Mexico City and earned David Byrne’s approval in the late ’90s when he signed them to Luaka Bop. They play diverse genres but always include some danceable ska. “Skápate” is an all-star jam featuring Dr. Shenka (Panteón Rococó), Cheko Biloba, and the pop queen Julieta Venegas.
Omnigone, “Fare Share”
AD: Yeah, it’s my band, but these are my picks—so no one can stop me. Here’s a song from our new album, Feral. The chorus has an excellent ska feel, bouncing along between the breakneck verses and the heavy breakdown. It’s fun to play live. Come see us play it! Ska now more than ever!
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, “ALMIGHTY – The Masked Promise”
AC: Uh, hello…this is one of the greatest bands to come out of Japan—of any genre. Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra is a force to be reckoned with: musicians who have mastered their instruments to an almost inhuman level of precision. “ALMIGHTY – The Masked Promise” features actor/singer Yoohei Kawakami on lead vocals. It’s also the theme song for Kamen Rider Saber.
