Tag: Ska Punk
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The Suicide Machines ‘Destruction By Definition’ (1996)
Today we have somewhat of a deep cut with The Suicide Machines 1996 debut album Destruction by Definition, one of those mid-90’s records that perfectly nails the mix of piss and vinegar punk rock and sing-a-long hooks. It’s a damn hard line to walk consistently but this album has always stood out to me as…
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Voodoo Glow Skulls ‘Firme’ (1995)
Voodoo Glow Skulls mix the high energy of punk rock with the bounce and brass of ska, creating a sound that’s fast, loud, and full of attitude. Their music leans hard on driving guitar riffs, tight horn lines, and rapid-fire vocals, all coming together with the rawness that mid-90’s punk rock ska is known for.…
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Big D and the Kids Table ‘Good Luck’ (1999)
There was a record label in my hometown of Cupertino, CA called Springman Records that for the longest time was one my favorite record labels ever. There’s a few reasons for that– I was in middle school when I was first getting into punk rock, and Springman Records was a punk label so the synergy…
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Save Ferris ‘It Means Everything’ (1997)
Orange County’s ska punk scene was a damn fertile oasis in the mid-’90s (it’s seriously insane how many bands came out of that scene) and Save Ferris was one of those bands who brought a burst of brass-driven energy and sharp pop hooks to genre that was hitting the mainstream consciousness. Fronted by the charismatic…
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Operation Ivy ‘Energy’ (1989)
Founded by future Rancid members Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, the Berkeley-based Operation Ivy had the distinction of being an incredibly influential band in the ska punk scene despite the short-lived nature of their existence. They only released one full length album during the course of their two-year career (Energy) and buoyed by their raucous…
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Rancid ‘…And Out Come The Wolves’ (1995)
Released during a time when punk was flirting with mainstream acceptance, Rancid’s …And Out Come The Wolves stood out with its unapologetic grit and raw authenticity. Tim Armstrong’s sneering vocal delivery that just barely hits the right note is immediately recognizable for anyone who is even remotely familiar with punk rock, his raspy tone dripping…
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Omnigone ‘Against The Rest’ (2023)
Tomorrow night I’ll be going to see The Matches live for the first time in over 15 years. They’ll be doing a reunion show in San Francisco celebrating the 20 years anniversary of their debut album E. Von Dahl Killed The Locals and I couldn’t be more excited about it. Omnigone is going to be…
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No Doubt ‘Tragic Kingdom’ (1995)
The backdrop of No Doubt’s third album Tragic Kingdom reads somewhat like a soap opera– keyboardist and principal songwriter Eric Stefani left the band in the middle of the sessions after struggling with the fact he was being asked to include other band members in the songwriting process, and shortly after that bassist Tony Kanal…
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Goldfinger ‘Never Look Back’ (2020)
Many will remember Goldfinger for their prominence during the late 90’s with their hits such as “Superman” and “99 Red Balloons” (you’re lying if you claim ignorance of these two songs) as well as their brand of kitschy third-wave-ska meets punk rock. In the years following lead singer and songwriter John Feldmann has made quite…
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The Aquabats! ‘The Fury of the Aquabats!’ (1997)
Adorned with matching costumes and masks, The Aquabats 30-year career has taken them on a long ride from their ska punk roots to a more current iteration that features more of a New Wave feel. Along the way their brand of comedy rock and tongue-in-cheek humor has made them somewhat of a cult classic underground…
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Cherry Poppin’ Daddies ‘Zoot Suit Riot’ (1997)
Cherry Poppin’ Daddies were sort of a novelty act in the late 90’s that blended ska and swing into an energetic ball of fun. I remember as a middle schooler thinking how cool the music video for “Zoot Suit Riot” was— basically a perfect blend of punk rock culture (RIP to chain wallets, you are…
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Less Than Jake ‘Hello Rockview’ (1998)
When we listened to Mighty Mighty Bosstones seminal 1997 album Let’s Face It earlier this year I described ska as “the genre of music that’s playing on a loop in a toddler’s head”, which still stands as one of my favorite genre descriptions that I’ve made on this site since I embarked seven months ago…
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