World of Reggae Music: Third Wave Ska

Third Wave Ska

The Jam-Tex selector presents a new chapter in the “World of Reggae Music Collection” called “Third Wave Ska.”

The Jam-Tex selector has been working on a study and organization of the essential tracks of reggae music called “The World of Reggae Music Collection.” The selector invites others to comment on the selected tracks and to join in on the conversation about the history of reggae music.  This collection of singles began with the greatest roots reggae hits in categories entitled: “Reggae’s Superstars: The Lions of Jah”and “Reggae’s Superstars: The Lion Youth.”

Now the selector moves back in time to the roots of reggae, exploring the greatest singles from the ska tradition. Please feel free to suggest your favorite singles. The examination of the ska genre included a focused study on the founders of ska music from the late 1950s to the 1960s called: “The Ska Originals.” The next post explored the “Two-Tone Ska” movement of the 1970s and 1980s often called the second wave of ska music. This post focuses on “Third Wave Ska” music that fused ska and elements of punk.

In the 1990s the revival of ska music, known as the third wave, came in a raw form with strong ties to the punk rock music scene. It’s no surprise since ska music comes with a fast-paced rollicking energy that appealed to young working-class youths. British and American punks ate up reggae and ska, and the sound fused well with rip-roaring punk rock. My favorites from this genre include Operation Ivy, Fishbone, Rancid, and Sublime. Brad Nowell of Sublime had a knack for making great third-wave ska punk rock.

The Aggrolites have mad a distinct impression on the third-wave ska movement, bringing their California soul-drenched sound to the mix. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are symbolic of this genre, laying grimy vocals over ska horns and rock guitars. Some of the great punk bands have made their own ska-infused tracks, including NOFX, Goldfinger, the Offspring, and even the hardcore punk group Propagandhi.

Propagandhi’s track “Ska Sucks” is really a critique of the ska revival. As a representative of the punk intelligentsia, Propagandhi questions everyone and everything, including authority, religion, and the quality of the ska revival.  The song makes a captivating argument why the ska revival “sucks,” singing the message over a wonderful third wave ska sound.

Third Wave Ska…

Operation Ivy – Sound System

Fishbone – Party At Ground Zero

Rancid – Time Bomb

Sublime – Date Rape

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Impression That I Get

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – Strawberry Fields Forever

Hepcat – Marcus Garvey

Slightly Stoopid & Angelo Moore – Ska Diddy

The Slackers – Wasted Days

Manu Chao – Machine Gun (Live)

311 – Grassroots

Rancid & Dr. Israel – Coppers

The Aggrolites – Countryman Fiddle

NOFX – Bob

Manu Chao – Machine Gun

Alborosie – Patricia

Seeed – Goosebumps

Sublime – Jailhouse

Jimmy Cliff – World Upside Down

Fishbone – Cheyenne Star Forever Moore

Rancid – Fall Back Down

No Doubt, Toots & The Maytals – Monkey Man

311 – Welcome

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Simmer Down

Sublime – Wrong Way

The Slackers – I Shall Be Released

No Doubt – Spiderwebs

Rancid – Brad Logan (California Sun)

La Vela Puerca – Llenos De Magia

Reel Big Fish– Take On Me

Sublime – All You Need

Gwen Stefani – All of the DJs

The Offspring– Why Don’t You Get A Job?

La Vela Puerca – Gente

Goldfinger – I Love You More Today

Rancid & Buju Banton – Life Won’t Wait

The Slackers – Married Girl

Propagandhi – Ska Sucks

Sublime & Gwen Stefani – Saw Red

Rancid – Ruby Soho

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Rascal King

Skalariak – El Tiempo Tuyo

Fishbone – Skankin’ to the Beat

The Aggrolites – Hot Stop

Manu Chao – Mr. Bobby (Live)

Suicide Machines – I Never Promised You a Rose Garden

Rancid & Skinhead Rob – Red Hot Moon

Sublime – Same in the End

King Chango – Sin Ti

Jimmy Cliff – Blessed Love

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Rudie Can’t Fail

Rancid – Cocktails

Sublime – Chica Me Tipo

Panteon Rococo – Asesinos

Seeed – Eminem Ska

Manu Chao – King Kong Five (Live)

La Vela Puerca – Pedro

311 – Reggae Got Soul

Reel Big Fish – Monkey Man

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Where’d You Go?

Rancid – Hooligans

Reel Big Fish – Walkin’ On Sunshine

Rancid – Wrongful Suspicion

Fishbone – Date Rape

Skalariak – La Solucion

Reel Big Fish – Keep A Cool Head

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Why Can’t We Be Friends

La Vela Puerca – Alta Magia

Los Fabulosos Cadillacs – What’s New Pussycat

Skalariak – En Mi Nombre

King Chango – Full Time Business

 

NEED

Reel Big Fish – Sellout

Skavoovie & The Epitones – One Mint Julep

The Aggrolites – Ghost Town

The Stingers ATX – Painting Portraits

Supervillians – Resin

Buck-O-Nine – Irish Drinking Song

Dance Hall Crashers – Lost Again

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Someday I Suppose

Sektacore – Cool Cat

The Insteps – The Insteps

Mu330 – Hoosier Love

The Scofflaws – Grazin’ in the Grass

Westbound Train – Check Your Time

Hub City Stompers – Leave Me the Fuck Alone

The Pietasters – Out All Night

Deal’s Gone Bad – Movin’ On

The Aquabats – Pool Party

Stingers ATX – Let’s Be In Love

Less Than Jake – We Go Together

Mustard Plug – Mr. Smiley

Skavoovie & the Epitones – She Sure Can Cook

Streetlight Manifesto – Keasbey Nights

Mad Caddies – Drinking for 11

Soweto – Blue Ska

No 1 Station – Last Train

Skapone – Guns and Steeples

Soulsteppers – Warhead

Deal’s Gone Bad – Messin’ Around

Soweto – Honey Rider

Stan or Itchy – Feelin’ Good

The New York Jazz Ensemble – Haitian Fight Song

The Pietasters – Maggie May

Buck-O-Nine – My Town

Dancehall Crashers – Don’t Wanna Behave

MU330 – KKK Hiway

Deal’s Gone Bad – Be Mine Tonight

The Scofflaws – Ska-La-Carte

The Hub City Stompers – I’ve Got A Boot

The Stingers ATX – Rock and Ska

Mustard Plug – Brain on Ska

Skavoovie & the Epitones – Parakeet

Westbound Train – Why You Cry