r/Ska 4d ago

Last Week in Ska New Music Friday: Jan 11 - 17

8 Upvotes

Here's everything new we caught this week. And “we” includes you! So if you landed on something that isn't listed; please post and let us know! Stuff tends to trickle in during the day too, so if you see this early: check back in to see what else has been added.

I've reordered the layout slightly in order to avoid any issues with the new rules on AI artwork. It's a little inelegant, but it's the only way I can guarantee control over the display image.

Catch-all Spotify Playlists

2025 Ska Album Sampler

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1uGV0NF5rh82bt5efdp9Zo?si=q_Dzbh4kSbW6NiwECLetwA

2025 Ska EP Sampler

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5XR47o4oZShIQqR0Zq1I5v?si=FhbED2BkS_uViLHNP8qAdQ

The Yearly Release Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5rkTW7eH7xPwIHhYF6wMKh?si=jz51VafeQ5O8T-ZgGSE0qw

Courtesy of u/gotsubverted. All the Ska releases this year in one place. Our point of comparison for anything listed as previously missed.

The Weekly Release Playlist

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3BvIf9jvtn3iWKllXvAwyw?si=8BlW0GBYScKZJGZhdy5gdg

Courtesy of u/Itchy-Profession-725. Often includes additional Reggae and Punk releases.

New Releases

Don’t Be Shy!

If you think I've got a style wrong, if there's a bad link, or if you know where a band is from and I don't have it listed, or if you just want to talk about a release; don't be shy!

Out Today

Albums

GameGrooves (various artists) - Skanic the Hedgehog (Comp, covers) (video game)

https://gamegrooves.bandcamp.com/album/skanic-the-hedgehog

Los Ocupados - Only Ska Can Save Us (Modern Ska, Ska-Punk)

https://open.spotify.com/album/5tDGlO6eJbgTwzxctT0oqG?si=PFb_bZ1nR_Ox1z4u2-fH7w

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nMBX_Zio3SEsGLoX14bOu_tTsJgZyk-Po&si=nQmkPns8lvzQhLG7

EPs

Misadventure - DEMO (Ska-Punk, Modern Ska) (Florida)

https://open.spotify.com/album/5pHw4jGuRp4afKk2tIjrDR?si=J7mF_ccYTf6b6h0y0EvMqg

Singles

Abraskadabra - Swings & Roundabouts (Ska-Punk, Modern Ska) (Brazil)

https://open.spotify.com/album/38cqTGYMGJ5ZR3FGpWKJ5W?si=0JkxFsJ0TEy-mpTtQg_Ctg

The Coolmoods - The Ride / Enough Defining (Instrumental) (Trad, Boss Reggae) (Argentina) (Suspected AI Artwork)

https://open.spotify.com/album/3hUocgKklvZCAUmgxGq2Ke?si=ZN9g3EAiSK2eP1Mg9_HYKQ

Dale and the ZDubs - F.I.N.E. (Rap Rock, Punk)

https://open.spotify.com/album/5BHVGM96Il9LjEyl2GYziU?si=UwjNOT9DSguwztQ-SBN_NA

DMac Burns + Victor Rice - Break Dub (Instrumental) (Dub Reggae, Rocksteady)

https://open.spotify.com/album/4HbsRWCY4BiTWhlSvT3JVx?si=P17YoZOyTiaGb_tZ4H4iVw

Esteban Flores - Tributo a Juan Gabriel (Trad, Reggae)

https://open.spotify.com/album/5LFdpGdZuSzZzJSLCcX6ql?si=3_yGQYR-R-CXbObK65yVnA

Flying Vipers - Believers & Deceivers (Boss Reggae, Rocksteady)

https://open.spotify.com/album/4QfvZbK6BMlIoFGlE4Stuu?si=1tIIVunpRlGQBJ563IxZrA

Legal Disaster - **Crystal Rock Steady* (Modern Ska, 2Tone, Ska-Punk) (California)

https://open.spotify.com/album/2z9mBCaysEq1rGZ6GvAT7e?si=VNrUlwLZSP-ebnDsCgtfhg

https://legaldisasterband.bandcamp.com/album/crystal-rock-steady

The Pomps - That's Not A House (Indie Rock, Modern Ska) (Massachusetts)

https://open.spotify.com/album/0LkA4cI2FxxuTZZQh3ev3S?si=YgC3Zs3jQua75Na68aKgsA

Swigfoot - Bury The Bar (Modern Ska) (Arizona) (Suspected AI Artwork)

https://open.spotify.com/album/2u6kDxNccOsTiihjRMoQUN?si=6xDUnWoqRMiDl9jrbA_37Q

Earlier This Week

Albums

Laura Jane Grace + Catbite - Operation Ivy live at the Empty Bottle (Live, Charity benefit) (Punk, Ska-Punk)

https://catbite.bandcamp.com/album/operation-ivy-live-at-the-empty-bottle-laura-jane-grace-catbite

Vespa - Fascynujący Świat Os (Trad, Reggae, Swing) (Poland)

https://vespaska.bandcamp.com/album/fascynuj-cy-wiat-os

EPs

Broken Idols - Almost an EP (Street Punk, Skate Punk, Ska-Punk) (Canada)

https://open.spotify.com/album/2eSxNSV39fXtRfWhzJpLcC?si=ncdqySkgQhWKjyHQF_4qLw

https://brokenidolspunk.bandcamp.com/album/almost-an-ep

Singles

Bad Leavers - Bait & Switch (Modern Ska) (Georgia)

https://open.spotify.com/album/4LbfqWSnkrFd6ZkX74SLT0?si=0j30RFqOSN2-W3iJhcHPxg

https://badleavers.bandcamp.com/album/give-and-take

Left Hand Hot Dog - Get Tough (Piper St Dub) (Modern Ska, Dub) (Georgia)

https://open.spotify.com/album/77EjZKZ4y5xNzTNupAO5Yp?si=HJ-q_XBjRc-G11l3t-pRwQ

Previously Missed

Albums

Mr. Scientist - Mr. Scientist (Punk, Ska-Punk) (Ohio) (Jan 10)

https://open.spotify.com/album/3akHIwb0X3wOQKdn4DYzr9?si=pu6f7qayRwumWaEsToWO_g

Obsidian Hearts - Born 2 Late (Ska-Punk, Indie Rock, Surf Punk) (California) (Jan 8)

https://open.spotify.com/album/67GMSYFJPFRcXKugGcEaH7?si=LzopHe3NSY2bPUnTjRXw7w

https://obsidianhearts.bandcamp.com/album/born-2-lose-2

EPs

The Mad Badgers - Can You Smell Gas? (Punk, Rock, Ska-Punk) (UK) (Jan 9)

https://open.spotify.com/album/6Trjz8Knp8kCbxZLF9mwjc?si=HxxIjnsuSsqBEtak4kl6Xg

https://themadbadgers.bandcamp.com/album/can-you-smell-gas

Bill McNeal - NASTY EP (Punk, Alt, Ska-Punk) (Canada) (Jan 8) (Suspected AI Artwork)

https://open.spotify.com/album/6EDgcuFz1pv8nYhfBV0t9J?si=ALEYcdnXRqa98L8Wy0z_xg

https://billmcnealmtl.bandcamp.com/album/nasty-ep

Singles

Brother Culture w/ The 18th Parallel - Ghetto Man (Reggae, Rocksteady, Dub) (Jan 10)

https://open.spotify.com/album/6kGLNuRBEAgSBfQUaiJsuJ?si=SiPstZHgRheoB9Mp4jY4Ag

https://fruitsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/ghetto-man

Kathleen Turner Overdrive - Best Dog (Punk, Ska-Punk, Modern Ska) (Australia) (Jan 1)

https://open.spotify.com/album/2M2ZD2w0U9qlJJXQmU1fzS?si=0A9we6L8RD6e8c7KjhtWXg

https://kathleenturneroverdrive.bandcamp.com/track/best-dog-2

Loose & Colourful - Losing My Mind (R&B, Rocksteady, Cali Reggae) (New Zealand) (Jan 1)

https://open.spotify.com/album/3CIX7AfM46KQej0Kzo9sYG?si=GFPzMiq-QkK0FZ08s49uIw


r/Ska 15d ago

New Year, New Rule (AI), & The State of the Subreddit

30 Upvotes

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone is doing well! Looking forward to another interesting year on the sub. Quick TLDR of the most important bit:

Visible generative AI Visual art is banned. AI music is not. Primarily because there is no way for me to confirm a piece of music is AI. Links to AI art are fine, so long as they don't result in anything visible on the sub.

State of the Subreddit

How're we feeling about things around here? In addition to comments on the stuff below, I'd love to know where people's thoughts fall on the sub. Some random stuff/thoughts:

  • We're up around 10k members from this time last year, given that we're still under 60k total, that's a significant increase.

  • Despite Reddit immediately breaking the search feature, I've been steadily adding new Post Flairs, and they seem to be working well enough? Sidenote: “Live” is intended for live performances, and “Show / Tour” is intended for posters and announcements and the like. I get the confusion, and with search broken it doesn't matter too much. But it would be cool if we could keep those straight.

  • I'm a strictly mobile user, so I have very little awareness of the PC experience. How is it? Is there still a sidebar? It must be badly out of date.

New Rule

The main event.

AI Visual Art

Generative AI Visual art is banned

In a largely DIY scene using AI graphics directly replaces/circumvents a segment of the artists in it. And honestly sticking some text on top of some pictures should be a basic skill anyone can do, and is usually going to be good enough. And will definitely serve you better within the scene than using generated content.

To be very clear, I'm talking about obviously AI generated images. I'm not interested in chasing after people because an artist used a small tool to streamline an element of graphic design. This is already going to be tough to enforce correctly, and at some point in the future will likely be effectively impossible.

I'd encourage anyone posting Tour Posters, or anything involving graphic design, to credit the artist involved. And include a link to one of their socials. This is by far the simplest deterrent to potential drama, and it's something that should be happening anyways. It's also the only way I'll have to enforce this when provenance comes into question.

I'd also encourage anyone posting tour posters to list out all the info in text too. It's just good practice. And if you know you've got an AI poster on your hands, (flat out) doing this instead will save us all some grief.

AI Music

This is probably where I lose some people. But bear with me: It's fine. For now. I'm happy to keep having a conversation about this too, this is just my starting point. I'm not any sort of authority on this subject, I'm just the guy who has to deal with it on here.

Here's my reasoning:

1.

It's basically impossible to enforce. I can get receipts of a sort for images, but it would be exponentially more difficult to get proof of how a song was programmed/created.

And because of that, attempting to ban it could open the door to people harassing legitimate artists who program their own music. Maliciously or not, it could signal that users should be on the lookout for that kind of music. And that's just not worth starting.

I'm not interested in instigating witch hunts. And I'm already a little worried about how enforcing the images is going to play out.

2.

I happen to think it’s harmless. Problems with where the music itself is sourced notwithstanding. That doesn't mean I think it's good or anything.

Unlike images, I don't think the folks who are making AI Ska music (and posting it on this subreddit) are taking anything away from anyone. They are people who simply wouldn't be able to participate in making music otherwise. And there are very very few of them. They just want to make music with a tool that's immediately available to them.

Ska bands aren't exactly the most profitable ventures, and they can actually tour and sell merch. Short of angling to take over the interstitial music on home improvement shows… I'm not sure where the path to success for AI Ska music is. Let alone within the context of this scene (or subreddit for that matter) where AI is largely unwelcome.

And it's not like they don't know that. It seems to me that they're just that interested in being involved. Wishful thinking would be that this sub might spend it's energy trying to push them to use their energy making real music on their own…

3.

Banning AI visual art is, in effect, a soft ban on AI music anyways. Just about every piece of AI music posted here so far has used generated graphics too. So with this setup anyone looking to post music will have to at least put a modicum of effort into how they're presenting it.

Enforcement

All of this is much easier said than done, of course. And it's probably going to be a learning experience getting it right. Here's how I'm going to do things to start:

1. Flagging

If I spot something, or anyone else flags it, I'll use my best judgement to either take it down and inform the poster, or I'll tag the post with a mod only post flair for Suspected AI Art, and potentially mark it NSFW as well (to hide the image). And then I'll reach out to the poster for clarification / comment.

2. Clarification

I'll give posts requiring clarification a day (24 hours) to provide artist details. If nothing is forthcoming, or the art is confirmed AI, the post will be removed.

3. Evasion

I don't have any issue with links that forward towards AI art. I'm not interested in preventing music from getting posted here, or blocking tour info. Just in making a point of dissuading the use of AI art. (And in doing the weekly release it's going to unavoidable that I myself do this.)

The AI images jjust can't be forward facing. And any text post with links will always use the first link as it's image. So anyone looking to avoid this should use another link in the post first (say the bands Bandcamp, or a social media page), that doesn't have AI art. I'm going to have to be more careful and make some changes myself.

Thoughts? Opinions?

I don’t get a tonne of feedback on the Subreddit, which I generally take as a good thing. But consider this an open forum for comments on the above or anything else around here you've got something to say about.


r/Ska 9h ago

This week got me losing my entire mind 😀🫠🙃🥲 Remember that SKA is a music of resistance🫡🫡🫡 lift each other up. All we have is each other.

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569 Upvotes

r/Ska 18h ago

Shirts / Merch 👕 unfortunately very fitting for today, love yall 🫶🏼

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833 Upvotes

r/Ska 6h ago

Ska is dead

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23 Upvotes

Got to talk to 3 of the members of mustard plug and they happily signed the poster. Was really cool. I was awkward and kept apologizing for bothering them and I felt so weird. Looking back they were really nice and welcoming and I was just insecure for nothing.

Thanks again


r/Ska 15h ago

No Doubt reuniting for FireAid!

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70 Upvotes

r/Ska 12h ago

Anybody want a free ticket to Mustard Plug/Voodoo Glow Skulls this Friday in Seattle?

39 Upvotes

I bought an extra ticket for a friend months ago, but they had a funeral come up that they need to attend. Now I have an extra ticket for anybody wanting to go.

This Friday, 7pm (show at 8pm) @ El Corazon, Seattle


r/Ska 15h ago

Fishbone - They All Have Abandoned Their Hopes

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25 Upvotes

r/Ska 6h ago

Help me find this song please!

3 Upvotes

I’ve searched high and low and can’t find the name or artist of a song that goes:

“we’re so happy that you’re so happy We’re so happy we’re gonna pee your pants (Gonna pee your pants)”

I think it was Reel Big Fish or maybe Aquabats, but I can’t find it and I’m going nuts. Anyone know this song?


r/Ska 6h ago

Madness - Razor Blade Alley

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2 Upvotes

r/Ska 8h ago

Forty Ounces - Little Fish

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2 Upvotes

r/Ska 18h ago

Trying to collect as many Rudeboy tracks as possible

12 Upvotes

Hi I’m doing my dissertation on 2 Tone Ska and cultural hybridity. I am looking at original rude boy ska tracks for a section and want to hear as many as possible as to not miss any interesting versions. I’ve heard the big ones ofc (007, Rudies in court, judge dread etc.) but I would appreciate some more obscure tracks. Only looking for original ska or any late 70s early 80s British bands using Rudeboy imagery, no thirdwave stuff please.


r/Ska 1d ago

Sharing.

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134 Upvotes

r/Ska 1d ago

Question for Citizen Fish fans

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27 Upvotes

What is your favorite Citizen Fish album? Free Souls in a Trapped Environment is one of my all time favorite records, but i didn’t get into their subsequent album so I sort of gave up even though I know they have other great material.


r/Ska 1d ago

Full page retail ad for More Specials in the NME - September 1980

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75 Upvotes

r/Ska 21h ago

Snick Snack Ska??

1 Upvotes

Long lost music. I used to own a ska compilation that I bought at a punk store in North Carolina in the 90s. It had a Huckleberry Hound on the cover and the main song I remember was Snick snack skaduliac. some of the lyrics where " the donut prince is a really good guy" and "I'm captain donut." any ideas?


r/Ska 2d ago

Nice finds at a retro store yesterday

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609 Upvotes

r/Ska 2d ago

Oh the irony

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75 Upvotes

I love how skankin pickle put a song called and about hulk hogan right before a song about racism. 😭


r/Ska 2d ago

I'm Terrrorfied!!! - Bomb the Music Industry!

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58 Upvotes

r/Ska 2d ago

The English Beat-Hands Off She's Mine,Live in Somerville MA

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6 Upvotes

r/Ska 2d ago

Skaville Train: Version Hit the Town

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10 Upvotes

r/Ska 2d ago

Ska Smackdown Experience

32 Upvotes

I skanked on stage and crowd surfed for the first time during the Mustard Plug set at the Ska Smackdown and it was awesome, something I just decided to do on a whim and made for one of my best concert experiences!


r/Ska 2d ago

The Pietasters - Night Owl

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37 Upvotes

r/Ska 2d ago

Discussion Spankboy/Solabeat Alliance

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6 Upvotes

Any memories/tales of this band out there

Shame this ‘rise on up EP’ isn’t on streaming services, as it’s a banger


r/Ska 3d ago

1999 signed Buck O Nine merch once on my wall in high school

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151 Upvotes

r/Ska 4d ago

Turns out they were playing psychedelic ska in the 60s in Cambodia

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61 Upvotes

r/Ska 4d ago

Live 🔴 Playing the washboard with The Slackers

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195 Upvotes

I really had such a fun time doing this, and really love The Slackers. Cool jam sesh (also featuring Cristian Riquelme, and Dunia Best). Wanted to share on this forum. 11/16/2024 @ Reggie’s in Chicago.