The Pros And Cons Of Modern Ska

Prince Burridge · 07-21-2004, 08:20 AM

I am something of a ska purist/traditionalist who likes first wave (1960s) ska and second wave (Two-Tone) ska, but has reservations about modern ska. Bear in mind that what I'm about to say reflects my own personal tastes, and it is not my intention to offend fans of modern ska. I can see both positive and negative points about modern ska.

First the negative points: To me, a lot of modern ska sounds too polished and rather shallow. It seems to lack depth, feeling and power. And some of the so-called ska-punk hasn't got any ska in it at all. A lot of it is just punk with saxophone.

Now the positive points: At least modern ska (especially ska-punk) is bringing ska music to a generation who might otherwise never have even heard of it. Maybe it will serve as a gateway for them to get into the purer stuff, just as Two-Tone did for me in the early 1980s. As it happens, I'm going to see Spunge and Uncle Brian in my home town of Swansea (Wales, UK) tonight.

07-21-2004, 08:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Prince Burridge Groupie Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Swansea, Wales, UK Posts: 20	The Pros And Cons Of Modern Ska I am something of a ska purist/traditionalist who likes first wave (1960s) ska and second wave (Two-Tone) ska, but has reservations about modern ska. Bear in mind that what I'm about to say reflects my own personal tastes, and it is not my intention to offend fans of modern ska. I can see both positive and negative points about modern ska. First the negative points: To me, a lot of modern ska sounds too polished and rather shallow. It seems to lack depth, feeling and power. And some of the so-called ska-punk hasn't got any ska in it at all. A lot of it is just punk with saxophone. Now the positive points: At least modern ska (especially ska-punk) is bringing ska music to a generation who might otherwise never have even heard of it. Maybe it will serve as a gateway for them to get into the purer stuff, just as Two-Tone did for me in the early 1980s. As it happens, I'm going to see Spunge and Uncle Brian in my home town of Swansea (Wales, UK) tonight.