#0070 – Ska

ska

This mix has been sitting in my iTunes library for well over eight months.  There just hasn’t been the right time to release it.  Jim’s oldest son, Damian, asked about ska and as a big fan, I wanted to help address this ska need — because everyone needs ska.  Everyone.

Then, this last weekend, with the Aquabats playing at the Metro in Chicago, I was committed to getting this mix out — and then I messed up my ankle, which kept me from getting to see the Aquabats and made me a very sad panda.  Hours of Guitar Hero later, I was comfortable with keeping my quantum of solace in check enough to produce this mix.

So I share with you, future lovers of 2 Tone just the lowest hanging fruit on the interwoven branches of ska, punk, rocksteady, new wave, reggae, rock and pop.

Play

Everyone loves ska.  Just remember that, and you’ll be aiight.

  • Monkey Man – The Specials
  • Everything Sucks – Reel Big Fish
  • Beat Surrender – The Jam
  • Simmer Down – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
  • Roots Radicals – Rancid
  • Freedom of Choice – Devo
  • Canary in a Coalmine – The Police
  • Dub 56 – The Toasters
  • Turning Japanese – Skankin’ Pickle
  • Come On Eileen – Save Ferris
  • One Step Beyond – Madness
  • Ska Boss – The Aquabats
  • Rudy, A Message To You – Dandy Livingstone
  • Shame and Scandal – Peter Tosh
  • Pressure Drop – The Specials
  • Rudie Can’t Fail – The Clash
  • Pick It Up – Alex Desert (Hepcat)
  • Banana – The Aggrolites
  • Kong – MU330
  • Into Action – Tim Armstrong

#0030 – With Might & Main

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With Might & Main – Weeks of endless contract work and regular work combined have kept me hammering away at the computer while ITunes plays aimlessly. This mix pulls out the songs that stuck out to me during that time and then provided a good mix while I worked up through Christmas. This steady, dependable flow of songs includes ABBA, The Epoxies, The Dead Milkmen, Shane MacGowan & The Popes, Limpopo, Peter Tosh, James Ray and Gangwar, The Brandos, Love Tractor, Tracy Chapman, Flogging Molly, L7, Down, KMFDM, Patti Smith, and Lou Reed. Perfect to pass the time during hard labor.