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- The Specials. 3,694 votes. Starting off with a bang, The Specials were pioneers of the 2 Tone and ska movement that erupted in the late '70s and early '80s.
- Madness. 3,040 votes. Next up, Madness have etched their name in the annals of ska history with their distinctive blend of British pop and classic ska influences.
- Toots & the Maytals. 1,764 votes. Toots & the Maytals are a Jamaican musical treasure, with a career spanning over five decades. Often credited as the originators of reggae, they've made an indelible mark on ska music as well – providing the soundtrack to countless summers and inspiring generations of musicians.
- The Skatalites. 2,670 votes. As one of the original ska bands, the Jamaican-born Skatalites were instrumental in shaping the sound of the genre. Formed in the early '60s, their unique blend of jazz and Caribbean rhythms set the stage for countless other ska acts to come.
- Top Best Ska Bands of All Time
- 90’s Ska Bands
- 80s Ska Bands
- Ska Punk Bands
- Christian Ska Bands
- Victory Records Ska Bands
- Japanese Ska Bands
- Female Ska Bands
- Houston Ska Bands
- Ska Reggae Bands
Being a genre that is over half a century old, it’s difficult to pin down the top ska bands of all time. So we decided to do something a little different. We’ve compiled this list, based on popularity, critical acclaim, influence, and album sales. So here it is. 1. The Specials 2. Madness 3. Less Than Jake 4. Toots and the Maytals 5. The Mighty Mig...
The 90s were a golden age for ska music. It was the era when 3rd wave ska really took off, with bands like Sublime, No Doubt, and Reel Big Fish leading the charge. The popularity of ska music in the 90s led to a resurgence in interest in 2nd wavebands like Madness and The Specials. Although the 90s are often considered the heyday of ska music, the ...
The 80s were a tough time for ska music. 2nd wave ska was on the decline, and 3rd wave wouldn’t explode until the early 90s. However, there were still a few great ska bands in the 80s worth checking out. The English Beat and Madness were two 2nd wave ska bands that continued to find success in the 80s. The Specials also released a handful of new si...
Ska-punk is a subgenre of ska that combines the fast tempos and catchy melodies of punk rock with the horns and 2-tone rhythms of ska. Ska-punk emerged in the late 70s and early 80s, with bands like Operation Ivy, Rancid, and NOFX leading the way. But it was the mid to late 1990s when ska-punk really took off, with the release of albums like Doubt’...
Christian ska is a subgenre of ska music that addresses Christian themes. The earliest Christian ska bands were active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Bands like The Insyderz, The O.C. Supertones, and Five Iron Frenzy were at the forefront of the Christian ska movement. The late 1990s and early 2000s saw a resurgence in popularity for Christian ...
Victory Records is an American record label that was founded in 1989 by Tony Brummel. The label is home to a number of great ska bands, including streetlight manifesto, catch 22, and mustard plug. Victory Records has been instrumental in helping to keep ska music alive while also championing new and upcoming ska bands. The label has released some o...
Emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s the Japanese ska scene is characterized by its own unique sound and style, which has been heavily influenced by both American and British ska music. Japanese ska bands often incorporate elements of rock, punk, and metal into their music. While some Japanese ska bands sing in English, many sing in Japanese. ...
While ska music has historically been a male-dominated genre, there have always been a number of great female ska bands. From The Slackers to No Doubt, female ska bands have been making great music for years. And although the number of female-fronted ska bands is still relatively small, there are a number of great ones making music today. Here are ...
Houston has a surprisingly vibrant ska scene, with a number of great ska bands emerging from the city in recent years. These bands often have a punk rock influence, and many of them sing in Spanish. The Houston ska scene is relatively small, but it’s still possible to find a great ska show if you know where to look. 1. Free Radicals 2. JAM-X Band/C...
Reggae and Ska have always had a close relationship, with many ska bands incorporating reggae into their music. Both genres share a similar laid-back and easygoing vibe, which is why they go so well together. The only difference between ska and reggae is that ska is generally faster-paced and has a stronger focus on the horns. But at their core, bo...
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- Reel Big Fish. Even music aficionados who aren’t well-versed in ska recognize the name of Reel Big Fish. The band, which formed in Orange County in the 1990s, quickly became a fixture of third-wave ska with their debut album, Turn the Radio Off.
- Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones borrowed the sound of SoCal ska-punk but with roots in Boston. The band began playing together in 1983 and continued until they decided to call it quits in early 2022.
- Madness. Notable for their two-tone ska style, we have the English band Madness. They formed in 1976 and had quite the success from the onset and into the early 1980s.
- The Specials. UK-based The Specials is a ska band with inextricable political ties. Commenting on youth, culture, interpersonal relations, and global events, they contributed perhaps the most foundational ska sound to their country in the 1980s and beyond.
Aug 9, 2023 · 9. Bad Manners. The Bad Manners lead vocalist Buster Bloodvessel is arguably one of the most famous ska personalities in the United Kingdom, and his band is among the country’s best, in line with Madness and The Specials. They were part of the 2-tone revival craze of the ’80s and have been active since 1976.
- Goldfinger. Formed: 1994. Best Known Track: Superman. Goldfinger, formed in the mid-nineties, contributed to the third-wave ska movement and still tours occasionally today.
- No Doubt. Formed: 1986. Best Known Track: Don’t Speak. Potentially the biggest ska band of all time, No Doubt was everywhere in the ’90s, blowing up all the radio stations with hits like “Spiderwebs” and “Don’t Speak”.
- The Specials. Formed: 1977. Best Known Track: A Message to You Rudy. Having formed all the way back in the seventies, The Specials have continued to make music to the day, even boasting a number one spot on the UK Albums Chart with their 2019 album Encore.
- The Aquabats! Formed: 1994. Best Known Track: Super Rad! aren’t just an influential ska band, they’re also the superheroes of ska! Still touring today, The Aquabats are renowned for their upbeat songs and comedic personalities, and for always putting on a hilariously entertaining show.
Dec 19, 2023 · 3. Reel Big Fish. Reel Big Fish - Take On Me (Official Video) Reel Big Fish is carrying on the tradition of ska bands being fun-filled. These guys do take their music seriously but with such a smile on their faces at the same time. They became big in the mid-90s, and I do feel that was the highlight of their music.
Dec 27, 2023 · Reel Big Fish. We Are The Union. Five Iron Frenzy. New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble. Capdown. The Allstonians. 1. The Specials. The Specials ‘ sound was a mix of ska, punk, and reggae, with socially and politically conscious lyrics that addressed issues such as racism, unemployment, and youth alienation.
