VA - The Shape of Ska Punk to Come, Vol. I & II (2019-2021)

From Bad Time Records comes THE SHAPE OF SKA PUNK TO COME: VOLUME 1, featuring 12 brand new / unreleased tracks from some of ska punk's boldest and brightest.

nside you'll find a roadmap to the state of ska punk in 2019 - a new wave of genre bending that finds traditional ska mixing with hardcore, skate punk, reggae, garage rock, pop-punk, metal, and crust.

Is this an all encompassing look at the current ska punk landscape? HELL NO! But it's a pretty solid glimpse into THE SHAPE OF SKA PUNK TO COME.

Welcome to "The Shape of Ska Punk to Come Volume II." This is a collection of bands I love that are working together to build a better ska community.

For reasons I often think about but can’t aptly explain, ska is a huge part of my life. I think that’s even an understatement. That doesn’t mean I sit around and listen to nothing but ska all day, consistently share ska memes, or embroil myself in ska-based internet flame wars… it means that the people in my life that are closest to me are probably there for one reason or another because of ska. The people I create music with, that have housed me during tours, that have been with me at the poorly attended basement or VFW shows… they’ve become some of my closest friends. We can argue about what defines the genre in a technical aspect, but to me it has always been about community and a willingness to have an open mind.

I wrote that the first volume of this compilation was a “thank you letter to the scene that shaped me”; I’d say volume II is more of a short story. My goal for the first “shape” was to shine a light on bands that I saw doing the hard work to keep the genre and community alive. The goal for this volume is the same, though as the light gets a little brighter the bands are able to better define what our community looks like and stands for. It’s getting bigger, more diverse, and more inclusive than it ever has been before, but there is still so much work to be done. Here is a very small step towards that idea of unity.

This compilation is a unique mix of voices; some new, some familiar, all interpreting this genre in their own way. I never really though of “ska punk” as just meaning upstrokes and distorted guitars… I always considered it a license to use ska as an anchor while incorporating multiple styles, a creative challenge with no strict set of rules defining its solution. I’ll probably get an internet comment or two about this, but I think there is no better way to pay homage to the roots of the genre than to re-define its sound while renewing its radical messaging.

My hope is that this is a snapshot of what ska punk looks like in 2021, with each song conceived of and recorded during one of the most difficult times that any of us will live through. I think you can feel that weight in the music. This volume is of course not all-encompassing; there are many more bands working hard to propel the genre that are worth seeking out beyond this compilation or this label. I really hope you do.

By reading this and taking a chance on these bands, you’re actively participating in this community. You’re building it up, opening your mind to its new possibilities, and helping us continue to make the music we love while being the change we want to see in our scene. I truly hope you enjoy this collection of songs and the love poured into it from each band. Thank you for being a part of it.

Tracklist
Vol. I
01 - J. Navarro & the Traitors - No Control
02 - Joystick! - Retcon
03 - No Such Noise - Goron City
04 - Catbite - Amphetamine Delight
05 - Stuck Lucky - True Crime
06 - Kill Lincoln - Giving a Shit
07 - S.M.N. - Break Down
08 - The Best of the Worst - Rotten Dichotomy
09 - Matamoska! - Ropa Sucia
10 - Free Kick - The End of Life
11 - The Upfux - Nightmare
12 - The Fad - Circles
13 - Still Alive - 24 Hours

Vol. II
01 - Tape Girl - Half-Pipe (The Art of Vocal Feminization)
02 - Glory Hunters - Muzik
03 - Jeff Rosenstock - No U
04 - Eichlers - Highway 2 the Errorzone
05 - Abraskadabra - Closer to the Ground
06 - We Are the Union - A Century of Failure
07 - Flying Raccoon Suit - Run Away
08 - Omnigone - Land of Opportunity
09 - Thirsty Guys - Careerist
10 - Redeemon - Purpose
11 - Jer - Ska Has Progressed Past the Need for Incels
12 - Kill Lincoln - Misaligned
13 - Remnant Collective - Laika
14 - Los Skagaleros - Conditioned
15 - Millington - Millington
16 - Mike Park - Saturday Night
17 - Noise Complaint - Plague Rats
18 - Dang!t - Kind of Life
19 - Lo(u)ser - Me vs Me
20 - Dissidente - Atlantis