When people call ska or ska punk a fad, it genuinely annoys me.
The implication is that it’s something that “everyone” thought was a good idea at the time – hey, pet rocks are rad! – and then collectively decided are not so good. So, it turns out that pet rocks shouldn’t be a thing, guys…
Great music stands the test of time, and I hereby declare that the best music of this sub-genre stands with the best of all music ever recorded.
In fact, five albums that sit comfortably within the definition of ska punk are included in the best 1,000 albums ever, a five-year pop culture-meets-memoir project. Two of which from our fellas from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones!
Something important to point out: the relative rankings you see here were drawn out of the much larger best 1,000 albums ever project. Were I to start over “from scratch,” it’s possible that some of the below would shift around in small, subtle ways.
Overall, the point is to celebrate 50 albums that exquisitely mesh punk’s velocity and ferocity with ska’s upbeat, wildly infectious off-beat grooves.
Without further ado, here’s the 50 best ska punk albums ever
1) Operation Ivy – Operation Ivy (#7 of the best 1,000 albums ever)
Sound system gonna bring me back up, yeah, one thing that I can depend on.
2) The Suicide Machines – Battle Hymns(#26)
And what do we learn? To kill better.
3) The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Live from the Middle East (#37)
One, two, what’s in the stew? Three, four, no one’s really sure.
4) The Flatliners – Destroy to Create (#44)
Fred’s got slacks on the boulevard.
5) The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Devil’s Night Out (#48)
The band was so hot, my beer got warm.
6) Reel Big Fish – Why Do They Rock So Hard?(#102)
Everything is cool, how are things with you?
7) Rancid – …And Out Come the Wolves (#107)
Good morning heartache, you’re like an old friend, come and see me again.
8) The Aquabats! – The Fury of The Aquabats! (#113)
All systems go! Soon the world will know the fury of attack – feel the wrath of the super rad.
9) Rancid – Indestructible (#121)
If I fall back down, you’re gonna help me back up again.
10) Sublime – 40oz. to Freedom (#160)
Lord knows I’m weak – won’t somebody get me off this reef?
11) Reel Big Fish – Turn the Radio Off(#162)
Please don’t hate me because I’m trendy – they’re not gonna laugh at me again.
12) Mad Caddies – Keep It Going (#184)
You’ve got the answers that you need right up in your backyard.
13) Voodoo Glow Skulls – Who Is, This Is?(#185)
There’s no need for violence against your fellow man. We must live together in this corrupted land.
14) Sublime – Sublime(#211)
All people in the dance will agree that we’re well qualified to represent the L.B.C.
15) The Suicide Machines – Destruction By Definition(#230)
All my dreams were just islands in the sky.
16) Save Ferris – It Means Everything(#236)
When I am down and I am blue all I have to do is close my eyes and think of you – and the world is new.
17) Voodoo Glow Skulls – Firme(#268)
Let’s shoot the moon.
18) Rancid – Life Won’t Wait(#270)
Who would’ve thought that the dreams come true? And who would’ve thought I ended up with you?
19) Rancid & NOFX – BYO Split Series Volume III (#281)
When I got the music, I got a place to go.
20) The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – More Noise and Other Disturbances(#283)
I like noise and it’s gotta be loud.
21) The Suicide Machines – A Match & Some Gasoline (#308)
There’s all this fighting and we don’t know what for, so the rich get richer and the poor stay poor.
22) Tim Armstrong – A Poet’s Life(#310)
Let’s get moving into action.
23) Voodoo Glow Skulls – Baile De Los Locos (#316)
I heard you think you’re bulletproof.
24) Perfect Thyroid – Kiss the Mammoth and Run (#325)
You’re nobody’s zero.
25) Perfect Thyroid – Musical Barnacles(#338)
Open your mouth and close your eyes and let the overlord’s spoon slide deep inside.
26) Fishbone – Fishbone(#356)
Party at ground zero, a B Movie starring you, and the world will turn to flowing pink vapor stew.
27) Madness – Absolutely (#358)
Naughty boys in nasty schools, headmaster’s breaking all the rules, having fun and playing fools, smashing up the woodwork tools.
28) Less Than Jake – Losing Streak(#361)
When it all came down on a Saturday night, should I choose a side at 9th and Pine?
29) The Suicide Machines – War Profiteering Is Killing Us All (#413)
Take a look around you, you might not like what you see. Yeah, we’re all comfortably living in a privileged society.
30) Murphy’s Law – The Best of Times (#418)
This crowd is tight, tight. Gonna party all night, night.
31) Sublime – Robbin’ the Hood (#421)
Wake up in the morning and it’s hard to live.
32) The Suicide Machines – The Suicide Machines (#441)
I won’t spend another day in this heart attack city, it’s messed up here and everything’s money.
33) Voodoo Glow Skulls – Symbolic(#446)
I’m living in a nightmare can’t you see, I need some musical therapy.
34) Mad Caddies – Duck and Cover (#509)
Gotta watch those corners in the stretch of danger, a problem could arise eventually. I’ve walked this earth for twenty years and now my mind is floating out to sea.
35) Voodoo Glow Skulls – The Band Geek Mafia (#515)
The doctor says to take it easy because this isn’t healthy, but I need things a doctor can’t prescribe. I’m running the race on a treadmill going nowhere fast; I need an outlet in my so-called life.
36) Dance Hall Crashers – Lockjaw(#526)
Why are you listening to all the things they tell you every day? Why are you listening, what happened to your own mind anyway?
37) The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Question the Answers(#557)
We question one accessory: don’t think the piece is necessary. We agree you’re dressed to kill, but wonder if you will.
38) The Hippos – Heads Are Gonna Roll (#560)
Something in the way she never looks my way, I’m in love, I’m in love.
39) Buck-O-Nine – Twenty-Eight Teeth (#578)
My soul is sound when I’m in my hometown, yeah, and no place I’d rather be.
40) The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Ska-Core, The Devil and More (#600)
You know, I’ve made mistakes. I’ve had my ups and downs, my ins and outs, my share of bad breaks. But when it’s all been said and done, I raise my beer and I swear, “God, it’s been fun!”
41) Mad Caddies – Quality Soft Core (#603)
It’s only human nature, pollutes temptation. We have reserved bookings for the fathers of our nation.
42) Voodoo Glow Skulls – Adicción, Tradición, Y Revolución (#660)
She don’t like The Toasters or The Skeletones, she’d rather pound some beers and listen to the Ramones.
43) The Aquabats! – The Aquabats! Vs. The Floating Eye of Death! And Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 1 (#668)
Hey kid! What do we got? Not a lot. So what?
44) Pilfers – Pilfers(#698)
You think it’s funny, but what I say is true.
45) No Doubt – Rock Steady(#706)
Hey baby, it’s hella good, okay?
46) Voodoo Glow Skulls – Steady As She Goes (#711)
Nada en la cabeza.
47) Mad Caddies – Just One More(#733)
Drink smoke drink smoke this is what we do. Well, not what I do necessarily but… you get it.
48) Fishbone – Truth & Soul (#734)
It might not be for ma nor pa, but this Fishbone dish is sizzling.
49) Streetlight Manifesto – Everything Goes Numb (#743)
Ska punk with a level of musicianship and sophistication that very few bands ever achieve. Oh, and don’t forget the energy energy energy.
50) Catch 22 – Keasbey Nights (#758)
Day in day out and on and on and on.