JJ Loy

Each episode of Hornpod is a close-up look at some aspect of ska culture from the genre’s vast family tree. At times historical and wildly subjective, Hornpod is your audio destination for the stories and theories behind your favorite ska bands, albums, and sub-sub-subgenres.

013 – Soundbwoy

JJ and Matt trace the origins of modern EDM back to 1960’s Jamaica and then see how it has fed back into ska over the years. Then they consider some albums for the Ska Canon.

012 – Open Season

JJ and Matt chat about supergroups and all-star combinations in ska music, and consider some albums that fit the theme for inclusion in the Ska Canon.

011 – Rudeboy Style

JJ and Matt look at toasting, chatting, and dancehall in the ska scene. Then, keeping to the theme of the episode, consider some albums for the Ska Canon.

010 – Ska’d For Life

JJ and Matt take a closer look at ska puns and portmanteaus, and tell you which are the good, which are the bad, and which are just plain ugly. They then consider a few examples of wordplay band names for the Ska Canon.

Hornpod Offbeat 001

Hornpod Offbeat is a new occasional series where JJ and Matt stop talking about ska and start talking about other things they like. Consider it bonus content. In this mini episode the boys have a conversation about Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, recorded before… Read More »Hornpod Offbeat 001

009 – Take Her To Jamaica

JJ and Matt consult a real expert to discuss mento, the Jamaican music that preceded ska, and discover that maybe it’s wrong to link one to the other. They then consider which essential mento collections necessitate inclusion in the Ska Canon.

008 – Do Somethin’ Crazy

JJ and Matt take on the past and present of skacore with the help of their first guest contributor, Jimmy Doyle (the Fad, the Forthrights). Then a few skacore albums are considered for the Ska Canon.

007 – Soul Revival

JJ and Matt praise their favorite soulful ska and reggae singers throughout history. Possible inductees into the Ska Cannon include two records from the soul-ska movement of the mid-2000s.

006 – Nobody is Special

JJ and Matt take a close look at the Specials, a band that redefined ska for decades to come. Then they consider some Specials albums for the Ska Canon.