Latest Episodes

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.

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

JJ and Matt head to the late 1960’s to look at the earliest music of the emerging genre called reggae. What’s the difference between this music and the Jamaican styles that came before and after it? Then your hosts debate some albums that defined the… Read More »005 – Tighten Up

JJ and Matt look back at the 2010’s and discuss which ska albums stand above the rest. Will any of these newer records be worthy of the Ska Canon?

JJ and Matt discuss the new documentary Pick It Up!: Ska in the ‘90s, and in particular reevaluate their thoughts on the role of Reel Big Fish. Then they consider six – SIX! – big albums from the mid-‘90s for inclusion in the Ska Canon.