Japanese Jukebox: For the Love of Ska

The ska scene in Japan is alive and kicking, and we’ve got proof it’s not too late to bust out your checkerboard pants for some sick running man moves. Hello Japan! Now let’s get our skank on!

Join the mosh pit with some tasty ska rock from Skalapper. The band ignites with scorching guitars and frenetic horns in a blazing 1:29 second single “Worthless World.” Skalapper incorporates sax and trumpets with some great punk shout-alongs in the song that should get you jumping and in the ska spirit. Go Along, Sing Along is their latest album out 9.7.2011.

My Shoes My Cap’s single “My Friend My Circle” is another ska punk shortie that’s plays that signature ska guitar riff along side a lot of shouting. If you look closely you might make out a trombone up on stage. Just watch out if you are in the audience or you might get a boot in the ass. Their album of the same name was just released in August 2011.

Wha? This is straight up punk. Technically the boys of Bassui play that brand of ska-punk (which just happens to be a lot more punk in this single without the brass sounds we normally hear.) Bassui’s “Brotherhood” is on their latest album Play Ground released in June of this year.

Finally you can’t write a ska article without mentioning international favorites, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. Their latest video for “All Good Ska is One” shows the group on tour in Mexico and the strength of their fanbase. This single is also used in the latest commercial for Japanese water Aquarius. With a universal message like “We can do it now,” you can see their appeal.

This international appeal might bring ska back around to the United States. Heck we might even see it return to the U.S. charts… The word is that a No Doubt album is dropping later this year…