BackUpUrMusic
This track from The Uptones‘ new CD is dub sunshine in a bottle. Huge molten brass slathered over a miles-wide bass and drum beat mixes it up with skankin’ guitars and shimmering organ bubbles. An instrumental reggae lovefest, “Solar Disco Ball” just became the soundtrack to my East Bay spring day.
The Uptones
”Solar Disco Ball” (download mp3)
from “East Bay Orbits”
(Fun Fun Fun Recordings)
“Solar Disco Ball” (play)
Need more!
BackUpUrMusic
Pop ska from a rocking band. This song is fun.
“Look What Happened“ (play/download mp3)
BackUpUrMusic
Best known for their Berkeley ska power pop material, The Uptones also have an affection for big-beat rock-reggae sounds. With apocalyptic horns recalling early UB40, and a bass line that sounds like bubbling hot lava, “Outback” is a round the world epic stuffed into a 4 minute track. Sung by Uptones alum and founding member Charles Stella, penned by bassist Ben Eastwood, the song is on the Uptones Live @ Gilman CD, but this studio version is only available as a free mp3 from the band’s own media page. There’s a free Outback ringtone, too. Rock it.
BackUpUrMusic
As any ska fan is already aware, The Specials are back from a wee 30 year vacation to skank the world to bits again. This unique band played its first adrenaline-fueled beats in the late 70′s, as the last echoes of the Pistols faded from the scene. While punk had introduced dub and reggae – thru the Slits, the Clash and others – to a generation of English youth, it was this sharp dressed bunch from Coventry who dug deeper into Jamaican music roots, to serve up a fresh batch of ebullient and joyously rebellious ska music. Without them, ska may have never become the internationally loved genre it is today. Here’s “Rat Race” – from their 2nd album “More Specials” – a must have, and I don’t usually go on about about “must haves.” Enjoy.
BackUpUrMusic
This mp3 by The Kingpins has been burning up the bandwidth for ska fans young and old around the world. With a base coat of late 70′s two-tone, and a Pollockian splatter of new wave angst, this picture is completed by the bold and colorful strokes of a female French Canadian vocalist named Lo. The Kingpins don’t tour under that name anymore, but they left their mark with an incendiary live show and some excellent recordings, which helped kick off what would become known as 3rd wave ska. You can catch them in their new incarnation as Lo And The Magnetics, and follow the “Need more!” link below to find this album and other juicy merch and tunes from this fun and influential act.
BackUpUrMusic
What a monster song! Moose hits the nail on the head. This is the simplest message song I’ve ever heard. It’s soo right on. Scott Tee and his muted trumpet really set up Moose’s vocals, and Scott’s solo is centerfold material in Trumpet Magazine. The entire band plays their asses off. I predict big things for this song.
“Ridiculous” (play/download mp3)
BackUpUrMusic
This mp3 by The Kingpins has been burning up the bandwidth for ska fans young and old around the world. With a base coat of late 70′s two-tone, and a Pollockian splatter of new wave angst, this picture is completed by the bold and colorful strokes of a female French Canadian vocalist named Lo. The Kingpins don’t tour under that name anymore, but they left their mark with an incendiary live show and some excellent recordings, which helped kick off what would become known as 3rd wave ska. You can catch them in their new incarnation as Lo And The Magnetics, and follow the “Need more!” link below to find this album and other juicy merch and tunes from this fun and influential act.
BackUpUrMusic
An early instrumental work by Berkeley’s Ska music pioneers, The Uptones, this ebullient punk ska jazz opus was penned by the Rev. Paul Jackson. Originally on trumpet duties at the time of the band’s founding, Jackson soon moved to Hammond Organ and before long became one of their key songwriters. “East Of A Western Bay” is the lone instrumental cut from “The Uptones Live!! 924 Gilman” CD, and it rocks.
L’Aventurier
L’Aventurier
