Check This Out

The other day in the gym, my Ipod happened upon an MxPx song that took me back to the high school/college years. Back then I listened to a lot of Christian “Punk” and “Ska” music. I’ve been reminiscing ever since, playing a lot of the old jams, so I thought I’d share some albums that I listened to religiously (no pun intended) when I was younger.

Here they are…

Slick Shoes - Burn Out

  
Slick Shoes - Burn Out

The band is named after the greatest invention of all time, so right there they get bonus points. I first heard Slick Shoes at a Christian rock festival when I was 18 years old. The first thing I did after their show was go out and buy their first two albums and still today I consider them my favorite punk albums. Burn Out is probably one of my favorite albums of all time and is only a hair better than Rusty, which you should also listen to if you want to be cool.

Favorite tracks include East on Tracks, For Better For Worse, Late Night Showing.

Sample Track: East on Tracks
  

MxPx - Life in General

  
MxPx - Life in General

MxPx is from Seattle, make that Bremerton, so that means they’re cool even if they suck. Luckily, they don’t. They’ve been around for over 10 years and have put out a ton of albums, but none of them compare with this one, their third. This was the album that got me into punk music in the first place.

This album has most of my favorite MxPx songs including Doing Time, Christalena, Southbound I-5, Middlename, and what might be their biggest hit: Chick Magnet.

Sample Track: Doing Time

Five Iron Frenzy - Our Newest Album Ever!

  
Five Iron Frenzy - Our Newest Album Ever!

I wasn’t a big fan of Ska before I heard Five Iron Frenzy; then I picked up this album and things changed. All of the sudden I started liking music with horns in it and stuff; listen to the song and you’ll know why. If you’re not a big fan of ska, maybe the same will happen to you.

Favorite tracks include Blue Comb ‘78, Oh Canada, Handbook for the Sellout and Every New Day.

Sample Track: Every New Day

Supertones - Supertones Strike Back

  
Supertones - Supertones Strike Back

I picked this album up, finally, my first year in college. I say finally because everyone around me told me to get it, but I just ignored them. I liked Five Iron, but I didn’t want to admit I actually liked Ska music. I’m glad I finally gave in. This is easily my second favorite ska album, maybe because it’s not your typical ska…it’s edgier. Every track makes you want to jump up and down like a loser…

Favorite tracks include Resolution, Little Man, Unite, and Supertones Strike Back.

Sample Track: Supertones Strike Back

The W’s - Fourth From the Last

  
The W’s - Fourth From the Last

The W’s were different from other bands because they were swing, not ska. There is a difference…at least that’s what I told myself. There were other swing bands that came out around that time, but this album was my favorite by far.

Favorite tracks include Moses, King of Polyester, Flower Tattoo, and The Devil is Bad.

Sample Track: The Devil is Bad

If you like any or all of these bands (which again, if you’re cool, you will) I would also recommend these albums:

Ghoti Hook - Sumo Surprise
Value Pac - Value Pac
Dogwood - More Than Conquerors
Fanmail - The Latest Craze