Reviews
Album Reviews
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Random Hand Plays Some Ska: And a Lot More
The Dynamic Behind the Noise Before diving into the album, it’s worth talking about why Random Hand stands out in the first place. Hailing from the UK, Random Hand has long been part of the ska world—but they’ve never played by the genre’s rules. Instead of leaning into ska’s sunnier side, they twist it into Read more
2025, alternative, hardcore, metal, music, punk, random hand, randoma hand, Reviews, ska, skabasically, uk -
Unearthing Codename Colin’s 2019 Gem “Escape from Everything”
Some albums just leave a mark—and for me, Escape from Everything by Codename Colin is one of those.Originally released back in 2019, this one flew under my radar at the time, but after finding it recently, I knew it deserved more attention. It’s packed with energy, heart, and a level of honesty that makes it Read more
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You Can Blow Your Own Way: Horns Optional, Ska Required
Let’s Set the Tempo There’s no shortage of debate in the world of ska—two-tone vs. third wave, checkerboard or no checkerboard. But few questions seem to stir up conversation quite like this one: Does ska need horns to be ska? Some will argue that without a brass section, it’s just punk with an upstroke. Others Read more
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Flying Raccoon Suit’s “Moonflower” Blooms in All Directions
Let me just start by saying this: Moonflower hit me in the chest. This album is everything I didn’t know I needed right now—genre-bending, emotionally honest, and ska-driven without being defined by ska alone. Flying Raccoon Suit pulls off an incredible balancing act, delivering deep emotional resonance wrapped in unpredictable and exhilarating arrangements. What makes Read more
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From Upbeats to Breakdowns
Hey, I’m JB — a lifelong genre explorer, chasing the sound that feels like home. I grew up on oldies and the Beach Boys thanks to my parents, fell into punk through my stepsister’s Green Day tapes, and somewhere in that noisy adolescence, I stumbled into ska for the first time. It hit me through Read more
Ska Basically. 