umm...gym class heroes is for fags.

although i know you don't like the streetlamps

they are even by your own hatred, not the worst, if you really think about it. you can find a worst band

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Skibz777 (February 2, 2008)
Hmm...I guess sound-wise, there might be worse ones, but I think it's the overall EFFECT of Streetlight that really bothers me.

First off, technically they aren't even *ska*, at least not by the standard accentuated, syncopated offbeat definition. Secondly, their song structures are painfully generic and their lyrics are trite; the fact that they're boasted as the "best ska-punk band ever" miffs me a bit, plus the fact that their fans are so bloody obnoxious in the "pits".

The thing that bothers me the most, however, is the fact that all of the local ska-punk bands where I live (and since I live in OC, it's quite a lot) are all fans of SM, and are therefore under the impression that they have to play their music SUPER fast, which wouldn't be a problem, if they all weren't mediocre musicians. SM is basically contributing to the downfall of modern Ska music.

show rest of commentHmm...I guess sound-wise, there might be worse ones, but I think it's the overall EFFECT of Streetlight that really bothers me.

First off, technically they aren't even *ska*, at least not by the standard accentuated, syncopated offbeat definition. Secondly, their song structures are painfully generic and their lyrics are trite; the fact that they're boasted as the "best ska-punk band ever" miffs me a bit, plus the fact that their fans are so bloody obnoxious in the "pits".

The thing that bothers me the most, however, is the fact that all of the local ska-punk bands where I live (and since I live in OC, it's quite a lot) are all fans of SM, and are therefore under the impression that they have to play their music SUPER fast, which wouldn't be a problem, if they all weren't mediocre musicians. SM is basically contributing to the downfall of modern Ska music.

But then again, I smell conspiracy in everything, so whatever.
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OzmanX (February 2, 2008)

Reel Big Fish are a lot worse, they get my vote.

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Skibz777 (February 2, 2008)

You know what? Even though I'm not that big a fan of RBF, I think they're a pretty swell band. They really set the standard for the mid-90s OC ska punk scene, and 'Turn the Radio Off' is a pretty flawless ska punk album.

Nowadays, though....well, I think they should have thrown in the towel about five years ago...

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skaboom (February 2, 2008)

It sounds like you don't like their fans. They don't conform to the standards of (face it) a very cliche genre. That's a good thing. And they're more technical than most ska bands, so the bands that emulate them aren't able to keep it. That speaks to their quality, not their weakness.

As far as lyrics, I guess that's more subjective, but what ska band really has good lyrics? I think SM's are certainly better than average.

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skaboom (February 2, 2008)

er, the bands that emulate them aren't able to keep UP, that is.

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Skibz777 (February 2, 2008)

A ska band with good lyrics? The Slackers, for one.

The only problem I have with the fans of SM are their obnoxiousness and the whole bad effect they have on the local bands of today.

Personally, I don't find ska a cliched genre...most people treat it as restrictive, but it's really very versatile. I guess Streetlight's doing something a little bit different (even though it's EXACTLY what Catch 22 did years before), but, personally, I find their music very repetitive and, apart from the fact that it's played unusually fast, there's really nothing "technical" about it.

I should state that this is my own personal opinion, of course. All the Streetlight fans are free to like whatever they like, but this is just how I feel.

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skamanifesto (February 2, 2008)
i think its easy to throw the slackers out there, but they're all-stars of the genre. after that i think you'd be pretty hard pressed. And while I do agree with you that a lot of local acts are now trying to emulate Streetlight, if it wasn't SM, it would be someone else - probably less talented. I mean a while back everyone in the ska-punk scene was trying to be like LTJ and RBF - I can't say that was any more entertaining. And lastly, while I can understand if you don't really feel the style of music SM plays, you have to admit that they are by no means bad. I could name off dozens of "ska" bands that suck way worse. They have a different flavor to their ska style, but that by no means they are bad.

and yeah - their pits suck. but then again i get kind of confused at their shows too. skank? mosh? i don't know whats the appropriate reaction to their mu

show rest of commenti think its easy to throw the slackers out there, but they're all-stars of the genre. after that i think you'd be pretty hard pressed. And while I do agree with you that a lot of local acts are now trying to emulate Streetlight, if it wasn't SM, it would be someone else - probably less talented. I mean a while back everyone in the ska-punk scene was trying to be like LTJ and RBF - I can't say that was any more entertaining. And lastly, while I can understand if you don't really feel the style of music SM plays, you have to admit that they are by no means bad. I could name off dozens of "ska" bands that suck way worse. They have a different flavor to their ska style, but that by no means they are bad.

and yeah - their pits suck. but then again i get kind of confused at their shows too. skank? mosh? i don't know whats the appropriate reaction to their music.
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mackerel_minge (February 2, 2008)

skank? mosh? another pint please.

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DefianceOhioEqualsLove (February 2, 2008)

"there's really nothing "technical" about it."

You obviously have never played a musical instrument in your entire life. Completely talking out of your ass.

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Skibz777 (February 3, 2008)

Speaking as a classically trained guitarist and self-taught ukuleler, I still stand by my comment that Streetlight's music is pretty generic.

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Shindo (adam) (February 2, 2008)

You know what I think I agree with you.

I'm not one to go out and bash the few bands that are sticking with ska music (god knows we could use a few more of them), but the entire Catch 22 / Streetlight Manifesto phenomenon has never quite worked for me. I get what they're trying to do but for the life of me not one song from either group has ever really hooked me. Ska-punk music that's "super fast" seems has always struck me as a pretty limited pallet anyways, and even when a band does it really well two or three albums in they start reaching and it stops being fun.

-adam

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notfeelingcreative (February 3, 2008)

Wow, I thought I was the only one who wasn't incredibly impressed by streetlight and keasby-era catch 22. I actually like early catch as well as streetlight, but its not something I listen to on a general basis or shower with praise by any means. I've withheld my opinion for fear of being crucified, and because I actually enjoyed streetlight live when I saw them alot more than on disc. I also commend you for employing actual reasoning in your logic rather than the familiar 'I don't like them because they suck' stance.

They're the Against Me of ska and I don't mean that as a good thing

I've never in my life heard anyone talk shit about Streetlight. Ever. The lyrics are intelligent, and the music is technical as all fuck (anybody who's ever played an instrument in their life will agree with this). I really don't see what you couldn't at least appreciate. Weird man, weird.

Tomas Kalnoky is greatly responsible for making ska an overall shitty genre. So many young bands think that this is what ska is when it's fundamentally not ska at all, and so many young bands try to copy the style and end up just playing sloppy, shitty punk music with clean guitar and horns. The band is full of talented musicians, but the songwriting is repetitive and the lyrics are uninteresting.

And whoever said that ska is full of bad lyrics... that's a pretty odd characteristic to give to an entire genre. I'd say that the Bosstones, the Slackers, King Django, Westbound Train, Deal's Gone Bad, Bomb The Music Industry!, Hub City Stompers, the Toasters, the Specials, Desmond Dekker, the Wailers, MU330, Pilfers, Bomb Town, the Fad, Sonic Boom Six, Operation Ivy, and Chris Murray all have worthwhile lyrics. The list, obviously, could continue.

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nocigar (February 3, 2008)

shutup. in fact, don't ever reply on anything again. you are a retard and i hope you find the fattest, ugliest bitch and fucker her tonight

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MeeSTa3k (February 3, 2008)

Hmmm... do I know you? You live in my state, and you're friends with someone from another state that I know. Regardless... I'm not sure what it means to "fucker" someone but it's unlikely I'll be doing that to any woman anytime soon.

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Cox_Attack (February 3, 2008)

Matt Wixson again proving that he is awesome. And those bands barely scrape what is the greatness that is ska.

I love Catch 22. Keasby Nights was life changing for me when I was 14. It was an album that was fast and full of energy. Everything Goes Numb I enjoyed greatly. Hell, Streetlight's first 10 or so shows were a blast. I would never go to one of their shows now though. It's not even the same band as before and I'd probably rather listen to every band that Matt listed above than Streetlight.

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Skibz777 (February 3, 2008)

I agree with all that MeeSTa3k has said; he summed up everything that I originally intended to say in a much more intelligent fashion than I could have hoped (and with a (presumably) MST3k-related handle, no less!).

It's nice that you mention Mu330, because if there's one other slight personal grudge that I have against Streetlight, it's the fact that despite that Mu330's been around for over a decade, or the fact that the songwriting on their S/T album is much deeper than anything Streetlight has ever written, Mu330 has actually been stuck OPENING for Streetlight on several occasions and tours. A crime against music, that's for sure.

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skamanifesto (February 3, 2008)

that would be becuase they're not as good.

honestly, mu330 songs probably take about 10 minutes to create. I remember at the last SM show, the Suburban Legends also played, and during Dan Potthasts (sp?) set, he got the guitarist from SL up on stage and taught him to play his song - in about 30 seconds. Whether or not you personally enjoy Streetlight, the reason they have been able to top other "ska" bands in the genre is becuase what they do is much much more involved, and people noticed.

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MeeSTa3k (February 3, 2008)
Streetlight ARE talented musicians and Tomas MAY write better songs than, say, Less Than Jake. Shit, I loved the first Streetlight record when it came out, not gonna lie. It doesn't change the fact, though, that Tomas has written the same three songs since 1996. Streetlight is Catch 22 not with better parts, just more of the same parts. It's wicked repetitve, and I feel bad for you if you can't hear that. Furthermore, the last few times I saw them, I couldn't help but be repulsed by them. Watching teens "skank" at warp speed made me want to vomit all over their checkered hats.

Your problem is this. You think this band is popular because of how much better they are than other bands. That's like saying Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is obviously, empirically the best punk band. Streetlight is all hype. Before they played a single show they had a debut album o

show rest of commentStreetlight ARE talented musicians and Tomas MAY write better songs than, say, Less Than Jake. Shit, I loved the first Streetlight record when it came out, not gonna lie. It doesn't change the fact, though, that Tomas has written the same three songs since 1996. Streetlight is Catch 22 not with better parts, just more of the same parts. It's wicked repetitve, and I feel bad for you if you can't hear that. Furthermore, the last few times I saw them, I couldn't help but be repulsed by them. Watching teens "skank" at warp speed made me want to vomit all over their checkered hats.

Your problem is this. You think this band is popular because of how much better they are than other bands. That's like saying Red Jumpsuit Apparatus is obviously, empirically the best punk band. Streetlight is all hype. Before they played a single show they had a debut album out on Victory Records, which is a pretty huge label. They sold out their first several shows. They haven't really earned themselves anything. They were popular from day one, and some people took longer than others to find out.

I used to think Pay Attention was one of the band's weaker efforts, then one day, whilst listening to it, i realized it was one of the best albums I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing.

I like "Pay Attention" because when I played the hell out of it back in the day, but I think in retrospect it's by far the most phoned-in Bosstones album. "Question The Answers" and "Don't Know How To Party" all seemed to have a lot more style and swagger to them. "Pay Attention" suffered from having to follow up "Let's Face It" so I imagine there were a lot of expectations warping the end product.

-adam

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LookingForCorpses (February 2, 2008)

Pay Attention is excellent and far from phoned in.

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Shindo (adam) (February 2, 2008)

Alright then.

-adam

maximum piss, mint, every time.

I have two different D4 setlists on my wall and both of them have SWAMP on it but I can't fucking remember what song that's supposed to be either.

It was like all the same bands that are playing now.

Its such an angry cd, I love it.

Thank you for posting this. I've been debating on whether to order the CD for awhile now, I'm not a huge PIB fan, but I did enjoy 'Paradise'. With rent, books, food and bills factored in, I suppose I'll save myself ten bucks for now.

Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge Therapy

Sorry, can't help with the other ones.

Seaweed-Four
Pegboy-Cha Cha Damore
Jawbreaker-24 Hour Revenge Therapy

Also, pick up some Samiam while you're at it!

Seaweed - four
Pegboy - Stronge Reaction/ Three Chord Monte
Jawbreaker - 24 hour (pick them all up!)

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baldsteve (February 3, 2008)

* Strong

I am shocked and saddened by the lack of love for Bivouac and Dear You by Jawbreaker. I totally never got 24HRT, it was a punk band produced by a big noise guy...Just kind of a mess to me. On another note, is there any kind of fest in Jersey for someone that's...You know, not a 12 year old into bands dressed like girls? The old Bamboozle lineups, even up to last year were pretty good but this is godawful, and Warped looks even worse (shame on anyone who gives Every Time I Die money). So anything roadtrip worthy from NYC going on?

I've had it for four weeks and I just can't get into the fucking thing all that much! I like it, it's not bad by any means but it hasn't been on heavy rotation at all.

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DefianceOhioEqualsLove (February 3, 2008)

Right on, today was the first time I listened to it the entire way through, and every song just kinda clicked. I suggest you give it another shot.