Topic: Streetlight Manifesto

[mouse_clicker]

Streetlight manifesto is a hyper ska/punk band formed from several New Jersey ska bands, namely One Cool Guy and Catch 22. Out of the latter comes singer/songwriter/guitarist Tomas Kalnoky. Kalnoky originally formed Catch 22 and wrote their first album, Keasbey Nights (an incredibly good album every ska fan should have), but left afterwards due to friction with the band. To say they've carried on without him would be an overstatement, as when Kalnoky left he took his incredible lyrical and musical writing. He recently formed Streetlight Manifesto, who released their first album, Everything Goes Numb, and it is quite simply the best ska album released since Hello Rockview, and otherwise the best ska album period. Its songs are some of the finest written you will ever find, dealing with social and emotional problems rather than your typical angsty love motif. A Moment of Silence/A Moment of Violence, a two song combo, is probably the best written ska song I've ever heard. Here's To Life shows Kalnoky can write the smartest lyrics since Bad Religion (I still a need a dictionary when I listen to them). The beauty of the album, though, really rests on its incredibly robust horns- most songs' main melodies are carried by the horn section, with the guitars doing little more providing the obligatory ska chord, but they pull it off due in large part to having the most talented horn section outside of the Mad Caddies. The songs are also quite long, most around 5 minutes, rare for a punk band. I think the finest example of all this skill coming together is the third track, Point/Counterpoint, which in my mind has only Nervous in the Alley by Less Than Jake and Little Bitch by The Specials as contention for the title of best ska song ever. If you're fan of ska, if you're a fan of punk, if you're a fan of good music period, please check out Everything Goes Numb. I have yet to meet a single person who doesn't love Streetlight Manifesto, and I severely doubt anyone will be bucking that trend soon.    

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which in my mind has only Nervous in the Alley by Less Than Jake and Little Bitch by The Specials as contention for the title of best ska song ever.

DATS BLASPHEMY AND YOU KNOW IT
I still think "All My Best Friends are Metalheads" is the best song from LTJ. I'll have to try and find some music from these guys if you hold them this highly, mouse.

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dealing with social and emotional problems rather than your typical angsty love motif.

.. which is what LTJ do better than any punk/ska band IMO - plus a large injection of humour.

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I still think "All My Best Friends are Metalheads" is the best song from LTJ.

Nah, All My Best Friends Are Metalheads is 3rd, behind Last One Out of Liberty City and the aforementioned Nervous in The Alley (which is the song that got me into ska).

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.. which is what LTJ do better than any punk/ska band IMO - plus a large injection of humour.

True, but Streetlight Manifesto delves even deeper than most other punk/ska bands. Many of their songs deal with death and suicide in some way. A Better Place, A Better Time and Here's To Life could both be described as anti-suicide songs.

But don't get me wrong, I'm never one to turn down a band just because of angsty love songs- The Ataris are one of my favorite bands and just about all their songs are about some guy who wants a girl to dump her boyfriend and go out with him. I just prefer deeper stuff if they have it to offer.  

[Dasmos]

Dudes punk music sucks.

[Hostile Creation]

Now I'll definitely have to check them out.  This is not the first time I've heard of them, but I've gotten suggestions from two very reliable sources now, so I suppose I'll go ahead when I get the chance.

The Decline by NOFX well exceeds five minutes. . . damn good song.

I also found a thoroughly scratched up, burned (as in homemade) Catch 22 CD, but I don't believe I've heard them either.  I've listened to Less Than Jake, though.

[mouse_clicker]

Yes, The Decline does indeed "well" exceed 5 minutes- more than triples it, in fact. NOFX recorded that in segments, though, I believe, since they couldn't make it through the entire thing in one run.

And don't bother with any Catch 22 album other than Keasbey Nights- their quality really took a hit after Kalnoky left. I will say, though, that Point/Counterpoint is very similar to the titular track of Keasbey Nights, so much so it's almost a sequel.  

[KnowsNothing]

I'll have to check out almost everyone mentioned in this thread.  I just got into ska when my brother and a few of his friends formed a [pretty decent] ska band.  Right now I listen to Less Than Jake, Catch 22, Reel Big Fish, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

Besides, Streetlight Manifesto is a cool name.

[Uglydot]

Going to a show soon.  Anyone who likes them, check out bandits of the acoustic revolution.  I went to 2 or 3 catch 22 shows.  They are boring, probably the most boring band I have ever seen.  After KN, they just died to me.  For me right now it's:

Mustard Plug
Old C-22
Streetlight
BOTAR
LTJ
RBF
Aquabats
limited Sucide Machines
Mad Caddies


Gotta love ska.

[Uglydot]

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Originally posted by: Dasmos
Dudes punk music sucks.

That's great, ska isn't punk, die.

[KnowsNothing]

See, I steal get my music off of filesharing programs, mainly Soulseek, so I don't know what album what song comes from or when the song was recorded.  So with Catch 22, I've noticed that some songs are really good, but most of them suck.  I'm guessing the good ones are from KN.

[Uglydot]

1     Dear Sergio         
2    Sick and Sad       
3    Keasbey Nights       
4    Day In Day Out       
5    Walking Away       
6    Giving Up Giving In       
7    On & On & On       
8    Riding The Fourth Wave       
9    This One Goes Out To...       
10    Supernothing    
11    9mm and a Three Piece Suit       
12    Kristina She Don't Know I Exist    
13    As the Footsteps Die Out Forever    
14    12341234

[The Omen]

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That's great, ska isn't punk, die.

Really?  Than what about The Clash, the best punk band ever?    

[Hostile Creation]

The Clash is damn good, but I haven't heard enough of them.
I can't blame NOFX for not managing that.  I'd pass out.  That thing is intense.
Every time I see KN I think someone's talking to knowsnothing.
I like ska, and from what I've heard it's very good, but between ska and rock I'd have to go with the latter.  Something about rock and roll, especially a certain style that I'm not sure how to describe (the movie A Guy Thing has many good examples in it), strikes me in that way.
But ska is very cool.  Must check out Streetlight Manifesto.

[mouse_clicker]

Well of course Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution is great- that's another one of Kalnoky's projects. In fact, Here's to Life was originally a BOTAR song. Mustard Plug I'm not a huge fan of, although their ska cover of The Freshman is great. Reel Big Fish is great, of course- their two best albums are Turn the Radio Off and Why do They Rock So Hard, with Beer being their best song, in my opinion. They have a new album due out soon I've heard is awesome. I like The Suicide Machines a lot, although I think they're at their best when doing ska-core. Other great ska-core bands: The Arrogant Sons of Bitches, Capdown, and Link 80 (who even did a cover of the Madness song My Girl- quite good). And of course we can't forget the two bands that together created 3rd wave ska, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Operation Ivy.

The only two songs I don't like too much on Keasbey Nights are Kristina She Doesn't Know I Exist and As the Footsteps Die Out Forever. I don't like the former because it's way too angsty for me- besides, if I want a punk/psuedo-ska angsty song about a loser who has a crush on the popular girl I'll listen to Grudge by Pain (best band ever), because it has geeky references to things like Masters of the Universe and Boba Fett. The latter is just boring, in my opinion. Everything else, though, is wonderful, especially Dear Sergio, Keasbey Nights, and Riding the Fourth Wave (great instrumental).

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Really? Than what about The Clash, the best punk band ever?

I'd have to agree with you there- The Clash even joined in on the 2nd wave ska revival with songs like Rudie Can't Fail. In any case, ska has been combined with just about every musical style imaginable, from metal to new age, so everyone is bound to find something they like. Unless of course they just don't like the ska chord.    

[The Omen]

Whats funny is I hate SKA.  Only slightly less than these new bands that act punk but sound like your little sister.(New found glory, Good Charlotte and yes, Blink 182)  The Clash are one of the only true Punk bands.  Punk isn't supposed to be strictly 3 chords and wailing lyrics.  Its purpose was the message.  A strong front man with strong views,  to spit in the face of convention.  SKA was on its way to the same, but never realized its full potential, and now theres so many hangers on that its hard to decipher the good form the bad.  Just listen to The Clash damn you!  They are the best punk/ska ever.  And important to the history of music as well.

[mouse_clicker]

Well, technically punk didn't become political until The Clash and The Sex Pistols- The Ramones, who created the style, weren't political at all, they were just having a good time.

And to say ska hasn't realize its potential just shows you don't listen to much ska at all- ska has always been political, even before punk existed. And on the whole I find ska bands delving much deeper into political and social issues than straight punk bands, who more often than not resort to just bashing Bush now. There's still a lot of great punk bands around, but the bands that really catch a lot of issues for me are ska, especially Less Than Jake and Streetlight Manifesto.

[DrZoidberg]

Requesting free album in the mail. Most music stores around here don't have a great Ska / Punk section, but that's understandable. lol PAL music or something hrhrhr



also demanding more pez.

[The Omen]

Oh no, don't get me wrong./  I know there is no punk right now.  Any group saying they are punk are woefully inept.  As for the Ramones, you should check your facts.  The Clash were around at least as long as the Ramones.  Just because they weren't known here until '77 doesn't mean anything.  In fact, The Ramones didn't get their start until 75-76, along with Talking Heads at CBGBs, who in this case, are a much superior talent.  The Sex Pistols were 77 as well, so I can't see where you would heap all this praise upon The Ramones, who were cartoon characters and nothing more.  The Clash were different than their counterparts.  They had real world issues.  Not just angst.  They were Rage against the machine , only in the late 70's..


By the way, i'm from Jersey, and i'm quite aware of these variations of groups you're describing.  

[Ian Sane]

In the words of Mark Knopfler:

"Don't give a damn 'bout any trumpet playing band.  That ain't what they call rock 'n' roll."

That pretty much sums up my opinion of ska right there.  I'm not that familiar with it but anything I have heard is full of horns which I don't really care for.  I'm more of guitar/keyboards guy.  Just a personal preference.

I've noticed an increasing trend that whenever someone on a forum mentions a bunch of bands they like I've never heard of ANY of them.  Is everyone just afraid to admit they like songs that play on the radio or am I just really out of touch?  I kick ass at Rock 'n' Roll Jeopardy so I must know something.

Oh and I always thought it was widely considered a fact that the Ramones were the first punk band and influenced the entire English punk scene when they played there.  I've seen interviews where members of the Clash and the Sex Pistols mention the Ramones as influences.

[mouse_clicker]

Omen: Psh, of course there's still punk. Don't go all elitist and tell me it all died out in the 70's. There's a wealth of great punk bands around now, you just have to dig for them. Case in point Authority Zero, who just released their second CD entitled Andiamo, which is just amazing. They're very reminiscent of Bad Religion, with a bit of ska and a touch of reggae thrown in.

And just because The Clash were around as long as The Ramones doesn't mean they were the ones that created the punk sound- you can't just look at dates. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones were around for quite a while in the 80's but 3rd wave ska didn't really kick off until Operation Ivy hit the scene and released Energy in 1989.

Ian: Horns are just a common addition to ska- please, please realize that ska is not just "punk with horns". List to some 1st wave ska, from artists like the Skatalites and Desmond Dekker. What really makes ska is the emphasis on the upbeat, resulting in the ska chord. Most people don't know this but ska actually predates reggae, and in fact gave birth to both it and rocksteady. Don't judge ska just on the horns, or one or two songs, because the variation is really quite amazing.

Also, Mark Knopfler is hardly the person to be commenting on ska.  

[KnowsNothing]

Alright, so I've listened to three songs so far by Streetlight Manifesto: Point/Counterpoint, The Saddest Song, and  A Better PLace a Better Time.  I really really like them.  I love the lead singer's voice, when it's at a  calmer point  in the music he's got a good singing voice, and then when it get's going he sounds like the lead from Less than Jake.  I like that becasue I sometimes get sick of LTJ's lead singer.=\

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You get sick of Chris?!? Blasphemy! In my opinion, Kalnoky and Chris are the best ska vocalists. Lately LTJ's bassist has been singing lead on a lot of songs (about half of Anthem), and even thought I really like his voice I don't think it has the raspy Chris does that adds so much to a ska/punk song.

Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth has a great ska/punk voice, too. It's a shame he wastes it on the poppy new age crap Smash Mouth is doing now rather than the top notch ska/punk of their first album, Fush Yu Mang.

[The Omen]

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Omen: Psh, of course there's still punk.  Don't go all elitist and tell me it all died out in the 70's. There's a wealth of great punk bands around now, you just have to dig for them. Case in point Authority Zero, who just released their second CD entitled Andiamo, which is just amazing. They're very reminiscent of Bad Religion, with a bit of ska and a touch of reggae thrown in.

It didn't die out in the 70's.  It died out in the 80's.   Suicidal Tendancies, they were a cross between punk and speed metal, as most in the 80's were.    That doesn't mean there arent a few bands who have taken the torch, so to speak.   But a lot of these garbage commercial bands are throwing around the word  'punk' a little too easily IMO.  And yes, I hate Bad Religion.  To me , Punk is much like Grunge.  Those that were there get immunity, and those that followed get thrashed.  Just the way of The Omen.

[mouse_clicker]

You can't judge all of punk by just looking at Blink 182 and Good Charlotte- you're not even giving the new stuff a chance. You'd be surprised just how incredibly good some of it is.

And why don't you like Bad Religion? Yeah, they've released some crappy stuff, especially recently, but listen to the albums Suffer, No Control, and Against the Grain- just amazing.  

[DrZoidberg]

Being eliteist in this music thread.