Best Of Ska

While they were never strictly a ska band, Madness had more than their share of skanky moments, many of which can be found on this 24-track compilation from Salvo. Forever Young: The Ska Collection spans the beloved English outfit's entire career, from the manic thump of early hits like "One Step Beyond" and "Baggy Trousers" to "Dust Devil" from 2009's Liberty of Norton Folgate.

Before No Doubt made ska suitable for new millennium pop kids, Fishbone was first to mess things up with its reggae-tinged, punk-inspired rambunctious rock sound. This Los Angeles-based six-piece spent the 1980s composing a healthy, funkdafied beat that was part metal and part pop. The college scene found the band highly amusing years later, not to mention an infectious live act, so naturally Fishbone cemented a place in what would become "alternative rock" in the decade to come. The Essential Fishbone (The Best Of) is a look back at band's rowdy rock party, a definitive selection of classics for the casual fan, but also a decent collection for Fishbone loyalists.

Though they ultimately skated far away from the "Two Tone" pigeon-hole that yawned for other bands of their ilk and age, the English Beat were certainly pursuing similar demons as they rose out of hometown Birmingham in 1979, with a ska-punk collision that matched social politics with sociological awareness, then turned the whole thing into a non-stop dance party.

Christophe Goze, Openzone Bar, Jojo Effect, Bebo Best & The Super Lounge Orchestra, The James Taylor Quartet, Brenda Boykin and many more.