3rd Wave Ska

Ska's Third Wave of popularity began to crest in the mid-1990s. This largely American movement took the taut rhythms of the 2-Tone Ska Revivalists of the '80s -- largely British bands like Madness and the English Beat -- and modernized them with elements of New Wave, reggae, Punk and even Heavy Metal. Ska-Punkers Rancid struck commercial gold first in 1994-5 with a pair of well-received albums. Southern California bands Sublime and No Doubt followed suit soon after with their bold takes on the modern Ska sound -- the former leaning heavily on reggae shuffles and slight chording, the latter sticking hearty chunks of vintage '80s New Wave into its mix.