But the same could be said of pop-punk, and you only got to look at the punk section to see what the "proper" punk fans think of that...

That's true. But, they aren't really even listening to the real ska. Only the punk-ska stuff. And the large majority of people who listen to ska, only listen to the punk stuff. So it doesnt really matter if more people are listening to it, becuase they arent listening to the stuff that counts.

Actully i think one of the main reasons i started listening to ska is because of ska/punk. i dont remember...

I always hated punky ska. I only started listening to ska after I started lisetning to reggae.

I actually was introduced to it as ska through Reel Big Fish, but being British i had been hearing ska without knowing it for years on TV, at football matches as chants, in the backgrounds of places. My mum recognised Liquidator from the intro, and i had to explain that ska was spelt s-k-a to her!

I always went to the reggae-ish and ska-ish tracks on Reel Big Fish anyway, and after recognising thats all i really liked of it anyway i started buying reggae and ska CDs. But i never listened to ska-punk like Less Than Jake or Telegraph, the first time i heard that i was like "bleugh..."

I have a healthy appreciation for both solid 3rd wave ska and ska/punk. They really hit the scene together and they continue to co-exist together. I wish there were a few more new bands hitting the ska scene. I'm just encouraged when I go to a show and there are young kids there.

Well, MC Cool, just to tell you i was into punk when i was in 4th grade. Yes, you heard right, 4rth grade. I am now only a sophomore in highschool, however i must say that i, as many hundreds of people know, was pulled into real ska, as well as the punk stuff, because of punk. i had found interest in dennis brown and many other reggae artists and found myself immersed in this kind of world as such. After so much musical experiences in such a short amount of time, i must say that reallly now real ska, both classic and new, thrives as much off the punk scene as any other scene does with hip hop. You can still see refutable artists making appearances on punkish records, and vice versa, without a cheapening effect. So basically, we do listen to real ska, and love it, and i'd just like to inform you that many many many people as such do exist. Oh yeah, i listen to REAL punk as well, and trust me i feel the pain of the poppunk strain cuz that shit just sucks.

Good for you.

I think it was mentioned before, but ska music is on it's way down anyway.

It's funny because before I came to Radiomute... i had always just assumed that ska-punk was ska. But, Workin' Class... you educated me, I always see you posting about ska and ska-punk . I have yet to really listen to any real ska, but I am intrigued because I like ska-punk and I like reggae.

Any suggestions to keep it alive? What should I start with?