Pick It Up!: Ska in the '90s

And this is totally my jam. I loved learning about the history of ska, I loved hearing the insights from all of my favorite bands of my youth, and I was introduced to bands and albums I was actually unfamiliar with.

What can I say? It's Super Rad.

This was a super interesting film & really managed to cover so much ground about the genre too: while it is about the 3rd-wave of ska-- it does a great job of both defining ska, while also quickly going over the origin of ska (especially with hitting on the fact that ska actually came before reggae) and summarizes the first movements: first wave (with quick mentions of Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken, etc.) & the two tone movement (the Specials, the Selecter, Madness, etc.) and then dives rather deeply into the 90's//3rd-wave of ska!

It was interesting that a notable figure within the genre narrates the film as well (Tim Armstrong-- founder of Hellcats Records, also member of Rancid, Operation Ivy, & other groups that also relate to the film). The film does a particularly great job of not only featuring bigger bands of the genre (Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, Less Than Jake, the Interrupters, No Doubt-- whose first record//earlier years were spent as a ska group briefly-- and many others) but also features groups a bit more underground (Mephiskapheles, Suicide Machines, MU330, the O.C. Supertones, etc.) to give a very well rounded perspective from bands of different styles/tastes within the genre.

The film is very well loaded with excellent live footage and interviews-- not only do the interviews consist of the groups themselves, but also interviewed are prmoters, radio DJ, journalist/writers, too.

All in all, this film is really fun-- highly informative, and excellently covers the genre in a way that rather you are new to the music or a die-hard long time fan-- there will be something in it for you to enjoy no matter what!

Basically the rise and fall of the pop/punk ska Bands "that made it".

Otherwise left pretty much everything else out of it. A big let down for something I was really looking forward to watching.

Whether you're into music, ska, or good documentaries... This such a good movie! It's fun, good music, good animations, telling the history of ska, a variety of the more famous ska bands and what happened. It's even good to have playing in the background it's that good!

I genuinely don't see how anyone not find it enjoyable. It doesn't cover every ska band or every aspect... But it covers enough to appeal to the masses including music fans and people who have no idea what it is.

They interviewed celebrities and people on the street. Lots of famous people in this, and the interview questions were very good and meaningful.

I've seen it 8 times and I've shown it to 6. Everyone has thoroughly enjoyed it.

Absolutely loved this movie. Have seen plenty of documentaries about 1st wave ska and how the music was started. But have yet to see any documentary with ska bands from this erra. So well put together as well. If you are into ska, punk, oi any kind of subgenre within this music scene you need to watch this movie!