I’m filling out my Christmas list for Santa, and I need help from the Teeming Millions.
I’m a boomer with a wide range of musical taste. I loved No Doubt’s Tragic Kingdom so I went and got a couple of their earlier CD’s, and liked them too. Disappointed with Return to Saturn (while Gwen Stefani has a great voice, I miss the brass accompaniment that was on most of their prior work). Looking forward to their new CD coming out in a week or so.
My question is this… what other group is similar to No Doubt that I might like?
Dance Hall Crashers sound very similar to No Doubt, a little less poppy maybe. The album Honey I’m Homely is their poppiest stuff, earlier records were more hard rock.
Yea I would go with Save Ferris…they are a favorite of the So Cal crowd and I have caught them a few times. They have really matured into a tight sound as of late and could break the mainstream soon.
If you like their sound (which I agree is a bit more poppier) I would also suggest The Aquabats. These guys go way over the top of poppy and hilarious lyrics but they are a fun band to listen too and got some good brass in it (along with some goofy costumes)
Bif Naked. When I heard their first single, “Moment of weakness” I thought it was No Doubt doing something for a soundtrack. They’re pretty good, though, especially their song “Lucky,” which is on the Buffy The Vampire Slayer soundtrack. If that song doesn’t get you right here <points to heart> nothing will.
Though I like Save Ferris too, I wouldn’t say they sound all that similar to No Doubt- they sound as different from No Doubt as another ska group with a female lead can. Though it’s bizare, I’d say they bring more to mind…** Raspiutina**. I have no idea why I make that association, though.
A quote from a friend in 1995: “No Doubt is just the Bow Wow Wow of the 90’s.”
Bow Wow Wow is not ska, but the overall edginess/catchiness quotient is very similar. I like both bands quite a bit. Bow Wow Wow’s rendition of “I Want Candy” rules and “C30 C60 C90 Go” is newly relavent in light of the MP3/Napster issues of the past few years. Plus, Annabella Lwin is a total hottie (mohawk and all).
A humble and heartfelt thanks to all of you who replied… perhaps because of you Santa will put something I like in my stocking. ~grin~
I must confess that I never heard of any of these bands you’ve suggested… I’m beginning to feel my age. (although, was it Groucho Marx who said "you’re only as old as the women you feel?)
The only other band that anyone has ever mentioned to me was Reel Big Fish. I tried one of their CDs and came away lukewarm. Thanks again, I’ll try a couple of these suggestions.
I like 311. They are harder-edged than No Doubt and still have that Ska flavor.
BTW, the new No Doubt song sucks ass! I was horrified when I first heard it and my jaw was on the floor the whole time. I had a feeling they would do something different when Gwen started working with Eve, but I had no idea it would be that mindless and poppy. Blech! IMHO anyway.
Additional thanks to Nutty Bunny and Why A Duck for your suggestions. [sub]…love your usernames BTW… there must be some thread where people explain the reasoning behind their names.[/sub] I know this is a bit of a bump… but to justify myself I’ll mention that I haven’t heard the No Doubt new release yet, but Nutty Bunny’s remarks are not encouraging.
Another vote for Save Ferris, I think you’ll find they are alot better than No Doubt.
Lots of great suggestions so far. I’ll also second Reel Big Fish and Dance Hall Crashers. Great bands!
Might I suggest Fishbone. The front men are dudes and they have a more eclectic sound (almost hip-hopish at times) but they are the grand old men of the ska scene. They’ve been around forever. Try finding a download for “Party at Ground Zero” or “Every Day Sunshine” to get a taste of what they are all about. They put on one of the best live shows I’ve ever seen.
If it is the ska influences that you like, I recommend that you delve deeper in to the world of ska. Ska covers a lot of ground, and a lot of it is very very different that the ska-inspired stuff that you hear on the radio. There is a lot of good stuff out there, though. I reccomend The Checkered Cabs if you dig female vocals, Punch the Clown for poppiness and overall fun, Let’s Go Bowling for dancibility and [Hepcat** for good old fashioned rock-steady goodness.
I’m in awe of my fellow dopers… how do all of you find these groups?
::embarrassed shuffling of feet::
Ummmm… I’m not even sure what ska is. I think I can tell you what I like about No Doubt though… upbeat tempo, catchy melodies, and horns, horns, horns (alas, virtually none in their Return To Saturn album).
They aren’t so big with the horns, but Letters for Cleo has the fast upbeat melodies and female vocalist. Also, big second with the Bif Naked, if only because they sound -so much- like No Doubt that I can’t see how you couldn’t enjoy them just a little bit.