Various Artists - 'Ska is Dead'

The sarcastically titled "Ska is Dead" tour has proven repeatedly in the last couple years that ska has continued to thrive. The organization, partnered with Asian Man Records in the U.S. and Stomp Records in Canada, has co-released the 23-track Ska is Dead compilation. Listeners will most likely know their feelings towards the CD before popping it in, as it is about 72 minutes of total ska immersion. If you're not strictly rude, don't bother.

But if you are down with the checkerboard sound, Ska is Dead is a solid buy. While lacking in rarities (save for a demo from The Flatliners and an incredible live cut from Streetlight Manifesto) and exclusive tracks (only MU330 parts ways with something from the vault), this compilation still delivers the tuneskis for around eight bucks, making it a great buy for those new to the genre.

Even though the track is already available on their seminal ska masterwork Strictly Rude, Big D and The Kids Table's live staple "Noise Complaint" is a brilliant way to kick off Ska is Dead. Raucous, dancetastic and riddled with delicious solos, "Noise Complaint" sounds every bit like the party that its lyrics describe. They play my favorite song it goes, "Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah," sings frontman David McWane, and he's totally right in a meta way.

From there, the album indulges in every brand of ska. Ska that's punky comes from the recently reformed Buck-O-Nine with the aptly titled "I'm Not Dead." On the flipside, The Flatliners and Against All Authority give their punk shades of ska on "Open Hearts and Bloody Grins" and "Silence is Golden but Duct Tape is Silver," respectively.

The Toasters provide some soulful Two Tone with "Night Train to Moscow." Westbound Train hits some soft, Ben Harper-like heights with the reggae tune "Please Forgive Me." Streetlight Manifesto continues to own the heck out of Catch-22 with a live rendition of "A Better Place, A Better Time." But regardless of the style, it's still fun, from Big D all the way to album ender Tip the Van.

Except for when Voodoo Glow Skulls show up on track 20. Please break up you guys. There's a reason why Epitaph dropped you from its label roster.

Ultimately, Ska is Dead is 22/23 awesome, 1/23 suck. Not a bad percentage. The album's only real problem is that the genre's most rabid fans probably already have most of the songs presented here, but, again, that doesn't dilute the overall fun to be had too badly.