The Witzard

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Jeff Rosenstock Shares "Skarranged" Version of 2020's NO DREAM Fittingly Re-titled SKA DREAM (Polyvinyl/Quote Unquote Records)


"You can PRE-ORDER some sweet limited (and unlimited) vinyl from us here. (There's about 200 left of the above variant!)

You can LISTEN to SKA DREAM on all the things here. That includes Quote Unquote Records, where you can download the whole thing for free and if you choose to make a donation there, all the money goes to The First Nations Development Institute.

HOPE YA LIKE THE RECORD! HERE'S A LITTLE THING I WROTE ABOUT IT: SKA DREAM is a complete re-recording of Jeff Rosenstock's critically-acclaimed 2020 record, NO DREAM; however, this time around, all the songs are Ska songs—you're welcome. The very good idea to make this record came together when, like many other bands throughout this pandemic that refused to participate in super-spreading events, we were trying to find a fun way to make some music together to share with people. Otherwise, we were just spending our evenings texting the Group Chat in dread about the collapsing world around us. Not the most fun band activity.


As with most things Ska in my life, what started out as a fun goof with friends, eventually, morphed into "Hey, what if we tried to make it good, though?" All of us have a pretty deep history playing and touring the country in Punk/Ska bands. We all understand the stigma that comes along with Ska, we've all dealt with the pitfalls of it, and we've all kept on truckin' regardless. If you are one of those people who loves music as long as it isn't Ska, that's cool, we see you. This record isn't for you and you don't have to listen to it. Byeeee. Okay, everyone else, we see you too, we love you, and check it out! SKA DREAM is real.

RECORDING INFO: We live in different cities and don't see each other a lot. This record was arranged through file-sharing, as SKA DREAM is the obvious 2021 analogue to The Postal Service's Give Up. Drums were recorded by Matt Embree (Rx Bandits) in his practice space in Long Beach, CA. Mike Huguenor's guitar was recorded at District Recorders in San Jose, CA. All other instruments were recorded in our respective homes. SKA DREAM was mixed and mastered by Jack ["Metal Guy"] Shirley.


This record includes contributions from Jer Hunter (JER, Skatune Network, We Are The Union,) Rick Johnson (Mustard Plug,) Laura Stevenson, Ara Babajian (The Slackers, Leftöver Crack,) Boboso, Sean Bonnette (AJJ,) George Clarke (Deafheaven,) David Combs (Bad Moves,) Chris Farren, Augusta Koch (Gladie, Cayetana,) Angelo Moore (Fishbone,) Franz Nicolay, nonregla, Elise Okusami (Oceanator,) Mike Park (The Bruce Lee Band, Skankin' Pickle, Asian Man Records,) PUP, Anika Pyle (Katie Ellen, Chumped,) and Shannon Toombes.

JOHN DEDOMENICI - BASS
KEVIN HIGUCHI - DRUMS, PERCUSSION
MIKE HUGUENOR - GUITAR
JER HUNTER - TROMBONE, TRUMPET
RICK JOHNSON - HAMMOND, FARFISA, CASIO CZ-101
CHRISTINE MACKIE - BELLS
DAN POTTHAST - ACOUSTIC GUITAR, PIANO, VOCALS
JEFF ROSENSTOCK - VOCALS, GUITAR, TENOR & BARI SAX, FARFISA, JUNO-106, MOOG PRODIGY, LYRA, WURLITZER, BELLS, SPACE ECHO
LAURA STEVENSON - VOCALS


ARA BABAJIAN - ADDITIONAL CYMBALS ON #6
SEAN BONNETTE - VOCALS ON #13
BOBOSO - SICK BARS ON #3
GEORGE CLARKE - VOCALS ON #4
DAVID COMBS - VOCALS ON #3
CHRIS FARREN - GUITAR & VOCALS ON #7
AUGUSTA KOCH - VOCALS ON #2 & 4
ANGELO MOORE - SAX SOLO ON #6
FRANZ NICOLAY - LUXURIOUS PIANO ON #6
nonregla - ADDITIONAL COOL DUB SH*T ON #5
ELISE OKUSAMI - VOCALS ON #3 & 7
MIKE PARK - TENOR SAX ON #8
PUP - VOCALS ON #10 & 13
ANIKA PYLE - VOCALS ON #2 & 13
SHANNON TOOMBES - VOCALS ON #2, 7 & 9


ILLUSTRATIONS BY BEN LEVIN
DESIGN JUNK BY JEFF ROSENSTOCK
Songs By Jeff Rosenstock. Skarranged By Death Rosenstock.

"NO TIME TO SKANK" contains a very short tribute to "Our Time" by The Suicide Machines. "Leave It In The Ska" contains a snippet of "Nite Klub" by The Specials.

For The [Mighty Mighty] BossToneS, The Specials, Operation Ivy, The Selecter, Marcia Griffiths, Toots & The Maytals, Suicide Machines, Jimmy Cliff, MU330, Mike Park/The Chinkees/Skankin' Pickle, KEMURI, Slow Gherkin, Sister Nancy, Big D & The Kids Table, Mustard Plug, The Slackers, Kicked In The Head, The Fad, SKASUCKS, Too Short Notice, Less Than Jake, We Are The Union, Rancid (sometimes,) Bad Operation, CATBITE, Fatter Than Albert, Planet Smashers, Westbound Train, Catch-22, Streetlight, Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Pietasters, Rx Bandits, Against All Authority, Assorted Jellybeans, Sublime, Bodysnatchers, Symarip, Gregory Isaacs, Alpha Blondy, Reel Big Fish, Mr. Bungle (if I'm being honest,) Fishbone, NOFX (sometimes,) Animal Chin, The Siren Six, Channel 59, Edna's Goldfish, Step Lively, Leftöver Crack, Choking Victim, Arty's Taxi, Premarital Sax, Sprout, High School Football Heroes, Nicotine, No Doubt, Jackmove, The Know How, Bum Ruckus, Culture, The Clash, The Aggrolites, and every other Ska band that I forgot to [list]. THANKS FOR THE TUNES AND/OR GOOD TIMES.

SKA DREAM IS REAL
SKA DREAM IS REAL
SKA DREAM IS REAL

Love,
Jeff"