Boston rock legends, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, have decided to split up after three decades of making music together. The Bosstones were one of the premier third wave ska bands of the 1990’s along with other big names such as Sublime and No Doubt. Under their belt, they have 12 studio albums and a platinum record. This playlist features the most notable song off of each album.
Devil’s Night Out- Devil’s Night Out
Released in 1989, The Bosstones debut album, Devil’s Night Out, was one of the first to feature such a combination of punk rock and ska music. With equal parts fun and bouncy combined with heavy hardcore punk, the title track for this album is a perfect representation for the music on the record.
Where’d You Go- More Noise And Other Disturbances
“Where’d You Go” was a big step in the right direction for the band, as it received some airtime on MTV. While minor, this began to make a name for the Bosstones in the local scene. More Noise And Other Disturbances is another album that really displays the punk inspirations for this band.
Someday I Suppose- Don’t Know How To Party
The Bosstones major label debut on Mercury Records, Don’t Know How To Party, was the first album by the band to be featured on the Billboard 200. While this album backs off a little on the ska, the band goes more into a punk sound than they previously did. “Someday I Suppose” was the most notable Bosstones song upon the time of its release.
Kinder Words- Question The Answers
Coming off the success of their previous album, Question The Answers, ended up charting even higher than Don’t Know How To Party. By this point, the Bosstones were really building a name for themselves, which gave them the opportunity to be in the movie “Clueless” the following year, in 1995.
The Impression That I Get- Let’s Face It
“The Impression That I Get” reached number one on the billboard charts and this album is what pushed the Bosstones to national popularity. This record was the peak for the band and is one of the most popular ska albums of all time.
So Sad To Say- Pay Attention
Released in 2000, “So Sad To Say”, actually made its debut at Fenway Park on opening day on the big screen. Pay Attention reached as high as #74 on the Billboard 200. While the ska scene was on the decline at this point, the Bosstones stayed true to the music they had always played.
I Want My City Back- A Jackknife To A Swan
“I Want My City Back” is a song about the city of Boston, and more specifically about a venue, The Rathskeller, where many famous bands played up until it was shut down in 1997. The Boston music scene of the 80’s and 90’s cannot be talked about without including “The Rat”.
Don’t Worry Desmond Dekker- Medium Rare
The Bosstones went on a short hiatus from 2003-2007, and then released Medium Rare in the winter of 2007. This album featured many previously unreleased songs, as well as three new songs, one of which being “Don’t Worry Desmond Dekker”.
Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah- Pin Points & Gin Joints
An upbeat and very ska oriented album, Pin Points & Gin Joints didn’t necessarily have the Bosstones in the national spotlight anymore, but it is still a very good collection of songs for the band. “Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah” is a fun song that definitely shows a progression in their music over the years.
They Will Need Music- The Magic of Youth
Another very fun sounding Bosstones album, the band continued to stray from the hardcore punk aspects of their early music. The group in no way forgot their punk roots, however, with songs such as “The Package Store Petition” or “The Daylights.”
Here We Are- While We’re At It
The Bosstones have always said that their music was about love and unifying people. This is evident in the 2018 album, While We’re At It, which drew inspiration from a hateful climate the band saw people reach through issues like politics.
Lonely Boy- When God Was Great
The final album for the Bosstones, When God Was Great, was released May of 2021. Though it seemed that there was still more left in the tank, it is a very fitting final collection of songs for the band. With many songs still fighting for unity in our world, as well as tracks looking back through the years of the band. It is all capped off with a song that features nearly 40 other musicians that have become close friends of the band, showing the impact the Bosstones have had on the music scene.
