In Defense of Ska Ep 55: Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop, Fantano)

This week we are excited to bring on YouTube music critic Justthony Skanktano...or sorry Anthony Fantano. Justthony Skanktano is the name he used on his review of Jeff Rosenstock's SKA DREAM, which he gave a Strong 8, a better score than he gave NO DREAM, the original non-ska version of the album. He even placed SKA DREAM in his top ten records of 2021. So obviously, we had to bring Skanktano...sorry Skanktano on the show and talk about ska. And he had a lot to say. 

Since reviewing SKA DREAM, he's also reviewed Catbite's "Nice One," and randomly shared Flying Raccoon Suit's "Afterglow" record on Twitter. We also found during this interview that in his younger years, he's listened to plenty of ska and has attended (and skanked at) several ska shows. He recounts, with vivid imagery a life-changing Flaming Tsunamis show from back in the day. 

We also ask Anthony for his opinion on the new crop of ska bands, what his roommate Cal Chuchesta thinks of ska music, and at the very end, we even get his review of this very interview. You're going to want to hear his insights on our ska conversation! 

If you’d like to support us and listen to early access, ad-free episodes with bonus content, check out our Patreon! 

If you like our theme song, go download the EP Lives by Slow Gherkin. They wrote the opening and closing songs for our podcast. You can get both tunes from their Lives EP. Also, check out Dan P and the Bricks two LPs. They provided the mid-roll ad transition music. 

Support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy of his book, In Defense of Ska. The 2nd, expanded edition of In Defense of Ska will release in Oct 2024. 

Co-host Adam Davis has a band called Omnigone. Their latest record, Against The Rest released on March 31, 2023. 

The In Defense of Ska editor Chris Reeves runs a record label called Ska Punk International. They have new releases coming out all the time.