Ska Explosion is a collection of live concert tracks from British label Step One and features bands from the second wave of the U.K. ska scene. Some of the highlights include the saxophone-led "It's So Easy" by
the Loafers (who also back
Laurel Aitken on "Skinhead"),
the Skadows' goosed-up version of
War's "Lowrider," and
Potato 5 doing yet another take on the ubiquitous "Stop That Train," probably best known in the version by
Peter Tosh and
the Wailers. The energy level is way up on this compilation, of course, but all in all, it seems a bit forced. Recommended for ska diehards only.