Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 + 4 is out now, and with it comes a wave of early 2000s nostalgia. Developer Iron Galaxy’s pseudo-remake completely recaptures the thrill of grinding round airports whereas peppering in some new skateparks of its personal. Extra crucially, it brings again a few of the biggest punk rock bangers to ever grace a online game soundtrack. Traditional songs from Adolescents and CKY return for the remake, however the soundtrack is far more strong than that. The truth is, the majority of the songs featured are completely new additions, bringing in every thing from fashionable hip-hop artists to gloriously sloppy punk bands.
Whereas that will disappoint some purists, the brand new music is the spotlight of the package deal. It accommodates a bounty of killer tracks that match proper in alongside Motörhead’s “Ace of Spades.” From my early hours spent skating round seeking secret tapes, I’ve discovered a music discovery instrument that’s far simpler than Spotify. There’s worth in a closely curated playlist constructed round a particular vibe slightly than the free suggestions of an algorithm. It appears like listening to a mixtape hand-made by Tony Hawk himself.
With so many new artists featured, the thought of discovering your new favourite musician in that playlist might really feel a bit of daunting. So, within the spirit of curation, permit me to kind by way of the document crate and hand you just a few gems. These are a few of my very own favourite artists featured within the recreation who actually seize the spirit of Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater and the skate tradition that birthed it. Should you dig the songs included within the soundtrack, contemplate trying out their albums — and ideally in a approach that can truly pay out for them.
Really useful album: Hellmode
Even earlier than the remake was introduced, I dreamed of the day when Jeff Rosenstock could be featured in a Tony Hawk recreation. The cult icon has been a staple of the New York punk scene ever since his days in The Smug Sons of Bitches and Bomb the Music Trade. He’s since spun that right into a profitable solo profession that’s earned him a loyal fanbase. I noticed him carry out at a residency in Brooklyn just a few months again and the man ripped by way of a 36-song setlist the place he performed by way of a whole album, entrance to again, and stopped to cowl a bunch of Neil Younger songs with Laura Stevenson (who simply launched her terrific new album, Late Nice). Rosenstock’s wonderful “Head,” a blitz of a punk music, is featured in THPS 3 + 4. Should you dig it, there’s a lot extra the place that got here from.
Really useful album: Summertime ‘06
The Tony Hawk video games aren’t nearly celebrating skate tradition, but in addition California, the place Tony Hawk made a reputation for himself. The Professional Skater’s sequence’ soundtracks have lengthy paid tributed to bands from cities like Los Angeles, and THPS 3 + 4 very a lot continues that run. Not solely that, nevertheless it makes an lively effort to symbolize extra genres of music, together with hip-hop. Consequently, Lengthy Seashore rapper Vince Staples will get a well-earned spot on the soundtrack along with his 2015 single Norf Norf. It’s an amazing alternative too, because it’s the breakout music that helped springboard the rapper to what’s since been a constant profession. Whereas he’s put out a number of albums since then, his debut Summertime ‘06 stays a implausible start line should you’re trying to dig in.
Few musicians are as unmistakable as Danny Brown. Even should you don’t know his title, you’ll immediately have the ability to establish him by his untraditional voice. Even earlier than discovering mainstream success with albums like XXX and Previous, the Detroit rapper was making a reputation for himself as a gust on tracks by the likes of El-P, and Ab-Soul. He’s since gone from a prolific function artist to the principle attraction, getting extra experimental with every new launch. That got here to a head in 2023 with Scaring the Hoes, his wonderful collaboration with JPEGMafia. You may wish to work your approach as much as that one, so I’d advocate getting your ft moist with the critically acclaimed Previous first.
Really useful album: Romance
There are many rising artists on the soundtrack, however Fontaines D.C. are presently on essentially the most meteoric run of the bunch. The Irish rock outfit has been impressing critics since 2019 with albums like Dogrel, the place THPS 3 + 4 spotlight Boys within the Higher Land comes from. They took off like a rocket final yr with the discharge of Romance, their largest industrial success so far. It’s possible you’ll, in truth, already be acquainted with their music. Their hit “Starburster” soundtracked Borderlands 4’s debut trailer eventually yr’s Recreation Awards, and can be the title credit score music for Paramount Plus present Mobland. Don’t be shocked should you see them popping up in additional video video games quickly.
Really useful album: King of the Seashore
THPS 3 + 4 is a superb early 2000s time capsule, nevertheless it additionally takes me again to 2008. That was proper smack dab within the period of “weblog rock” bands, as music shops like Pitchfork had been creating careers for acts like Tapes ‘n Tapes and Vampire Weekend. Certainly one of my favourite bands to come back out of that period was Wavves, a San Diego undertaking from songwriter Nathan Williams. The band’s debut, King of the Seashore, is peak weblog rock. It’s an lively little debut headlined by the killer surf title monitor now featured in THPS 3 + 4. Whereas that album continues to be arguably their finest, Wavves has saved kicking since. Their newest album, Spun, simply launched in late June and it’s nonetheless as peppy as ever.
Really useful album: Germfree Adolescents
Whereas I like that THPS 3 + 4 contains so many more moderen artists, it’s necessary to pay respects to the classics too. That’s why I’m so completely happy to see X-Ray Spex within the combine with the livid “Identification.” The short-lived British punk band was the brainchild of singer Poly Styrene, an artist who went on to affect the ‘90s riot grrrl motion in America. Should you’ve by no means heard them earlier than, you owe it to your self to take a look at Germfree Adolescents, the band’s solely album throughout its unique run (they might briefly reunite in 1995 for a last album). It’s a foundational punk document filled with shrieking guitar riffs that paved the way in which for loads of bands that may go on to grow to be Professional Skater staples.
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