Reviews (page 10 of 11)
This was fun but the double album was too long.
This album really laid a strong foundation for the Ska and Skuffle genres while embracing the changing environment around them. This seminal record has solid wear for not only the singles, but the deeper tracks as well, and is infused with the energy that would make The Specials a lasting pioneer group.
This was truly special. I'd say it was a nice blend of reggae and ska. There were 2-3 songs on here that I really enjoyed (married couple was probably my favorite), but they were all solid tracks. Pleasant surprise on a Wednesday.
Not bad, definitely a vibe you gotta feel
Ska is interesting, but I’m not overly interested in it
Really upbeat music. A touch of reggae and light alt rock.
Very interesting reggae punk skaw vibes
I hate ska
Faint memories of this. Reminds me of the English beat who I loved
I'd rather listen to this ska revival album than the terrible ska revival albums that came out in the 90s and early 2000. That's not really high praise though. It's not offensive, but since I'm not an unemployed 18 year old in Leeds in 1980, this really doesn't do much for me.
Fantastic album. A real social critique delivered to a high energy in your face mix of dancehall and punk. Great fun.
Ska, reagge, punk ish, very similiar to the Clash
I don’t like reggae but I enjoyed most of the post punky stuff. Reminded me of the B52s sometimes. Props for being a fairly diverse album I don’t understand the difference between ska and reggae
I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Songs dont all bleed into one, and I like that. Favorite tracks on first listen; A Message to You Rudy, Do the Dog (pause), and Too Hot.
Never listened to this before, expected quite a bit due to its timelessness, it did not disappoint! Upbeat, sounds great today so must have blown people away in ‘79
Now we're talking. 5*s in the bank. wall to wall hits. hard to beat really
too much fun
Een marteling
Not really for me, but some nice ska tunes
ace.
What a statement of intent this album was. So good still
Ska, Two Tone, Energetic, Punk, Political, Moody
Yes, ska, love this shit. Message to you Rudy is a classic. Ultimately, The Specials is not sustainable for a whole album. It's like a one trick pony that doesn't work after a handful of songs.
I like a bit of ska, me. I admire this more than I like it though. Maybe you just had to be there? I could see it being groundbreaking at the time.
Ok
Top album
A dynamic and bold debut album. A good combination of original compositions (gangsters, too much too young, blank expression) and astute covers (monkey man, message to you rudi). The lyrics are a cut above and have a real flavour of alienated and bitter youths. One or two tracks are not much more than fillers but you can see the direction the Specials were heading in
Honnêtement, j'ai l'impression d'avoir écouté la même chanson pendant 45 minutes. C'est entraînant, par contre.
I waffle on the Specials, because sometimes they come off as just a cover band for the "real" ska sound that came out of Kingston over half a century ago. But at the same time, they have some solid originals like "Too much too young" and did add a new dimension to the covers they do play. Also they have a fantastic message around combating racism and their origin story was based on including both black and white people.
I just don't love ska. Just like the other Specials album that we had to listen to from this book, first song was alright and then it got boring until the end.
How can you have that much energy, but still be so boring?
This album is boring, this band is boring, ska is boring...
2 great songs and a whole bunch of nothing to care about. I know this is an important album for the genre, but I just can't get it.
Nice. Nice.
Wasn't convinced by this at first, but it did really grow on me. Only know a couple of Specials songs (Rudy and Ghost Town). Surprising amount of variety, good to hum along to, and really works as an album together. Someone mentioned that it sounds a bit dated, in places I agree but in others it sounds totally fresh. 3/5.
This was so much fun to listen to. It definitely wasn’t my usual genre or style but I had a blast listening to it. Stupid Marriage was my favorite track, but I will definitely be revisiting this album.
Better than their other album on the list "More Specials", but not by a whole lot. Still worth a listen.
The problem with ska is that only a small amount of ska carries you pretty far. A lot of the songs are very same-y. The whole "chik-chik-chik" by the singer gets grating, the offbeat guitar gets boring, and an album that is only 30 minutes long goes on for an hour. They can extend songs for twice as long and you don't even notice. The vocals start to become indeterminant, and god forbid you see the band live. You won't be able to tell one song from another. And then I just lost interest. I don't hate ska, and they performed ok (aside from the repetitive "Too Much Too Young"), but it's just... I can only take so much of it before I have to go on to something else. So maybe a high 2, rounding up to a 3. So let's go on to something else, shall we?
Still not my cup of tea. Found myself waiting for it to be over. Maybe I would change my tune if I listened to the album a few more times but I don't want to. I didn't hate it but I don't care about it either.
Og ska
heard the songs, never listened to the whole thing. how is that possible. Now I understand why all ska bands sound the same (in a good way) they're trying to recreate this sound.
The Specials have a great talent for combining bouncy rhythms with sarcastic, politically-tinged lyrics. Perhaps the best 2 Tone group.
Solid album, with some really good singles.
Ska. White man reggae. Actually didn't hate them.
:|
I really enjoyed this! It reminds me a lot of Rancid as well as Weird Al. I like the energy and hypeness this reggae type stuff brings. I would rate it a 4 however none of the songs itched the spot in the right way. Great change of pace from some of the other albums and if I could I would rate it 3.5. Fave songs are probably " A message to you Rudy" or " Too much too young".
nah
Gangsters- 6/10 A Message To You Rudy- 2/10 Do The Dog- 1/10 It’s Up To You- 3/10 Nite Klub- 3/10 Doesn’t Make It Alright- 1/10 Concrete Jungle- 4/10 Too Hot- 4/10 Monkey Man- 3/10 Drawing Of A New Era- 2/10 Blank Expression- 2/10 Stupid Mariage- 2/10 Too Much Too Young- 3/10 Little Bitch- 4/10 You’re Wondering Now- 2/10 The Specials- 3/10
Some of the best Ska I've ever heard, not that that means much. A thouroughly enjoyable experience and one I may come back to in the future. A message to you Rudy is a huge highlight.
LP
Rating: 9/10 Best songs: A message to you Rudy, Do the dog, Concrete jungle, Monkey man, New era
good
Adelantados a su época, álbum impecable y claramente influyente dentro del género. Nite Klub y Too Much Too Young son par de bombas.
Nice
Eh nothing special
Definitely thought this was from like the 60s until I looked at the year. “I Can’t Stand It” sounds like a song they play over and over in a dystopian cyberpunk society where the authoritarian overlords are trying to give the veneer of happiness. In Do the Dog, the guy says “donkey” the same way Shrek does.
stupid marriage är ej jäkla fin bit alltså.
it was hot shit ngl
Pretty straightforward second wave ska. I had "More Specials" a couple weeks and enjoyed that a lot more than this, it seemed a bit more eclectic, while this feels a lot more like a straight take on classic ska. Obviously an important record in the grand scheme of all things ska. Not bad by any means.
I generally enjoy ska. But this one isn't quite to my taste although it did grow on me as the album wore on so relentlessly. Faves: A message to you Rudy, Too Much Too Young.
Decent, would be nice to play at the beach, but nothing really stood out
Nice ska & reggae music band.
Too much too young, Monkey man er bra. Er det her ska? You’re wondering now!
Excellent debut that resonates with the shit going on today.
Ska bueno y bonito, de la vieja escuela y como debe ser. Sólo conocía A Message to You Rudy y aunque el resto de las canciones no le llega, mantienen un buen nivel. 3.5 estrellas que voy a bajar a 3 porque el disco muy bien pero se queda un pelo abajo de las 4 estrellas.
Muy indeciso entre 2 y 3 estrellas para este disco. Por un lado, musicalmente es poco impresionante e incluso la calidad de la grabación a veces no es la mejor (con todo y Elvis Costello como productor). Sin embargo, su marca histórica sí es interesante por ser la base de la segunda ola del ska y los que hicieron el ska inglés, alejado del de Jamaica. Triste que las buenas rolas del disco todas son covers de un modo u otro, y las originales de The Specials son las olvidables.
Mmmmmm
Great album, full energy and holding up well. One of those albums that makes me grin.
The concept was interesting - reggae music but instead of drums a horn section. The individual songs went on for too long. I don't think I will revisit this group but it was interesting.
Great OG Ska album. Long before 90s Ska / Punk bands would change the sound of ska, this album has all of the elements that were at the beginning of ska - Raggae, post-punk, etc. 4/5.
Standouts: Gangsters, A message to you Rudy, too much too young, you’re wondering now
Хоккейная команда с берегов Невы И музыка которую играем мы
Great stuff
Makes me want to grab a skateboard and grind on Nelson's column
Me gusta este disco y eso que no tiene ninguna canción que yo haya escuchado antes.
ok
Great album. Alternates between ska and reggae. Enjoyed the faster tracks more than the slower. Standouts are "A Message to You Rudy", "Concrete Jungle", "Little Bitch,
Boa referência para conhecer mais de ska.
It was an interesting early sounding ska/punk album that was definitely leaning towards the ska side of things. Not something I'd have in regular rotation. Best: A Message To You Rudy Worst: Too Much Too Young 2.5 Stars
Couldn't get behind the Ska genre, couldn't finish unfortunately
Wow, this album absolutely slaps
This was a very generic album, I'm not sure why it's here as it's far from special. Works well as background music.
Some tracks lean reggae, some lean towards punk, while many are pure ska. A nice little distraction from what I was doing.
I saw the Specials about 12 years ago for their 30th anniversary tour, man they were amazing. This album is patchy at times but anything that contains a stone-cold classic such as Rudy needs at least a 4 out of 5.
Man I totally loved this and big up the Cov! Represent. This just puts me in a great mood, I love Monkey Man and You're Wondering Now most I think. And too much too young... ah they're all pretty much classics.
Love it. Such a banger. I remember thinking Stupid Marriage was such a funny song when I was a kid
Amazing album, an all-time classic. I love the punk energy and the ska attitude working together. I find the whole thing very moving, reminiscent of a time when music tried to change things (if only peoples’ minds) and be a force for good. Hard to pick a standout track, but have always loved the closing time feel of You’re Wondering Now.
The sheer joy and energy from this album still gets be buzzing off me tits more than 40 years later. SO many memories of youth club discos, especially with Nightklub. I could listen and dance to this every day.
Don't really listen to ska but was an okay listen : | 4/10
Surprisingly fun listen
Gotta love Monkey Man!
3/5
I had heard of The Specials for years and never gave them a try. Now I wish I gave them a chance sooner. Amazing album front to back. Felt ahead of its time. Not a single song on the whole record that I disliked. I know I'll be coming back to it in the future and it has me interested to check out the rest of their work. Amazing. Favorite Song: A Message To You Rudy
I really enjoyed many of the songs on this album. It would be great to see The Specials live someday!
I think it's fine that I missed this one I like the Amy Winehouse cover og "Monkey Man" though
SKA legends. this wasn't bad.
Flawless debut.
I hate Ska. I'll forever go on record with that. This one is one of the better Ska records i've ever heard. I atleast made it through this one.
Rarely has a band emerged with its first album with such a clear vision statement. The look, the sound, the politics and the voice of this band is clear and strong on this record. The Specials were an integrated band, with equal influences from black (ska, reggae, soul, r'n'b) and white (punk, rock) forms. Politically engaged in the new Thatcherite England, they were both protesting and ready to party. Elvis Costello did a great job of capturing the live feel of their performances (although some contemporaneous reviews bemoan how much slower the record is than their live shows). Smart, political, and above all fun, this is such a great record. It makes me wanna take to the streets in protest _and_ dance.
Fun, Ska can only be so different though innit
I’ve never heard this one in full before. It’s just what I was expecting, influential, nicely produced and cool AF. Loved it
He, jammer. Ik had hier zin in, maar ze verspeelde hun kaarten al snel
Hier lusten de honden geen brood van…
Vrolijk, maar klonk wel veel hetzelfde
Een paar nummers kan ik ska wel hebben, maar daarna begin ik er toch vrij snel zenuwachtig van te worden.
Had leuk kunnen zijn, maar ik vond het vooral 'kaal'.
not bad, not mindblowing
Not the greatest ska
Leading the Two-Tone Mod revival - fantastic stuff!
Good, but not really my vibe right now
The Specials 2 (more pop songs) will is more of a favourite, but their debut is almost just as good and the album style is -after relistening- not even that far away from the follow-up. I would put both in the list, together with the two Fun Boy Three albums (which are 5 star as well).
Enjoyable album, but not all songs are sufficiently gripping for full marks.
Never been a big ska fan, so while I found this pleasant while it was on, I probably won't revisit it. Favorite tracks: "A Message To You Rudy", "Monkey Man"
Ok
Happy Sunday morning beat as I listen to this. Perfect for the three hour drive
More blasts from the past. Ska beats are ok. Kind of repetitive and simplistic - there were a few good guitar riffs. I will not intentionally listen to this again. 2.5 and rounding up for the retro memories.
much better than expected. Not huge into Ska, but this rules and paved the way for all the good (and the many bad) ska revival bands to come. 4 Musically, 4.5+ influentially.
sounds like the clash was forced to make music for a game show found it annoying idk it made me dance around a bit without noticing so there’s that
Ska's not really my thing. I think this is the OG British ska band, but man did I have to force myself to listen to it.
i dont know if its technically bad but its not for me
Just can't get into ska
STOP YOUR MESSIN' AROUND! The drums sound like they were recorded in an alley for Do The Dog. Nite Klub has that party ska sound that just took over the world. Much of this album is like a single speed bike. This is not an album for range but its very fun for a pleasure cruise. Stupid Marriage is good. Too Much Too Young. I didn't know Little Bitch was a Specials song!
specials, hm
Wanted to write "flat", have corrected it to "thin", and in doing do so have made appraising them a lot harder. The former epithet's invariably bad, but the latter's far more ambiguous. Their jauntiness is a dead cert, which in the long run is likely to make this a winner.
p446, 1979. 4 stars Ska meets disillusioned angry young men at the start of Thatcher's Britain. I don't usually like ska or reggae, but this is good - a rare example of the soundtrack to a moment in time that still sounds fresh today. Having said that... I like it, but don't love it. Just my taste in music.
5/10. Kinda blah
Bleh. 3/10
A cool mix of rock'n'roll and reggae tracks.
I love ska! A few classics, some extra bops I had never heard before, and a few meh songs. Overall a great listen!
4.3 - Having suffered through the ska/swing resurgence of the late-90s, I had a PTSD-like reaction when I saw this early ska album pop up. Bands like "Cherry Poppin Daddies" and "Reel Big Fish" did a serious disservice to the Specials' legacy. Or, perhaps the Specials did themselves a disservice in later albums? In any case, I love this debut album! It's a blend of ska and reggae, with punk sensibilities that keep the arrangements lean and loose. The songs' messages vary from political to complaining about nightlife. "Doesn't Make It Alright" rails against race-based violence, while "Monkey Man" ridicules nightclub bouncers.
Didn’t latch onto any song in particular but found it all decently listenable.
I think I'm just not a big fan of ska, because this isn't doing very much for me.
Awesome
There are some good tunes, but its all a bit basic and requires some genre investment that I dont have.
04/18/22 It all sounds the same.
Still fresh as fuck today (and relevant).
In my opinion, Madness took the ska sound too much better places. Not that this album is bad, but other than Rudy the tracks are not that special (ha!) to contemporary ears.
Only few songs
Geweldig ska album, heeft veel veranderd in het ska/reggae genre
This was fine. Kind of weird, but in a boring and not interesting kind of way.
Brilliant album.
I loved it. This is a great ska album.
Ska y reggae. Vinilo.
Se parecen a Toreros Muertos, pero en inglés. Más british, aunque no sé de dónde son.
Great band and great album, I listen to a lot of 90's ska revival and hard to argue the influence that this band had. Too bad they didn't last as this lineup for long.
kinda boring, would rather listen to either the beatles, 100 gecs, or real reggae. started to vibe with this around "Nite Klub"! Realizing that I like the idea of ska more than I actually like ska. Very mixed as this album goes progresses, some of the songs I get annoyed of, but some of them I am vibin' and bobbin' along to, feeling like a rude boy. I think that the album gets better towards the end, or maybe I just got used to their sound.
It's a band I didn't know but the first song sounds to me from having heard it on the radio. Not bad.
A perfect picture of Britain in 1979 - an album that absolutely stands the test of time.
Fine, but I didn’t love the music.
A personal favorite and a band that influenced a whole next generation of ska and punk.
I grew up listening compulsively to this album - so I am not even going to pretend to leave an objective review. Still sounds great!
Like many a pop-rock crossover, The Specials straddle a line that, not being a fence, doesn't really need straddling. Still, there's more good than bad and ska is pretty great. Strangely lacking in energy at many points and that makes the sentiment of Too Much Too Young come off really poorly.
An immensely satisfying album. Not a duff track on it, and still sounds as fresh in 2022 as it did in 1979. Political, humourous, sociological music but rollicking good tunes.
Bom.
Early, unrefined ska revival. I think that the album is good, but there are better ska albums out there, so I don't know that I'd listen to this one again.
Great 2tone ska album...probably the best.
Fell like I'm giving out too many fours so I'll give it 3.5/5
Squams fr
Very fun sound and attitude… high 3
Wow.. denna äger...
head thoughts no empty
The unique, quirky ska energy manages to keep things fresh for about 3-4 songs before the bit gets stale. Little variation in rythms, instrumentation, or arrangements means everything starts to blend together into 40 or so minutes of British whining and vaguely reggae-ish beats.
Barb says each song sounds the same. I agree, but I do like the sound, Barb not so much.
I saw this band when they had just reunited in 2009 when I was in Scotland. This was at T in the Park (which I’m has now been reworked into a different festival apparently). First time I had seen someone skanking.
Kamalt El Hadra Loula Me Rbo3 Ethaleth. Barcha Bal8am Vocals Wack. Prooly Working On My First Televised Interview Ever
Great album!!!
The thing with ska is that it tries to have all the energy of punk but with none of the self-reflection. What's left is sugar-coated but meaningless and empty. The Specials exemplify this emptiness perfectly. Even the covers of once meaningful Jamaican songs are so dumbed down that they become meaningless, whitewashed noise. A lot of that comes down to Elvis Costello being an absolute hack. By all reports, The Specials were aggressive and angry on stage... until Hack Costello got his hands on them and produced an utterly milquetoast album. Overall, it was a painfully lame listening experience and one that I don't wish to repeat any time soon.
1979. A Message to You Rudy, Gangsters
Great album, fun songs, just always found the production a bit thin :/
2,5; kinda weird sounds for me, I feel like something doesnt fit here, but the music wasn't bad and had unique vibe
Bardzo the clash, ale tylko reggae
Highlight - Little Bitch I just don't like Ska or Reggae.
Haven't heard this album in forever. I forgot how much I liked it.
not a fan
Fun
Familiar, never really been my lane, but not terrible by any means
Great British Ska Album
10/10 album did they invent ska? it sure sounds like they did
Reggae/Ska. Not awful, but not really my thing either. 2/5.
vibes 'beach boys' e a faixa dois é engraçada com o voice over. já to vendo ali o nome da penultima faixa e tô fazendo cara de eca, mas bora ver né? milagres e tal.
Not my genre of music but better than I expected.
Fun, upbeat music. Memories of the 80's.
I'm a casual ska fan. Definitely like this album and appreciate its history in the genre. Not my favorite but we wouldn't have ska as we know it without it.
3. You know, I went into this expecting to be annoyed. I know, I like ska, I should like The Specials. But turns out I don't like older pure ska that's much more reggae based and tend to roll my eyes when the Specials come on. But you know what, once we got the way overplayed Message to You Rudy out of the way, I enjoyed the rest!
sounds almost twee nowadays.
Bouncy but angry. A polaroid of disaffected you in 1970s/80s urban Britain? It tails off a bit on side 2, but is still a ska classic. 3.5/5.
I am a ska fanatic and this is an absolute classic. YMMV if you don’t appreciate the genre of kings.
Ska. Come on rude boy - get skankin'. The sounds of fighting in dance halls and looking down the barrel of Thatcher's Britain. The depressing thing is that like many of these albums, the politicians have changed but the general culture hasn't. Best Tracks: Message To Rudy; Too Much Too Young; Little Bitch
Been listening to this since high school. Excellent.
Easy 5 star. One of the best two-tone bands and albums released.
Had no idea about this one going in. It was awesome.
A unit of an album. It really takes you on a journey and paints pictures on the way. It’s a really tight album. Not usually a fan of ska, but the it really takes you on a journey and was thoroughly enjoyable. It was cool to hear about the social commentary on race relations of the time, the club scene and even getting married and having kids too young. Its all poignant throughout but not too heavy handed. 4/5 - I like it, but I don’t love it
Well, of course, mixing reggae with other genres is already popular at more than forty years ago. I don't know about other countries (but I remember Magic's reggae fusion banger in 2014, "Rude"), but reggae plus x music is still a fairly big thing today here in my country especially among young people. Unsurprisingly, reggae hip-hop is the most popular. Those songs are pretty decent, but the older local reggae folk songs (yes, folk, my least favorite genre) are my favorites. And this? This... sucks. Why would they combine the feel-good energy of reggae and the angsty power of punk? This album is such a mess. Which is a shame as I'm interested in the riffs and beats of some of the songs. Is this what ska is all about? I'm not sure. But it makes sense, I guess. Punk is a big genre during the '70s, so it's no surprise this album got so popular, especially among the British youth.
It’s ska. You take it or you leave it. This one though, this one I’ll take. Gladly.
Gott ska. Fínasta partý. Riffið úr Little Bitch er ækonik.
Fantastic from start to finish. I think SKA ran a bit off the rails in the 90's revival, resulting in the genre getting a bad wrap. Therefore, it's incredibly refreshing to go back to the roots with this album; to be reminded of just how fun the blend of influences are. The album starts out with the seminal \"A Message to You Rudy\", which introduces not only their fusion of reggae, punk, brass, funk and R&B, but also the bands socially minded lyrical leanings. And the whole album carries on as it starts, each track iterating on the same core spirit of house-party meets social commentary. And with that said, you'll need to excuse me. I'm going to immerse myself in The Specials' discography. Cheers!
A message to you Rudy vraiment sympa Tout le reste c'est du Specials, sympa 3 mn :)
Best Song: A Message to You Rudy. Just a classic. Worst Song: Too Much Too Young. Overall: A weird album for me. The whole thing feels too sleepy and laid back. There's nothing unpleasant about it, nor is there anything exciting.
Genre: 2 Tone 3/5 Another brief piece of history album. The Specials was one of the UK’s most successful ska groups to come out of the country’s collective attempt to keep up with the musical times. The music here is inoffensive (except for Little Bitch), fun to listen to and jig to, but doesn’t really offer much more than your standard reggae/ska offering may provide. An interesting look into 2 Tone as a genre, and may lead some down a rabbit hole.
Haven't heard of The Specials before. I get the concept. It's British Ska, but what they're singing about seems so dated now that I can't make a good connection. I'm not a teenager hungering for freedom in 70's Britain. So, not for me.
Loved it. Couldnt listen to Ska non stop but it was a great change of pace.
First half > second half. Like, I had a very fun time listening to the first half. I wish I felt the same about the whole album, but it was still a pleasant enough listen. I can't quite give it a 4, but it's a 3.75 in my mind so it's VERY close!
Some bangers
Lepposaa menoa vaikka muutama hutkin osui mukaan. Taidan kuunnella uudelleen kun saan jonon kurottua umpeen.
Kevyttä skatako tää oli? En muista, mut ei se ainakaan vituttanu
More focused and fun than their sophomore album, I think this is a cool but inconsistent debut.
If you don't like modern Ska, this album is kind of birthing that whole sound in a way, and personally, I think a lot of the best things about Ska are on display. Great playing, fun writing and performance, and a dash of rage & anti-establishmentarianism.
pure magic
Monkey man, message to you Rudy, note klub, stupid marriage. Great album
Ska. 6/10
This album got a little annoying after a few songs. Some sort of catchy melodies and beats but it got old pretty quick. 4/10
Ska Ska Ska. I wonder if this is THE Ska album. Like, okay, I guess? Also Rudeboy.
better idea than execution
‘I once heard Ska described as "what plays in a 13-year-old kid's head when he gets extra mozzarella sticks" and nothing in this world is more accurate’ - @NeverOnBrand I would’ve thought it would make this list a sheepish spectacle, but I didn’t mind its cheekiness.
Dig it, but I’d rather just listen to the clash
Loved the Ska. Some interesting and very catchy tunes.
decent british ska like, not sure who came first but i get some strong iggy pop vibes from parts of the album
Rough production and the songs are not anything spectacular, but its overall a fun vibe.
Interesting combo, did mind the punkish singing but enjoyed the catchy rythmsnof the ska
A perfect snapshot in time. Life, politics and race in Britain. The kitchen sink dramas. The bottled aggression. Desperate and beautiful.
Hard to guess what this might sound like to fresh ears, but to my older ones it is a perfect balance of black, white and the shades of grey in between. Over time, the knees-up familiarity of the hits has drowned out the angst and anger of the rest. The dubby album version of Too Much Too Young came as the biggest surprise, but ultimately a welcome one: it takes the song to a more mournful place than the spikier no-future version we're used to.
Bursting with bangers - my favourite album in the list so far. Dammers deserved far more praise than he got.
The Specials by The Specials (1979) Revival Ska is an acquired taste. Accents on the offbeats dominate, spiced by horn flashes, and driven by walking bass lines and rapid, steely percussion fills; it’s music that makes you dance, but not feel or think. The Specials pull off this self-mockingly comic mood without monotony (quite an accomplishment), chiefly because of the excellence of Horace Panter’s bass playing, and very good performances by John Bradbury on drums and Rico Rodriguez (underutilized) on trombone. Having Elvis Costello producing certainly helps. But two things kill this album: horrible singing and idiosyncratic, anti-redemptive preachiness. The less said about this, the better. This not an album for the ages. I’m sure in 1979 is was very cool. 1/5
Pretty good Ska album. Favorites: A Message to You Rudy, Nite Klub, Too Much Too Young
Love it! Fantastic album.
Fundamental album for....ska. Ska is a weird genre. It originates out of Jamaica which is considered the "first wave" of ska in the 60s and 70s. It's very calypso-inspired, if you know about that. Heavy on the brass section, emphasis on the off-beats, and so on. Then, in the late 70s and into the 80s, it was picked up in England and thus began that "second wave", more commonly known as 2 Tone. The Specials embody 2 Tone. You hear more guitar, along with elements of new wave and early punk rock in 2 Tone compared to the original Jamaican Ska, but it's still unmistakably ska (just pick any track and give it a listen). This was then picked up in North America during the late 80s and was expanded upon as Ska Punk. Leaning more into hardcore punk, you had a heavy focus on faster and dirtier riffs, more aggressive vocals, while still retaining the brass section and off-beat rhythms. This was the most commercially successful iteration of ska, with The Mighty Might Bosstones being a standout of the genre. Gamers will be quick to recognize this flavor of ska in Tony Hawk games, with Goldfinger being a favorite. Pop Punk enthusiasts will know of Jeff Rosenstock, former member of ska punk bands "The Arrogant Sons of Bitches" and "Bomb the Music Industry!", along with his more recent solo release "Ska Dream", which features all flavors of Ska, not just Ska Punk. So what does this say about The Specials? Well for one thing, they aren't in one place for the album's runtime, no. They tend to move back and forth between the more energetic punk-rock influence distinct to 2 Tone, and the more laid back original sounds of Jamaican Ska. This represents largely the "importing" of ska to England, brining a fresh and more local sound. This mirrors the very real migration of Jamaicans coming to England in the 50s after World War 2. Children of Jamaican parents growing up in England during this time would be adults by the 70s and 80s, and some would be musicians! So the blend of Jamaicans Ska along with punk-rock and new wave would be the natural conclusion of Jamaican immigration. Specials members Neville Staple and Rico Rodriguez are both from Jamaican and contribute largely on this album. Worth noting that this album was out in 1979, too early for new wave, so we got mostly punk rock influence. This put The Specials on the leading edge of the genre, with none others like it. This, however, becomes a double-edged sword for 2 Tone. On one side, The Specials were doing something very unique and notable at the time, indicative of real-life current events at the time. On the other edge, few could meet the same level of quality of The Specials (Madness was the closest), as a result of Ska being kind of...hokey. Almost like a cheap imitation of the more "genuine" ska music of Jamaica, as leaning too much into international music can sort of cheapen the experience. This leaves The Specials being special and important, but not really all that good. It's a hard thing to swallow, but 2 Tone deserves to be clowned on. Jamaican Ska and Ska Punk can hang though, they're cool.
Another undeniable classic. Two days running. Best thing to ever come out of Cov. It amuses me that a band so avowedly anti racist can be so misogynistic, but the same hatred gets turned inwards enough that you feel it may just be a general misanthropy from Terry Hall (that's borne out by him over the next 40 years!) But there is no fat in the 45 minutes here - every track is there and on point. That it is the last album on the list from the 70s is fitting, as it feels like a lot of the excess is culled here, with an urgency and excitement often missing in some of the leaden rawk stodge that pads out the decade.
Alternative/reggae band. Fav song is “doesn’t make it alright”
This is my first introduction to this music genre - ska. This album is a hybrid of reggae and rock'n'roll. It's pretty groovy and has great vocals and deep lyrics; a lot of tracks on here are very catchy. Favorite tracks: A Message to You Rudy, It's Up to You, Doesn't Make It Alright, Monkey Man, Too Much Too Young.
Ouais ça fait changement un ska reaggea.j'ai bien aimé. Ça date en plus mais ça a un bon son 3.75
Awesome mix of styles to create something unique. Crazy that Costello produced this between Armed Forces and Get Happy in 79. Fun to discover that little snippet of Bohemian Like You in Little Bitch. Will definitely listen again.
Definitive ska album and set the (two) tone for so much to come
So...I'm going to have to (at least slightly) revise my opinion on Elvis Costello, given that he produced this album. It is a period piece, true, but a fairly good one. Odd thing about this is that it is easy to be pessimistic about the state of the nation etc. But even it its pessimism, stuff like ska actually pointed out other viable possibilities, an organic reorganisation of the order of the day. The point is to remember this, and not what the naysayers have to say. They always have something to say. Most of it is useless.
Muy bueno, muy agradable
Good ole ska, definitely an interesting blend of Jamaican Ska and British Punk, can really absorb the vibe of 1970s UK and what it was like. You can also pick up what would become staples of ska. Great album, definitely going in my collection. Personal favourites: A Message To You Rudy Nite Klub Concrete Jungle Doesn't Make It Alright (Dawning of a) New Era You're Wondering Now
Man have been having a rough time of it the last few albums
Not my kind of ska. Good but my tastes long for other jams
Absolutely magnificent album. Had the pleasure of seeing the Specials live in 1979 at Loughborough uni on the Two Tone tour with The Selecter and Dexy's. One of the best gigs of my life.
Never heard the album but knew quite a few songs. I thought it was great, even the album tracks were good
goofy ska and ridiculous ironic lyrics, but once you get the hang of it it's a nice time. talking heads energy. 3.5/5
Groovy, upbeat music that literally screams "the 80s". Fun lyrics and good sounds for background work. Definitely gives the feeling of doing too much too young.
Never listened to this before. Foot-tapping fun. Little Bitch is a nice detachment from a fairly similar-sounding album.
Has some energy but pretty much every song sounds the same.
A lot more varied and punky than I remember, good
listening to two tone always very aggressively makes me feel 16 but in a good way. do the dog and monkey man are forever fave feelgood tunes!
Lots to like about this. All about the voices
Typical liberals - bitching about the system while profiting off it. would give this album a zero if i could
Very good example of ska punk. 1979. Liked it.
solid ska album, rock that chop
Thanks for introducing me the two tone genre. As a punk fan, I absolutely love this fusion with ska. It's jazzy, danceable, and full of punk energy. Lots of diversity in these tracks, setting the standard for later ska bands to follow. They don't repeat the same trick twice; it's full of surprises. Although all the tracks are good, I feel like it fell short starting with "Too Hot", but picked up again with "Blank Expression." Favorite tracks: Gangsters, A Message to You Rudy, Doesn't Make It Alright, Stupid Marriage, Too Much Too Young, You're Wondering Now
I feel like I would have liked this more if I was still on that side of the 90s. It seems like primitive ska, and while it’s good, I would do better with in very very small doses. I suspect it’s on the list for influencing future artists.
Contrairement à ce qu'en a dit eltrapeze, cet album n'est pas nul, il est simplement mauvais.
Je suis à deux doigts de devenir particulièrement vulgaire pour écrire cette review, comment peut on servir un album aussi minable, mais pire, comment peut on considerer cet album comme "à écouter avant de mourir"? Là Robert, permet moi de te dire que c'est la honte, et que tout le générateur est déçu de ce choix, on pensait que tu valais mieux que ça. Autant en emporte le vent donc.
70s with reggae influence
Ritmos ska. Con coherencia.
Really cheesy lyrics. I've certainly heard worse ska albums though
I dig this. Feels like it’d be a perfect album for a summer cookout or something.
Fair
Good, perhaps oversold by critics? It feels far less essential than singles comps. 3.5.
Definitely The Specials
Probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen to The Specials, but I do really enjoy them when I do. Solid meshing of genres, and hugely influential. Strong messages, and despite the often bleak lyrical themes the actual music relays joy and positivity. And I like the fact that it sounds like a band playing together, rather than an amalgamation if individually recorded parts. (3.1)
No thanks, I can 100% say this will never get listened to again
This is a lot of fun, an enjoyable listen. Maybe ignorant to say but I'm not sure how much substance there is to it, sounds like party music.
Still amazing. Definitely their best album.
-Nice bassline in "Nite Klub." It's definitely higher energy than a lot of the other songs. -I like the pickup in speed of "Stupid Marriage" -Generally cool basslines relatively high in the mix throughout the album -Perfectly fine ska music, but nothing in particular is making me want to listen again
👍
Good ska, but a little varied in terms of quality. Best to cherry pick Specials and Terry's music.
This is an ok album. A few good songs on it, but this kind of ska sound gets a little too repetitive for my taste. Still, not bad overall.
Fun album. I really enjoyed it at the beginning but it did run a bit long. It definitely has me interested in ska and the history of that music.
I liked Little Bitch - give another listen
if the voting structure was out of 10 then most of my 5 star reviews would be 9s. this however would be a big fat 10. i fucking love this album almost as much as a SHACK loves lamb chops.
It's incredible that a bunch of kids with learning difficulties can deliver music of this quality.
Classic feelgood tunes. Interesting combo of bratty punk vocal and Afro-beat style vocals. Opening track is a banger and Monkey Man kicks ass too.
The Ska style is ok for me. I know some are big fans. This is my first time hearing the band or the album. I think the album cover is cool. I listened a couple of times today. The sound just didn't grow on me today. But, I think with more listens it will just get better. For now I'll give it a low 3/5.
Thats not for me, I feel ill.
One of the great debut albums and still throbs with energy 40 odd years later.
Like it
Definitive Punk/SKA album of the time.
Struggled to finish this, not for me
Good album and very fun!
No. Just no. It sounds like this research that was conducted about the most unlikeable song.
Good album. Not sure I'd listen to the whole album again, but enjoyed this listen. Definitely can hear how this influenced later ska or semi-ska bands like Sublime.
Take warning... "I hate reggae music, I hate it" Amen to that Billy Waldman. Though this isn't reggae, it's a derivative. Ska or you might be able to think about this as 'punk reggae', maybe? I can deal with the punk and I can handle a little bit of reggae so, for the most part this was fine. In the 70s when this was released, I can plainly see how groundbreaking this was. Fast forward to the late 80's / early 90's when we were all listening to OpIvy and discovering The Pietasters and The Toasters, we were completely in love with this stuff and now we're going back to the source of truth. The Specials who started a lot of what was so amazing is really unique and I like things that are unique... errr, a conformity of uniqueness.
Some fun Ska.
love me some specials, always upbeat
A strong ska album that melds ska and rock in a rather interesting way. Nothing too groundbreaking otherwise, though.
UB40 type vibes, laid back reggae sounds
Really enjoyed this one
A cool find of some old school ska/ funk. Enjoyed listening to it, but it did get a bit repetitive.
Excellent album, good jamming and sunny vibes, songs stuck in my head for days
I like the specials so I was excited for this one. I feel like their genre is some sort of reggae punk mix and I love it. Message to you Rudy was the first song I found from them and ghost town next. I love ghost town. Im three songs in and so far I really like it. Actually I take it back it’s definitely ska. I wanna dance to all these songs on the beach or something. The baseline in nite klub is fantastic. It’s like a bass solo whoa.
My first ska album in this. Almost sounds like a live recording. Message to you Rudy sounds like a classic movie song idk why.
Meh
I run a bit hot and cold on ska music. Horns make a lot of things better, but like most things, too much of a good thing... well, you know. In the 90s I loved No Doubt, but didn't really dig the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. I didn't dig much deeper than that, so I needed a little ska education for context on The Specials. Third wave ska, largely ska punk from the US, is what I had the most familiarity with. The Specials are the forebears of the second wave, in the UK in the late 70s and early 80s, and build on the roots of Jamaican ska. So knowing that, what about "The Specials?" This is the hotter side of ska for me. Lots of great horns, but the guitar playing also stood out. Less punk influence, but I can hear hints of connection to rockabilly and surf rock in places. (Which got me thinking about the evolution of rock subgenres, much as The Chemical Brothers did yesterday for electronic music. Definitely one of the most interesting things for me about hearing all these albums.) "Concrete Jungle" was my favorite track - the only one written by and with lead vocals from lead guitarist Roddy Radiation (born Roddy Byers, but how great is "Roddy Radiation?"). This track connected the most to what seems to be the genesis of The Specials and second wave/two-tone ska - capturing "the disaffection and anger felt by the youth of the UK's 'concrete jungle'—a phrase borrowed from Bob Marley's 1973 album Catch a Fire—used to describe the grim, violent inner cities of 1970s Britain." There was a clear difference between the original Specials tracks and the covers of Jamaican ska classics, but I enjoyed both. I might have to check out more ska...
I like the ska sound (4 stars) and dislike the lead singers voice on many of the tracks (2 stars). I guess that leaves me with an average rating of 3 stars.
Ska in 1979. Surprising, I thought it was a 90s thing. Kudos for that. I could leave the album though.
Not fan of ska music, but this guys defintly influenced to The Clash
Fun album, I'd listen again. Track list is inconsistent in quality.
“Rudy” reminds me of my college years. We often danced to it in the new wave clubs of the era. This wave of ska was so much stronger and more authentic than later waves — it expanded on early Jamaican ska without copying it. There were a lot of other neo-ska bands in the late ‘70s and early 80s, but the Specials were the best of the lot. Later neo-ska movements (Sublime, No Doubt, and many rock en español bands) were not as successful. Highlights: “Rudy” — very authentic ska and good commentary about UK rude boys. “Do the Dog” — ska with an early rock ‘n roll sensibility and a touch of Clash-like punk vocals. "Concrete Jungle" — super-percussive; another nice blend of Clash-like punk with a ska shuffle. "You're Wondering Now" — beautiful downtempo cover of the mid-60s Andy and Joey ballad.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would