The Specials

I have a soft spot for Ska and while this is a fine example, it does get long in the tooth. But Rudy and Nite Klub slap.

Some great tunes and I enjoyed this a lot, but there is something slightly depressing about how even the most politically progressive bands of this era were still absolutely fine with sexism.

Not for me but I can see why this might be on this list, very few albums that I can say that for

A band with a short life, some excellent tracks on here and an attutide that's off the scale. Not difficult to see all the influences in this melting pot

Yeah, I'll listen to this again, I'm sure. But, it won't be because I put it on myself. Specials are good at what they do, but it gets a bit monotonous after a while. Great bass player.

Having already heard the follow-up, I would put 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴 on roughly the same level. If I had to choose just one of the two, though, I would probably keep this one. What wins me over is the sheer sense of fun in the playing. The rhythms are lively, the band sounds completely locked in, and there is an infectious energy running through the whole record. Even when the songs themselves do not always stick with me, the performance never feels flat. I may not love the album, but I really like the way it moves.

it was fine, kind of a cool one

Ska, reggae, British? It was a fun listen, but a little repetitive. Rating: 6/10 Favorite Song: Little B****

cool album!

Well, now I know Ska was a thing before the ‘00s. Not my thing, but much more enjoyable than what came later

Dawning and Rudy were good, Little Bitch weirdly compelling punk vibe. Rest of this kind of sucks

Not for me but at least I now know what British ska is! If not for enjoyment at least this listen was educational

Rudy!

Fun but gets quite repetitive by the end

LITTLE BITCH GHOST TOWN OG SKA AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

In my head, this is the type of album that people hail as a classic that was simply a product of it's time, but I literally can't stand it

Who knew ska was this old

Very ska

Wowee what a protest album. This shit slaps, and I'm not really a big ska fan.

I really like this album. It reminds me of being in the car with my dad after we had bought him a ska cd for fathers day. But in all honesty, it is great and a real punk album to me. It says what it needs to, is funny, is dark at some points but is important to listen to and understand the time it existed in.

This was good, enjoyed it but didn't outright love it. I think they're an important band in British music history but it's just not a sound I reach for really.

Feels a lot like Jamaican. Not sure if that's Ska.

Wel geinig, redelijk upbeat nog voor die tijd. Wel wat rare instrumenten

Banger absolue, vive le ska

570/1089 - I'd much rather listen to the English Beat. It's the same genre but this sounds like they don't practice and because their lyrics are about the plight of poor people or something then critics will suck them off.

Album 284. The Specials — The Specials (1979) British SKA is a fucking joke. As long as it's not music but joke – at least it has some fun. But the amount of fun is so small and the pain is so much, I'd rather destroy myself 2/5 No liked songs

Kind of fun. They had some funny lyrics and sounds

Ska reggae vibes. I don't love it. I think one of these songs is in the movie chef.

Didn’t love this to begin with but it began to grow on me. Some interesting stuff but not enough to push it up.

I thought this was interesting at first, but it quickly lost steam around the track 4-5 mark. Once it lost me I never regained my initial level of interest. 2.5/5

This was definitely part of my high school soundtrack. Liked it a lot then. Listening through it now still gives a lot to like, but it runs too long. Shave off around four of the songs and it probably notches it up. Still giving it some solid ground here for influence on many bands that came later in the 80s and 90s.

I can see why peeps might be into this. Unique, catchy, kinda quirky…but honestly not for me. I’m sure these guys had influence (sublime? Mighty mighty bosstones 🤣), but just not a style I can get to and felt like a novelty in parts. And the mix was weird. Why did that one dude get his mic turned up so high? 2.25

I really wanted to like this. First few tracks were pretty fun. Should have been 10 minutes shorter. Some tracks were too long and others should have been omitted. 2.575/5

Not my thing

Never heard of this but not to bad.

so groovy i love

The Specials – The Specials (1979) On Day 226, I experienced a genre-defining LP. The fusion of punk elements with ska and reggae made this record genuinely laid-back to listen to, and I really liked how they conveyed crucial social messages in a sharp, sarcastic way. The production capability from Elvis Costello was clearly visible and executed exceptionally well, proving exactly why this album became such a landmark release. "A Message to You Rudy" was easily my favorite track on the record, with "Too Much Too Young" serving as another major highlight across the session. A solid, danceable, and brilliantly written 2 Tone classic. A solid 4/5.

The Specials was a collective noun used for Len Houmous’ 11th and 12th wife. 3.2 5/15 Nite Klub

This is my least liked genre. Fuck it’s astonishing.

A couple of good evocative songs in here (A Message To You Rudy, Too Much Too Young) but the rest of the album felt rather repetitive.

Really good lost of their best songs on it. Quality. Message to you Rudy Do the dog Monkey man New era Too much too young Concrete jungle All classics.

It was alright - I think this has been the second album by them on the list. Better than their other, but some tracks are rather repetitive and would lose interest.

Ska is not my thing. Reggae is definitely not my thing. I wish it was As a bass player there is a lot of tasty bass lines to keep me interested, its just everything else going on that I just can't jive with.

yesssssss!

Old school ska. Some good, some meh.

A mixture of ska and punk. I call it skunk. It stinks.

2/5

This specialsauce really grilled my frikandel

It’s ok.

It’s Ska Jim but not as we know it

Oh. So this is this genre of music. I guess I’m in for a fun 46 minutes. Starting off with a message to you Rudy. It wasn’t bad per se, but this is the type of music you put in the background of an old timey movie, not that you listen to on your lunch break. Do the dog was aight, and it’s up to you was honestly weirdly quiet compared to the rest of the album so far, but it wasn’t offensive. The trumpet in Nite Klub was honestly gorgeous. Doesn’t make it alright was actually quite nice. I liked the guitar. I also liked Concrete Jungle, but Too Hot was actually quite painful to listen to, and not just because it’s 33 Celsius here while I’m listening to this. Monkey man wasn’t that good either, and even though dawning of a new era was an improvement, I still didn’t really love it. This album has gone from like 70s lounge music to synth pop and it’s honestly a strange progression. Stupid marriage wasn’t bad, but it was so out there compared to the rest. Ending off the album, you’re wondering now was also just ok. Wasn’t a huge fan, thought there was potential but it was all over the place. 2/5 ⭐️ 213/1089

I first heard these guys’ song “Ghost Town” on a WMBR program that picks a different popular song every week and plays the original version, plus two hours’ worth of covers. As much as any single song has done on the first listen since my high school days, it blew me away. Having only known them from the goofy, ska-influenced “A Message To You Rudy” and the cheekily understated “Friday Night, Saturday Morning” I couldn’t believe the same band was capable of producing something so moody and haunting. Maybe there was more to them than meets the eye? If there is, you wouldn’t really get it from their debut studio album here. It’s perfectly good ska (proto-ska?), a genre whose hate I’ve never really gotten but which I’ve never really cared to explore either. They certainly seem more adept at it, more in tune with the principles that kind of make it work, than the successors that I’ve heard do. It’s a US-only track, disrespectfully placed first on the Apple Music release (it occupied a few different places on the album depending on the CD, but never first), “Gangsters”, that’s the standout track, though I could see “Doesn’t Make It Alright” being a second-rate Morrissey solo track for some reason.

A Message to You Rudy Nite Klub Too Much Too Young

This is definitely a fun album to listen to, especially if you’re into ska, reggae, or punk. One thing I found really interesting is that it was produced by Elvis Costello, which adds a cool crossover appeal to the whole thing.

I liked this album but it’s ska and ska can get a little monotonous. It seemed that they fell in love with the beat Ang rhythm for a message to Rudy because there were several songs that had that same rhythm. As a debut I thought the songs were well done but as I listened I did get tired. But in small doses it’s a good album.

I totally get why this is a massive deal for the 2 Tone scene. With Elvis Costello (urgh, he just won't disappear, will he?) behind the boards, that mix of punk grit and ska energy is infectious, and the lyrics do a great job of capturing the vibe of Thatcher’s Britain. It’s got such a cool, upbeat sound that makes it hard not to dance along to tracks like "A Message To You Rudy" and (finally) "Too Much Too Young". I can see how it might get a bit repetitive if you aren't really into ska, and some of the writing is definitely a product of its time, but overall, it’s a high-energy classic. Despite recognizing its massive influence and the undeniable fun factor of their classic hits, I just couldn't fully connect with the whole package. Plus, it's just another Specials album on here that didn't contain "Ghost Town", so... meh, I guess.

A Message to You Rudy - 3.5/5 Do the Dog - 3.5/5 It's Up to You - 3/5 Nite Klub - 3.5/5 Doesn't Make It Alright - 3/5 Concrete Jungle - 4/5 Too Hot - 3/5 Monkey Man - 4/5 (Dawning of A) New Era - 3.5/5 Blank Expression - 3/5 Stupid Marriage - 3/5 Too Much Too Young - 3/5 Little Bitch - 3.5/5 You're Wondering Now - 3/5 The only ska I was familiar with was the apparent resurgence of popularity it got in the 90s, so it's interesting to a youngin' like me to see that ska got its roots way before then. Probably my bias but I much prefer ska to have that punk edge to it, and way too many of these songs lean into the reggae aspect of ska. Only two or three have that ska-punk flavor to them that I like, so this is more of a middle-of-the-road type of album than I would have wanted. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Concrete Jungle, Monkey Man

A proper classic. Influential as fuck.

The album that popularised ska. "Self-Titled" has a few reggae tunes, like the big single, "A Message For You Ruby". Ska or not, most of the songs on "Self-Titled" are great. There are also quite a few covers of songs I haven't heard. For those of you who wanted "Ghost Town", you'll be disappointed. 4 stars for "Self-Titled".

Very enjoyable

I thought I liked the Specials, turns out a whole album is too much.

2 Tone. The first (and honestly only) meaningful encounter between punk and ska. Bringing up images of working class whites and first generation Caribbean immigrants intermingling in a way that is, unfortunately, pretty rare in late capitalism. And definitely rare in postwar Britain. The Specials are a big part of that musical moment. A key part in fact. The band was volatile, going through several different iterations over the decades, but this lineup, and the album they produced was more or less the rubric of 2 Tone. It's fast, manic, confrontational, sometimes sarcastic in its targets (racism of course, but also the contradictions of youth culture). It includes three covers from earlier reggae/ska/rocksteady acts: "Monkey Man" (Toots & the Maytals), "Too Hot" (Prince Buster), and a rendition of Dandy Livingstone's "A Message To You Rudy" that is so recognizable that you'd be forgiven for thinking the songs was originated by the Specials themselves. But the way the integrate the more "punk" energy -- quicker beats, more intense arrangements and rhythms -- especially on songs like "Concrete Jungle," "Do the Dog," and "Too Much Too Young," really does sound like the prototype of a new step in the component genres and the beginning of a new style generally.

Reggae sounds plus ska trumpets. Interesting and very different from other music of its era but not really my thing.

I don't have anything against ska, but it's a genre that can get tedious after a while, in my opinion. Specials never goes that far, but it definitely has its fair share of weak spots. Overall, decent fun and I wouldn't mind listening to it again soon. Favourite track: A Message to You Rudy

A fine accompaniment but nothing special (i suspect as the last person to review this im not the first to make that joke)

I was blown away by how many of these songs I knew?? This album was a good hang!

this was a huge amount of fun and I recognised a lot more than I was expected. also brought a lot of joy to my parents when I put it on for them. I anticipate returning to parts of this

Just a bit bored sorry

3.5

3.0

DO NOT DO THE DOG

So great I loved it

This was great. Great ska, and just a great overall vibe.

Super divertidos los temas, graciosas las letras. Me gustó mucho

The Specials' self-titled debut album is a fascinating 2-star paradox that captures the explosive birth of the 2-tone ska revival while deeply struggling to maintain a consistent momentum from start to finish. On one hand, the record delivers undeniable high-energy highlights, such as "Concrete Jungle" with its driving drums and urgent social commentary, "Nite Club" with its impeccably groovy bassline, and catchy numbers like "Little Bitch" and "New Era." However, the album is heavily weighed down by jarring tonal shifts, goofy novelties like "Monkey Man," and entirely forgettable filler such as "Blank Expression" that leave the listening experience feeling disjointed. Even when the band finds a pleasant, relaxed groove on tracks like "Too Much Young," the erratic sequencing and polarizing stylistic choices prevent the project from gelling into a cohesive whole, ultimately making it feel more like a mixed bag of scattered singles than a consistently rewarding listen.

Meh

This album is amazing ska! Such fun! Really love this. 4.5/5 but closer to 5

Great ska album.

This got tiring quickly. Not a big fan of ska - or the British version of reggae pop - so I wasn't expecting to like this much. People were very, well, purposeful about it liking this genre back in the day

It is physically impossible for me to view ska in a context where it isn't silly even if I know intellectually that it is new and interesting when this came out. You can really hear the Elvis Costello in the production. Just wish he wrote all the songs and sang them and they weren't ska.

I enjoy ska, probably more than the average person, but there’s a part of me that thinks because of instrumentation and the overall tone it’s the kind of thing that comes off as a novelty. This album kind of feels the same way. That doesn’t mean I didn’t like it though. It was a good mix of the more upbeat ska like the later revivals, but there’s was some more of the traditional reggae too. Worth a listen, and maybe a revisit.

Is 10 out of 5 what a great album. Only hits!!!

damn that was fun

Not really my genre but it wasn't bad.

I dunno 5 stars I guess, this album was a very very slow burn for me. Just because I bought it when I was like 14 and loved Third wave ska. I never fully got the appeal, but after decades of coming back to it indefinitely have an appreciation for the Specials it's fun music it's a cool aesthetic it does feel a bit too cool or maybe a you had to be there type vibe, but I've mostly come around and but still can't help but feel like I like this album more because I HAVE to or I'm SUPPOSED to love it, more so than I genuinely love it. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a craving for message to you Rudy every once in a while and there's definitely some hooky ear worms on here

Fun!

Loved the first track but the rest of the album was only so so for me.

Had higher hopes for this.

Dear god there’s still a third album to go with these guys. Could life be more hellish. The last time we had to suffer through this I said it was on the borderline of 1 and 2 and gave it a 1. This is pretty much the same so I’ll give it a 2 to be fair.

odd mix of reggae and british punk. not all terrible, but not sure i needed to hear it

Typical English Music

Ska music. I imagine guys wearing checkered Vans, bowling shirts and dancing with big girls. It’s a low form of music.

1002 - "Here's your juice box and orange slice. Thanks for coming."

Didn’t think I would like this and I was right. Ska music is annoying as hell to me for some reason. I can do Sublime but even that gets old quickly. This album is particular seemed repetitive and the lyrics were just stupid at times. I would describe this as tolerable at best.

This is the second The Specials album I got from the list. Now I did enjoy but two of their albums don't need to be on the list. That said they are fun as hell. I really enjoyed this one. It makes me wish I could have seen them live at a smaller venue. I imagine they would have been a blast. Their albums remind me why the ska resurgence happened.

Failed to see anything special about this

I really, really wanted to like these guys but they are too british and there are a few too many off-key warbling songs like I don't mind a singer who can't sing, especially in a ska band, but you gotta make it work

Four extra mozzarella sticks out of five

Really enjoyed this one. Lots of fun

Ska revival, mostly covers A message to you rudy Do the dog

2 Tone Favorite Songs: Do the Dog is a keeper for me, but I also kinda liked It’s Up to You, Nite Klub, and Concrete Jungle Least Favorite Song: *Not recorded* So, here’s the thing: I’m not sure if I want to keep the album with all but one song; Do the Dog is a really good song for me personally that I just have to have it. It’s really more so that I’m not hugely interested with Ska, as I think it’s really more so an acquired taste. That being said, I do plan on wanting to rate this a little higher due to the overall messaging of the album, as it’s really a reflection towards the racial tensions that went down in the UK in this time period. Especially if you take It’s Up to You, and to quote a user from rate your music carpinchoagresivo, “They deliver a clear message: do whatever you want, but stand up against oppression and try to help others. It´s clear in songs such as "It´s up to you", in which they quite literally tell you to do whatever you want, hate their music, like them, but still fight against the people actively trying to ruin everything (in this case, the National Front, a bunch of fascistic anti-immigration folks in the UK).” And frankly, while this genre of music isn’t my style, that’s enough for me to at least give a recommendation to those who are interested in wanting to start listening to some ska. 7/10.

Absolute classic. The production is a bit sub-par, I’m looking at you Elvis Costello, but the music shines through. It’s a great example of an album creating an entire world within its run time, and it really takes you back to late 1970s Britain. They’re also local to me so I’ll always have a sense of regional pride for the specials.

An accurate portrayal of life on a British council estate in the early days of Thatcher, with all the violence, racism and misogyny that was rife at the time. Having grown up on an estate at that time myself, this was a hugely important record for me and my friends. We weren't taught at school or by our families not to be racist or horrible to women. These behaviours were normal in British society at the time, as incredible as that might seem now. I learned how to be a decent human being from bands like The Specials and songs like Doesn't Make It Alright. Incredibly important to have role models to relate to as a teenager. Without The Specials, I might well have turned out to be a pink-faced Stop The Boats gammon, slapping my bitch up if she disobeyed me. Not only all this, but they introduced me to Jamaican music as well through some of their covers (Monkey Man, You're Wondering Now, etc)! I've listened to so much 60s ska and rocksteady in my lifetime because of The Specials. Brilliant music! Thank you so much, Coventry Automatics!

I've been slightly aware of the specials, mostly by "ghost town" being in one of my frequent playlists. Didn't know they were a ska band. This was fun

This didn’t click with me immediately when I first listened a long time ago. But listening now, I realize how much I really do like this album.

Never heard this before but I mostly can't stand ska. It's always that same sound with most songs.

I struggled to find a single redeeming quality to make this listen worth it

Enjoyed this – it's different and has a nice vibe to it. I knew the two singles from it but am a little bit too young to have had a chance to listen to this album growing up. I would probably have avoided it then anyway, although I never disliked the whole ska revival stuff: at least it has a hook to it most of the time. Certainly an album that needs to be on the list, and one I'd happily listen to again.

This album is very fun

I'm afraid it's just super repetitive and highly uninteresting. I didn't actively dislike it, and there's a bit of dopamine throughout, but it didn't really add to the sum of humanity for me. The two singles did raise a smile in this cold heart, but not a huge one.

Robbie Rotten type beat

Worth adding to my rotation. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Energistä ja nuorekasta skata. Loppupuoliskolla levy alkaa jo kuitenkin vähän toistaa itseään. Vähän lyhyempänä tämä toimisi paremmin, mutta vioistaan huolimatta oli mukava palata tämän pariin. Listalta löytyy vielä Specialsin tätä seurannut levy, jota en ole koskaan kuullut.

Not terrible at all....But I didn't really care for this, I'm not really a fan of Ska much. I'd rather just listen to reggae instead.

A decent collection of songs. Not really a bad one in the bunch but not as mant stand outs as I expected either.

A Message To Rudy should have been a single and the rest of this album should have been scrapped

I'm not sure if I can properly rate this as this is my first ska album and I've never really listened to anything like it but it's pretty interesting and there are some songs I like.

It's 3.75

I think I prefer Madness. (This and One Step Beyond came out on the same day in 1979)

très agréable, ce renouveau ska UK :)

Never been a fan of ska, and this is no different. However, if they were on a festival stage on a sunny Sunday afternoon, my opinion would probably change

It's ska, so it's upbeat and lighthearted. None of the songs really grab me.

Is this a perfect album? No. But I do think it deserves a lot of credit for fusing Jamacian ska with British punk. In those regards, you don't get a lot of bands that emerged during my college years.

Not an unpleasant listen, but also not the kind of thing to suddenly make me a fan of ska.

ska fun

hey its ska/reggae that I can really get into! Those horns are fucking awesome. I had so much fun with this one.

Really fun album. If you ain’t skankin, you’re wankin

This is the second UK ska band on my list in a short time, following The Madness' Rise & Fall. As I mentioned in that review, I do like ska. This album may be even better, even though it doesn't have a massive hit on it. From a similar realm, I already enjoy the Sex Pistols and The Clash, and I do think that there is something shared with these artists. Possibly it is growing up in the "concrete jungle" that The Specials are singing about.

A goofy little album; it's a fun album but not something I would really seek out again. I like this one a lot more than there other record on this list. Low 4.

Not bad. Had a good beat.

eh, kinda like an ok imitation of 60s rock

To be honest, I don't remember much about it, which probably means it deserves only 2 stars

- a lil ska on this fine sunday

Uno de ska. El primero? Creo que sí. Banda clásica. Hay cosas de ska más old school con algo más nuevo. Entretenido. No me mató igual. Respetable por el valor histórico. 6/10

al principio no me convenció full pero está muy bueno, me gustaron mucho los temas psi se me hizo bastante largo, sería un 9 pero va pa 5

Very mediocre reggae.

UNA PORONGA

Ska is so close to reggae, and yet it is slightly more interesting, which is nice. This was a strange album to me, though - I actually started to like it the longer it went on! Maybe the songs on the back half were just more interesting to me, but I found myself really bopping along to "Stupid Marriage," "Too Much Too Young," and "Little Bitch." I enjoyed this. A good record to throw on during a 90s throwback party. THREE STARS

Tää oli ihan hyvä ja letkeää kuunneltavaa.

Reggae punk are not my genres. 4/10

I really liked A Message To You Rudy. That’s about it.

Essential.

Having this on the list after listening to More Specials, an uneven effort, makes me realize that the Specials are just kind of uneven. There's a ton of youth energy here, and some big hits, but a lot of the songs just aren't good and it leaves the album a little worse for it. When that energy drops, it doesn't really find its footing. Also, while of course they're tackling serious topics head on (a bit on the nose at that, too) the Specials feel a little too self-serious. Even Crass had a sense of humor. I think they (ok, Jerry Dammers) were correct to try new things on their second album, even if they didn't stick because there's not a lot of variety going on here. 2 Tone, indeed. It's a bit flat, and it gets its texture from the roughness and hard-edge of the sound and Hall's vocals. Its roughness is to its favor, and I bet they were wild in concert, but there's not quite enough here that captures it, and even some of it that feels like it's self-consciously tamped down. Album that's less than the sum of its parts, somehow.

I could appreciate the originality and influence of The Specials’ two-tone ska sound. While I never fully connected with ska, I found it hard to dislike. Do the Dog was my favorite track for its punkish energy. Little Bitch was another standout, reminding me of later alternative rock despite being firmly rooted in ska and punk.

Cover made me expect a predecessor to the mighty mighty bosstones and was not disappointed

I liked this. In listening to more ska music through this list than I ever have before I realise that I like ska. This is probably the best ska album I’ve listened to so far.

Awesome stuff.

Wow, what a great album. I heard it in the past, but I forgot all about it. I really enjoyed almost every song on here. Definitely a pleasant surprise.

Fun listen, that's about as much as I can say about the album.

It has a fun sound that reminds me of many different others like Bob Marley, 311, maybe a little Beach Boys..but it just wasn’t remarkable to me and is not an album I’d reach for in any mood.

Wait, you're telling me there are British bands that exist who don't pump out meaningless brit pop? Fascinating to hear an early ska influence on this list, I like it a lot! Falls short of 5 stars due to its repetitive nature

I think I have to give this a 5. I listened to it 4 times and I felt myself singing along by the end. It wasn't shock value or anything it just resonated well with me.

a ska album i don’t feel ashamed listening to

Absolute classic.

I see a band wearing suits and it's immediately a couple of stars knocked off whatever they make. Now...I believe The Specials are one of those brass punk reggae bands, which immediately makes me think of Madness - otherwise known as the Worst Band To Ever Exist. But we will give this a chance. That's what it's all aboot. Of course, it is as horrible as I had feared, all ill-fitting trousers and white socks. Too much brass, plonky guitars, hats, and garbage. Everything I loathe in music .

Favorite Track: Concrete Jungle

This is actually more fun than I thought it would be, the band is great and the songs are catchy with the right mix of reggae and proto ska things happening. Can def hear the influence they had on contemporaries and bands to come later.

Nothing special

It’s like if The Clash sort of sucked. They say this album captures the energy of The Specials’ live shows, and if I were a drunk Briton at a show in 1979 or something I could imagine this really hitting. But as a recorded album it’s exhausting and messy, and the best tracks are just covers of actual reggae artists.

I enjoyed this a lot more than _More Specials_and it contains a few songs I already knew and a sound that was much more familiar to me. This was basically the album I was expecting from The Specials. _Too Much Too Young_ sounded a little different from the version I know, perhaps been remixed as a single at some point. There was also a bit of a weird distant production thing going on for _Do the Dog_ that I can only assume was intentional as none of the rest of the album sounds like that. And clearly they've ripped off the **Dandy Warhols** on _Little Bitch_! 😜

what a hoot!

FUCK YOU RUDY!!!!!

3 stars for A Message to You Rudy. One more for the rest.

chato pra caraio mas relaxante idk um pouco a frente do tempo até

9/10

interesante, bastante variado en cuanto a energia, sonido

This was great! Not expecting the hit of earnestness, but I will take it. 3.5

yknow, i enjoyed this way more than i anticipated. there's lots of parts of songs that i think are genuinely really good and catchy, but this is never what i'd do with it

Kind of an embarrassment that I didn't know this already. Really enjoyed it!

Achei ok mais nada q me fez reouvir

Hasse ska wirklich richtig krass, aber der bassist ist echt gut

Ska is not for me. Though entertaining, there's only so much Coventry accent I can handle a year, and this was my yearly fill. It's not a bad album, objectively, but it's not a genre of music I've ever learned to enjoy. 4/10

fun

hmm, not a fan. pick: message to you rudy

This is a good time. I prefer it when it's more ska and upbeat, with tracks like Nite Klub, Concrete Jungle and Little Bitch (Hello, looks like the Dandy Warhols ripped this right off). 3.5 rounded down.

I didn't like this, there were a few songs with nice guitar licks that I have heard in newer music, so guess they have inspired others.

Nicht so Spezial

Now this is a Specials album I can get behind. Favorite track: Stupid Marriage 3.5/5

These guys are clearly good at making ska. I, unfortunately, do not like ska very much at all, so I could only appreciate when I would’ve preferred to enjoy. A heaping helping of “oh not for me, thanks.” A fun, pissed off, well-made album that I was relieved to finish. “Do the Dog” bangs, though.

Good but didn't amaze me

Teilweise ganz cool. Teilweise aber auch wacky

I wouldn’t say I was a fan of ska, but this is well produced and solid.

These guys are special

i was just in london and i was telling everyone i totally understand the specials now and they're so awesome and make so much sense

A relaxing funny album, good to kill time

This is an ok album, I guess... Fairly generic and safe overall, but kinda boring.

no es mal disco pero no es mi estilo no me gusto

Συνδιαστική raggae με ροκ κατάσταση, όχι για εμένα αλλά ωραίο άκουσμα. (Dawning of a) New Era

Oke

It is the beginning of Ska. I think we didn't really need a beginning of Ska. 4/10 Top song A message to you Rudy

i wish i was having as much fun as the people recording this, still had some fun tho

They are special. Typical One Hit Wonders, album is bouncy but Kara remarked that all the songs sound the same. She isn't wrong.

Not going to lie I definitely thought ska music was a 90s creation and now I feel like a big dumb idiot baby fool. I love stupid dancey shit like this.

Decent, but not really a fan of this style of music.

White dudes doing reggae. Not for me

## Overview & Context Released on **19 October 1979** via Jerry Dammers' 2 Tone Records, *The Specials* arrived at a moment of profound social tension in Britain. Margaret Thatcher had just taken office, unemployment was soaring, and racial violence was escalating in Britain's decaying industrial cities. The album fused 1960s Jamaican ska and rocksteady with the urgency of punk and the melodic sensibility of new wave, creating what became known as the **2 Tone sound**—a musical and ideological movement that was explicitly anti-racist, working-class, and politically engaged . The band itself embodied this ethos: a mixed-race group from Coventry (not London), dressed in vintage tonic suits, pork pie hats, and sunglasses, projecting an image of racial unity and sharp style that was as much a statement as the music . --- ### Production **Produced by Elvis Costello**, the album was recorded in just **10 days** at TW Studios, a cramped space beneath a West London laundromat. Costello's mandate was to capture the band's explosive live energy without over-polishing it . * **Approach:** The sessions were essentially live recordings with minimal overdubs. Costello wanted to get the band on tape "before some more skilled producer got ahold of them and screwed it up completely, by perfecting things that didn't need perfecting" . * **Atmosphere:** The studio's concrete floor and low ceilings gave the record a distinctive **metallic, spacious quality**—as if it were recorded in an industrial warehouse rather than a Fulham basement . * **Techniques:** Costello contributed raw, percussive textures by stomping on amps with Doc Martens and beating tin trays with a broom handle. For "Nite Klub," he turned off the lights, filled the studio with the band and their friends, and plied them with alcohol to recreate the sweaty chaos of a club . * **Chrissie Hynde** of The Pretenders contributed backing vocals (the lusty panting on "Stupid Marriage" and the condemnation of "slags" on "Nite Klub") . The result is a record that feels **immediate, raw, and kinetic**—the sound of a band playing for their lives. --- ### Music & Sound Musically, *The Specials* is a masterclass in tension and release. The arrangements are built on the classic ska template—upstroke guitars, walking bass, brass stabs, and off-beat organ—but are infused with a **punk aggression** and **post-punk paranoia** that transforms the genre into something distinctly British and distinctly late-1970s . * **Rhythm Section:** John Bradbury's drumming is precise and propulsive, while Horace Panter's basslines punch with a dub-heavy weight. On "Concrete Jungle," Panter's bass is described as "jungle 15 years before jungle" . * **Guitars:** Lynval Golding provides the rhythmic skank, while Roddy Radiation (Byers) adds snarling, punk-inflected lead guitar that cuts through the brass . * **Keys & Brass:** Jerry Dammers' organ bubbles and pulses, providing the melodic hook, while Dick Cuthell and legendary trombonist **Rico Rodriguez** (who played on the original 1967 version of "A Message to You Rudy") give the horn section an authentic Jamaican pedigree . * **Vocals:** The dual frontmen—**Terry Hall** (deadpan, sardonic, world-weary) and **Neville Staple** (gruff, toasting, energetic)—create a dynamic interplay that ranges from bleak social observation to raucous party energy . --- ### Lyrics & Themes The lyrics on *The Specials* are **kitchen-sink dramas** of urban life in Thatcher's Britain—bleak, witty, and unflinchingly political . **1. Racism and Social Division** The album's moral center is **"Doesn't Make It Alright,"** an explicitly anti-racist anthem: *"Just because you're a black boy / Just because you're a white / It doesn't mean you've got to hate him / It doesn't mean you've got to fight"* . Bassist Horace Panter later said, *"My heart swelled when we played it, it was the essence of what we were doing"* . Similarly, **"It's Up to You"** calls for racial unity: *"It's up to you, up to you, black / It's up to you, up to you, white / It's up to you, up to you, unite"* . **2. Urban Violence and Fear** **"Concrete Jungle"** (written by Roddy Radiation) is a terrifying portrait of street violence and National Front terror: *"I have to carry a knife / Because there's people threatening my life / I can't dress just the way I want / I'm being chased by the National Front"* . **"Do the Dog"** addresses the factional violence between punks, teds, mods, and skinheads, asking: *"Who am I to say? / Am I just a hypocrite? / Another piece of your bullshit?"* . **3. Working-Class Malaise and Escapism** **"Nite Klub"** is a masterpiece of disaffection, depicting the pub/club as a hollow refuge: *"Is this the in place to be? / What am I doing here? / Watching the girls go by / Spending money on... beer"* . The track captures the grim reality of escapism—*the beer tastes just like piss, all the girls are slags*—while acknowledging the parasitic nature of the nightlife (*"I'm a parasite / I creep about at night"*) . **4. Youth, Sex, and Reproduction** **"Too Much Too Young"** became the band's first UK No. 1 single, a dubby shuffle about teenage pregnancy and wasted youth. It interpolates Lloyd Charmers' "Birth Control" and features Hall's withering sneer: *"Ain't he cute? No he ain't / He's just another burden on the welfare state"* . However, Dammers later admitted the song was born from **personal jealousy** rather than pure social commentary, which complicates its political reading . **"Stupid Marriage"** is a darkly comic courtroom skit about a man who smashes his ex-girlfriend's window after she marries someone else, featuring the devastating line: *"She's got him where she wanted and forgot to take her pill"* . **5. Corruption and Power** **"Gangsters"** (the debut single) reworks Prince Buster's "Al Capone" into a commentary on music industry corruption and institutional thuggery, inspired by an incident where the band was extorted by French club owners: *"Can't fight corruption with con tricks / They use the law to commit crime"* . --- ### Influence & Legacy *The Specials* is one of the most **influential debut albums in British popular music**. It launched the 2 Tone movement, which spawned The Selecter, The Beat, Madness, and Bad Manners, effectively creating the second wave of ska . * **Cultural Impact:** The album provided a soundtrack for Rock Against Racism and became an anthem for disaffected, multiracial youth. The band actively ejected National Front members from their gigs and supported CND and the Right to Work March . * **Musical Influence:** The fusion of ska rhythms with punk attitude opened the door for later genres from ska-punk (Rancid, Operation Ivy, No Doubt, Sublime) to the broader alternative rock landscape. * **Endurance:** Tracks like "A Message to You Rudy," "Gangsters," and "Too Much Too Young" remain staples of British musical identity. The album is frequently cited in "greatest albums" lists and was subject to a 40th-anniversary half-speed remaster in 2019 . --- ### Pros | Strength | Details | |----------|---------| | **Authentic Energy** | Costello's live-in-the-studio approach captures the band's explosive, kinetic performance style perfectly . | | **Lyrical Directness** | The social commentary is blunt, accessible, and deeply felt—anti-racism, anti-violence, and working-class solidarity are front and center . | | **Musical Fusion** | The blend of 1960s ska, rocksteady, punk, and new wave is seamless and innovative, creating a template that defined a genre . | | **Dual Vocal Attack** | Terry Hall's deadpan bleakness and Neville Staple's ragged toasting provide compelling contrast . | | **Cultural Significance** | It is a genuine **zeitgeist document**—a snapshot of Britain in 1979 that remains politically and musically relevant . | | **Highlights** | "A Message to You Rudy," "Doesn't Make It Alright," "Nite Klub," "Concrete Jungle," "Gangsters," and "Too Much Too Young" are all classics . | --- ### Cons | Weakness | Details | |----------|---------| | **Sexist Lyrics** | "Too Much Too Young" and especially **"Little Bitch"** contain chauvinistic, spiteful lyrics. Hall later expressed regret over "Little Bitch," calling it *"a horrible personal attack on someone I didn't know"* after his own suicide attempt. The band eventually dropped it from live sets . | | **Cover-Heavy** | About a third of the album consists of covers ("A Message to You Rudy," "Do the Dog," "Too Hot," "Monkey Man," "You're Wondering Now"), which may disappoint those seeking purely original material . | | **Pacing & Uniformity** | The album's relentless up-tempo ska rhythm can feel slightly monotonous across 14 tracks; some deeper cuts like "Blank Expression" and "(Dawning of A) New Era" lack the distinct identity of the singles . | | **Bleakness** | The unrelenting grimness of the subject matter—violence, racism, urban decay, unwanted pregnancy—can be emotionally exhausting. This is intentional, but it limits the album's "fun" quotient compared to peers like Madness . | --- ### Verdict *The Specials* is a **landmark debut**—a record that captured a precise historical moment with such force that it transcends its era. It is not without flaws: the occasional misogynistic lapse, the reliance on covers, and a certain rhythmic sameness prevent it from being a perfect album. But its **pros far outweigh its cons**. The production is raw and alive, the lyrics are politically urgent and darkly humorous, and the music is a brilliant synthesis of Jamaican roots and British punk desperation. It remains, as the BBC noted, *"a wrily comical antidote to political and cultural indifference anywhere"*—a snapshot of a bleaker time that still resonates because, unfortunately, its themes remain urgently relevant .

I'm not really a fan of regular reggae, but the ska from the late 1970s/early 1980s from bands like The Specials (AKA), The (English) Beat, Madness, The Selector, The Higsons and The Apollinaires? Love it. If you liked this album and you're new to British ska from this era, check out THE 2 TONE COLLECTION: A CHECKERED PAST anthology, a 2-CD set of the best 2 Tone tracks sequenced well into a great listen.

This album is pure fun with teeth — Costello’s precision, Marley’s pulse, and a band firing on all cylinders.

I don’t know man, listening to Ska is like having a chat at the bar with an Australian. Fun and entertaining at first but 45 minutes is way too much. 2 stars

I like this Will I listen to again: 67%

Finde ich recht unspannend!

Nah.

Super weird and different and fun. Mix of reggae and British punk sensibility, as well as maybe the birth of ska? Great listen.

Further proof of Elvis Costello's importance.

Interesting ska feel

It sounds exactly like what it is: kids in a garage making music about their lives. But it doesn’t really do much for me. 4/10

Damn, I'm really starting to like The Specials. Just like yesterday's self-titled debut album I generated, the first half was incredible, the second half was a bit of a letdown, but still solid. Ska music is underrated, and special in its own way. Favorite Track: "(Dawning Of) A New Era".

4/5

Don't really like ska :(

Fuckin' love me some ska. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 4.5 that I'll bump down to a 4. It’s just a good ska album, really. It takes a few tracks to find more of its bite (by around “Do the Dog”), but once it starts to roll, it’s a really enjoyable album. Elvis Costello’s production work here is good, if not as tight/snappy as some of his own albums. He falls into some pitfalls of repetition / stagnant beats, and it’s possibly just because he’s not the most ska-driven guy to begin with. Those pitfalls are most of the reason I’m at a 4; there’s a few unremarkable tracks & a couple of poorly-aged bits (namely on “Little Bitch”) that are cherries on top, but the most striking reason is just the production work not quite meeting the energy the band is bringing. Obviously, I liked it, so I have to give some positive stuff – I really love the trombone work on this album, as it leans a lot closer to the traditional ska style I’m used to, ala Streetlight Manifesto or Reel Big Fish & any of the other bands that do more of a punk/ska mix. The percussion & guitar work are both great, with the percussion in particular having a really nice bounce to it that keeps the album’s energy up, even in those more stagnant / sterile moments. The lyricism is generally really good throughout; a lot of these are covers, so I can’t give too much credit, but when this album wants to really bite at something (like on “Do the Dog”, “Nite Klub”, “Concrete Jungle”, or “Stupid Marriage”), they perform it with enough force in the vocals to really bring the lyrics to life. I do think the album is just a little long, as there’s lots of little places to trim things down more concisely, but as it stands, it’s a pretty enjoyable 47 minutes, and for 1979 ska, it does feel like it’s pushing the genre forward. At the very least, it’s proof that they weren’t wrong in naming their second album “More Specials”, as this album just feels like a natural extension of that one. I liked it, and while it’s got enough little flaws to pull it down to a 4, I do think it’s worth hearing before you die. It’s a pretty enjoyable one, and maybe someday, it might get up to a 5.

Seminal two tone album, I enjoyed it at the time, good fun to revisit today.

For most of my life I've argued that there are no bad genres of music. Within any genre you can find brilliant artists creating great work. It's just a matter of distinguishing the great artists from the bad and putting in the time and effort to appreciate their work. After hearing this album, I think ska might be the exception

So fun and contagious! Just about every song in this is catchy as all hell.

A Message to You Rudy // Doesn’t Make It Alright // Blank Expression // Too Much Too Young //

I didn't have a bad time. Plus love most songs and versions about Rudy.

Very fun

Ah I was this close to giving it full marks - it's so much fun and that bass guitar bouncing all over the place is so infectious. Trouble is, I just don't particularly enjoy ska music. Crazy, right? 4.5

Tampoco fue mi favorito

Well ... Here's a thing.

Second wave for the win!

I try this album once every ten years. Thus far, the results are the same: I like it well enough, but I don't love anything besides A Message to You Rudy.

Eh, some of this was all right.

3/5 - This is my ceiling on ska. Belongs on the list.

Old Ska/Reggae sound. Could be a really good ska/reggae sound but could not get into it.

pass

The Specials just miss the 5 star mark for minor things here and there but it's a classic album albeit a little too long and a little too evenly performed. More substantially, when I first heard it I couldn't detect the rank whiff of juvenile gender politics on a few of the tracks as I was too young myself, but not all of the lyrics have aged well in this regard. I still reach for the record from time to time because warts and all it's one of the best ska revival records made.

Fun or silly? You decide, but ska will always have a place in my heart, even if I will never really understand what a mod is

4 - BAD

Musically, I didn’t connect with this album, but I’m giving it an extra star because the band members were actively anti-fascist and anti-racist.

fun ska, a rollickin good time, but probably not something I'll listen to again.

Its ok, but its Ska so theres that.

Enjoyed hearing a bit more of the specials range but patchy

The Specials are a defining 2-tone ska band from the UK that were maybe too British for American ears, but definitely should have been big in the US if America embraced ska before the 90s. The band's chemistry and singers really make The Specials so damn good, even before the socially conscious lyrics and themes. The Clash may be "the only band that matters", but The Specials could easily be the second. Not on this record but Ghost Town, released a few years after their self-titled debut was also a very pivotal song for the UK's grim economic recession in the early 80s (before that bitch Thatcher was in charge). This record is a classic and hallmark for 2tone ska. Being this groovy and having lyrics that hit equally hard is no easy task. Rest in power Terry Hall.

!FUCK YES! This record is so fun. The Specials are brilliant. 5/5

I wish i could give a half star

Really cool album. Reminds me of sublime

Just Special

Yes.

Good music. Reggae, pop beat. Good songs.

Ska was never my thing. Reggae either. And unfortunately they still aren’t, folks.

what kind of british strangeness is this.

I find ska music to be a little jarring and annoying at times. This album definitely did initially trigger those feelings in me but it did grow on me. I think I would listen to some of these songs again, but not the entire album.

Brilliant. Dance hall, reggae, bouncy.

Classic. We were spoiled at the time.

Good

Fun little album from the origins of the second wave of ska that fused the sound with British punkiness. An album to party to, chill to, or fight against racism to. Quality bass, as expected.

What a fun album.

total shit

I'm not a fan of ska or reggae. So, I understand this may be a good album, but I find it kind of boring (at least musically).

Aika kaameaa roSKAa. Ei ole koskaan iskenyt.

Ska ei kyllä lähtenyt pätkääkään. Ymmärrän kai sinällään viehätyksen nopeasta pirtsakasta musiikista, mutta jotenkin lyriikat ja skitit ja musiikki ei kohdanneet tässä ollenkaan. Ei jatkoon

This is all good music, but ska isn't my scene

Classic two-tone ska album, already familiar with at least 7 songs. And the album version of Too Much Too Young is far superior! Best track (allowing previously known as already know so many) - A Message to You Rudy, Monkey Man, Dawning of a New Era, You're Wondering Now, Stupid Marriage, Too Much Too Young 4.5 stars (4) - their compilation album is really the 5 star album with all their best tracks

Ska punk is cool

Proper Ska bangers , full of energy, proper fun album this. Loads of great tunes that make you want to dance, but also songs that hit you with real stuff. Really enjoyed this.

Early ska reggae

muuuuy chill, no me encantó

Kind of a fun listen. Maybe the style wore thin after a while. Lots of good playing here overall but the vocals aren’t good at times. Definitely a very British thing going on here hence the inclusion on this list. Not sure if I would call this essential but it is a unique sound, although second generation. I’ll need more listens to get into this more but the style does deter me a bit.

Pretty fun ska revival album. I knew that the Specials played a big role in this revival and that "A Message to You Rudy" was a banger, didn't know much else going in however. It all sounds light-hearted and fun, but is pretty socially conscious, so there is some punk crossover in that sense. Perhaps a bit of its time as a result, but I don't think that got too in the way in terms of my overall listening experience.

I’m from Coventry don’t is the law that I like The Specials. And, whilst I hate reggae, ska is not reggae even if it has the same bouncy-back-beat rhythms, and there is some authenticity to this bunch of West Midlands boys doing West Indian influenced music that raises it above the likes of The Police. I don’t think it’s amazing, but it’s pretty good, and you can see why The Soecials left the indelible mark on the British music scene that they did.

Not bad. Reminded me of dexys midnight riders.

This album was an absolute party. Next time I hear it I want to hear it live with a beer in my hand.

This is a huge influence on one of my fave bands, Sublime. This didnt have the same magic for me but cool to see the genesis

Love me some classic ska and the Specials did it better than anyone else. This album, from start to finish, is consistent, diverse, and fun. Really is like a snapshot of Britain in late 70's and the racism and anti-immigrant culture that these guys railed against. They were an anomaly--a racially desegregated band that just wanted to have fun and kick against the pricks

Great snapshot of a time and place, keeping things loose and fun while dealing with heavy subjects. Long live ska. OG Jamaican stuff, two tone, even third wave american style. Usually great politics, always fun.

This album has such energy- throwing, punk and ska into the mix. It’s gobby and snotty, and some of it hasn’t aged well but the stuff about tolerance and respect is as vital now as it was 45 years ago. It makes you move and makes you think

Very good album. A 3,8

A breath of fresh air in socially dark times.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the English underground music scene was highly politicised within the burgeoning indie scene. Suddenly, there was music from working-class neighbourhoods for working-class people, with a trendy sound. Ska was danceable and lyrically driven (far more so than disco) and reflected the reality of life for young people in the urban jungle. The Police borrowed this ‘white reggae’ (Regatta de Blanc) from bands like The Specials, whilst Madness were set to make this new ska sound even more popular. When the album came out, I was too young to understand its significance. Back then, I saw The Specials as a slightly less fun version of Madness, though it was actually the other way round: The Specials were Madness’s bigger, more sensible older brother, musically more versatile and lyrically far more astute.

I didn’t mind this. There were a couple of tracks that got my foot tapping. Ska from this era is much more interesting than punk. I’d listen to more.

Most ska is usual heinous shite, but this is actually pretty decent 3.5*

I hated this album and had so many notes about it and it didn’t sacs them. :(

ну вери гуд, хоть и не до конца мое, но Do the dog я слушаю уже года четыре и очень понравилась Gangsters пока самое классное, что тут попадалось

I literally went ‘yay!’ out loud when I saw this was my album for the day. One of my favourites that I return to often. Just a brilliant record with hit after hit. Absolutely a must listen, no question.

This is a brillliant crossover album with a melting pot of ideas, creativity and tunes.

Ska ist witzig, wird aber auch sehr schnell langweilig. Nach etwa drei Liedern.

Speziell

Überraschend geil!

Someone was deeply obsessed by someone that rejected them lol.

Idk, I think there's a reason ska has always been a niche genre. It's like almost chill yet annoyingly upbeat at the same time. And not very interesting. About the only place I want to hear it is on a warm, breezy, sunny day sipping drinks on a patio with friends. But even then, I'd probably enjoy something else more. But that wouldn't be a bad vibe for the novelty.

Damn fine ska. Too Much Too Young and Rudy are immortal.

A good ska album. Not very memorable but it had some good jams

I liked this at the start, but started to dislike it more and more. Ska is fine for a song or two, and after that I'm really done with it.

Best Track - "A Message To You Rudy"

Reggae married punk and had a baby. That baby is ?ska?. Musically ok, if only they wouldn't sing. Two stars for horns; leass stars for the lead's voice.

One glance at the cover photo and I knew it would be ska. I can't get past the vocals. Gave up.

4.4

This is probably the oldest ska album I've ever listened to (the fact that it's "ska revival" kind of blows my mind)-- it has brass but not that skanking high energy vibe of 90s ska. Fun energy, 4*

Absolute banger of a album that holds so many memories of my youth five stars all day long

My second from The Specials in the last week after More Specials and this was vastly superior. The only problem is that for me it’s a very front loaded album. There are some great songs at the start but after Monkey Man it does tail off a bit until Too Much Too Young. Top Track - A Message To You Rudy

This debut album was a big hit at school in '79 and listening back I didn't realise some of the edge to it, but that was Thatcher's Britain, perhaps. I can't say I cared for the record at the time, being tribal about my music genre but this is certainly worth a listen and has some of the better ska/new wave mash ups from that era.

#relisten

4/5 great ska album w some classics

Great start with A Message to You Rudy. And....they've lost me with Do the Dog. The talking over the song is a strange choice. One good song and a bunch of terrible ones after that. The straight ska songs are their best songs. Too Hot is a welcome respite. Monkey Man was in a cruise ad I think, I do not like it. The chorus is annoying. Listening to these albums it does become clearer that nothing exists in a vacuum. I wonder if I would feel differently about some of these albums if I listened to them chronologically rather than randomly. This is Cake's favorite band. I'm ready for this to be over. There is a reason ska songs aren't six minutes long. The lyrics leave a great deal to be desired. Little Bitch straight up rips off the Rolling Stones' Brown Sugar.

Highlights: A Message to You Rudy, Nite Klub, Concrete Jungle, (Dawning of A) New Era, Stupid Marriage, Too Much Too Young Heard a bit of their stuff before and liked it. Came into it expecting a solid ska record, but not something that would blow my mind. Turned out I was right. Completely random Stones sample btw. What gives? Overall I liked it but I don't feel like the Specials are up to their name - I don't feel like revisiting the record any time soon. Gonna stick to Rudy and not much else.

I never thought I would like to hear an entire albm of Ska. Today's Bird: Chilean Skua

I'm really sorry folks, I just can't get into ska. It feels like white boy reggae, and I have a hard enough time enjoying regular reggae. It just doesn't do it for me. It's not the worst 40 minutes of music I've ever heard, but I could have done like 10 minutes of it and called it a day. 😔

Favorite Track: A Message to You Rudy

It's funny to see genres in their infancy because they aren't quite the same as they are now. Modern Ska is much more upbeat & somewhat faster. The reggae aspects are much more prevalent in the early days of Ska. Reggae is still there now but much more subdued. I like the early Ska. I like the political aspects in the lyrics. I loved Doesn't Make It Right. It had a good message. 3.