Reviews (page 6 of 10)
Fav tracks: nite klub, concrete jungle Not into ska too much these days. I can respect the creativity this album clearly possesses tho
Specials sounds like a teenage band
Grew on me as the album went on
me gustó, siento que no es nada memorable igual (por lo menos para mí). necesitaría escucharlo un par de veces más para engancharlo pero a la vez siento que sería un álbum que escucharía en momentos muy específicos tipo en verano en la pile de alguno de mis amigos. las melodías me gustaron y me hicieron acordar un poco a sumo (andá a saber)
long! it was good, i enjoyed most of this. some songs and the lyrics were a little bit ? but the album is almost 50 years old and i think it holds up quite well
Not my thing really. :/
I feel like if I knew more about music history, I could really appreciate this album. Mostly I found it kind of annoying.
overall 3, muito divertido mas ska com certeza nao eh pra mim
Ps el ska no es lo mío, pero este realmente me sorprendió jeje Aunque me agrado, la vdd es que ya quería que acabará jsjs
quisiera darle tres y media estrellas pero detesto a este sitio web que no permite dar medias estrellas y sin duda es más un tres que un cuatro pero sin duda sin duda ES TRES Y MEDIA
My first full length album experience with Ska and it was not too bad. I enjoyed a lot of the sounds on here and it made for good working music.
Not for me, but a worthy pitstop.
Upbeat fun 3.5/5
Fun
It has been a long time since I have heard any Ska music willingly that wasn't Operation Ivy, but I guess since I was assigned an album from The Specials I will be giving them a listen! As much as Ska can be a very fun genre full of youthful energy, it can also be a very laid back genre. To put it bluntly, Ska is a white man's Reggae, and if you can't accept that then I don't know what to tell you other than you are wrong. This project still isn't anything super special *pun intended* or extraordinary and you should really know what you are walking into when listening to this project. It isn't rocket science guys, it is just Ska music and not even that great of Ska music if you ask me. Just listen to Operation Ivy if you want some quality Ska not this shit, with the exception of A Message to You Rudy that song is a bop.
It was special
Enjoyed listening to this. Great energy in places and I’ve always liked Too Much Too Young and a Message to you Rudy.
I like the Specials, this album contains some great tracks, but also some weak ones. Nevertheless, the rhythm is great and you could dance to most! It's a 3.5 from me.
Ok
Some bangers
Thought I'd never heard of these guys, then realized of course I know "A Message To Rudy". I really like their style, it's like an offshoot of punk but mixed with an almost ska-like feel. Very cool!
Not my style, but I really enjoyed the first song and the rest of the album was better than expected.
I liked it more than I expected to. The musicians are very skilled and have great musical range. I feel like the quality of the individual songs is a bit hit or miss. I don’t think I could have guessed that this was made in the 70s, but according to Wikipedia, “ska revival” was popular in England around that time, so maybe I’m just uneducated. 3/5
Good vibes but gets old towards the end of the album
THE SPECIALS by THE SPECIALS (1979) If the album could be summarised into one it would be a fight between the style of the specials and that of elvis Presley's catalogue of early 70's. For me the album poses as a letdown with monotonous beats and peculiar style of reverberation. Although one things that is done extremely well is storytelling throught in songs like LITTLE BITCH , A MESSAGE TO YOU RUDY , and especially STUPID MARRIAGE. The album doens't surprise me when it ends and doesn't deliever a favourite with the only standout songs being YOU'RE WONDERING NOW , LITTLE BITCH , MONKEY MAN , NEW ERA and STUPID MARRIAGE
the specials are a great band and this album was also a good listen.
Some classics, but I found the experience of listening to the whole thing sorta grating. The Clash really outdo them overall IMO.
The good songs on this album really are great. Gangsters, Too Much Too Young etc etc. But that’s kinda it for me, I think Ska is a genre that had a place in my younger heart, feels a bit lost on me now. That being said Terry Hall is a real MVP. 3.6/5.0 Best Song: Gangsters
Very fun album. It's definitely Reggae, but it also surprised me every step of the way. I pretty comfortably enjoyed this even more than Bob Marley, which surprised me. I was under the incorrect assumption that every Reggae song kind of had to sound the same, exactly like Bob Marley, but this album proved me wrong. It's very catchy, and there are enough differences between the songs to keep it fresh. Some of the songs have little stretches of Rock which are quite enjoyable, a continuing trend with these Reggae albums that have been pleasant little surprises and further keep the albums interesting. That being said, I would not always want to listen to this, and there's definitely a lot of filler as well. Right out of the gate you've got a catchy banger with the classic "A Message to You Rudy", and the album is interspersed with some really good, catchy songs, my favorite for personal reasons being "Monkey Man". For being a very unique and catchy, but far from perfect album, this one is going to get a high 3. Probably around a 3.75/5. I actually recognized a lot of these songs, which is something that genuinely surprised me as well, so that was pretty neat and unexpected as well. What a super fun band. Would return to these guys for sure.
Not my genre at all but i can see the appeal. a fun album
I like these songs in isolation but find that as an album it lacks a bit of variety and because of this it disappears int the back ground a little bit.
My disclaimer is that ska isn’t generally my thing. The specials seem to be one of the better in their genre but I think the ceiling of it is quite low. ‘A Message to you Rudy’ does seem to stand out head and shoulders over the rest, and, other than ‘monkey man’ (itself I think is a cover of the original by toots and the maytals) most of this I found forgettable. By the end I was practically begging for anything other than a syncopated staccato guitar, which I know is a hallmark of the genre but gets tired quickly. Some of the guitar work reminded me of ‘television’ and so the solos weren’t bad, nor was the brass section but not quite enough to pull this score upwards.
Bumping from a 2 to a 3 just bc of A Message To You Rudy
Rudy, too hot, up to you, and monkey man are all absolute bops, super enjoyable ska album overall, kind of a standard in my mind. 3.5 rounded down bc I feel like ska requires a pretty specific state of mind.
"A Message to You Rudy" is such a great song, found out about it from a Sublime recording years ago. Funny to find that they re-wrote it for the same album and called it "Too Hot", that must have been intentional? The album itself is pretty cool, a nice blend of different styles and sort of ska/punk thing that never feels forced. You can hear some of the Elvis Costello influence in the production for sure, especially on "It's Up To You" (which coincidentally sounds a lot like "Watching the Detectives"). Some songs are better than others, its a tad long, but I like it. 3.5 with a round down
This was all new to me though I think I was familiar with a track or two. Got me amped while completing a 1,000 piece Star Wars puzzle. Fun listen.
Perfectly decent, reliable, standard-bearer ska. It’s not my genre but these guys do it well and with a ton of attitude, but definitely not overcooked. It’s kind of a miracle that in 70’s England you could get a sound this well put together and this political without it being completely buried. But the horn section probably helps. Not one I have to hear all the time but fun nonetheless.
The blueprint for the coming Spa revolution.
I've never been into ska but this album took me by surprise. I can also hear where Blur took a lot of their early inspiration.
Fun album
En lille 3'er. Mest reggaerytmisk.
Main, I love some ska, but The Specials couldn't hold my attention the whole thing true. The opening track was phenomenal, but quickly thereafter the quality was lost.
Fun album. Just not a lot of variety.
feels experimental but a bit dated
Not my normal tunes, but a couple of blasts from the past
3.5/5
I understand this band's importance in ska and influence on later 90s bands that I really do like (Reel Big Fish, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, etc etc) but man I really could not stand the vocals.
I have always felt Some Type of Way about Ska music and its place in the punk sphere. I get why it's popular, and I definitely think it's fun and has a good groove to it. but like. Jello didn't write any songs about breaking up with a girl or genuinely wanting to get laid... the only songs he wrote about a guy getting it up were from a mocking perspective. he was too busy yelling about Reagan and throwing bricks at cops, ya know?
Loads of this was fun, with important things to say. The bass was great. But a fair bit was a bit disjointed. I've never quite loved the Specials' music as much as other ska bands (and I don't love ska that much anyway) but they're a important band and it's a good album. I'd probably like it more on repeated listens. But I'm probably not going to do that. High 3.
Ka ska man si? Gubbeska, en fin variasjon fra gubberock.
Peaked at the start with englands greatest anthem. Not bad just had its time this
Some bangers. Some preaching. Death is not the end
Pretty good but not that special, *knee slap*
Well, it was kinda fun to learn that ska existed in the 70's. It was less fun to make it all the way through this album. I didn't dislike it...but I was definitely ready for it to end. 2.7
fascinating album given its timeframe. i feel like you could draw a direct line from this to sublime, seems like it’s very influential
Spannender Sound. Ist mir manchmal ein bisschen eintönig aber hat trotzdem Spaß gemacht.
1979 England isn’t usually what I think of with ska so interesting in that sense
Nothing special here lol but it was an ok album
The Specials is an album bursting with energy, attitude, and sharp social awareness, all wrapped in that unmistakable ska bounce. It has a raw, live-wire feel that makes the whole thing crackle from track to track, and the band’s mix of punk urgency with ska rhythms still sounds refreshing. The horns punch through the mix, the guitars chop along with precision, and Terry Hall’s vocals add just the right amount of deadpan bite. Tracks like “A Message to You, Rudy” and “Too Much Too Young” are obvious highlights, capturing the album’s blend of catchy hooks and pointed commentary. There is a real sense of place to the record, a snapshot of late 70s Britain that feels lively and tense at the same time. Even the more chaotic moments feel intentional, like a band fully aware of what they want to say and how they want to move people. That said, the consistency can waver. Some tracks slip into filler territory or blur together, and the stylistic repetition means the back half doesn’t hit quite as hard as the front. But even when it dips, the attitude and charisma carry it. The Specials remains a solid, culturally important debut with plenty of charm, even if it does not land every punch.
Fed punk-agtig energi på en overhovedet-ikke-punk plade.
Such a vibe. Definitely will re listen.
According to the YouTube comments for "Gangsters" (the first track on this Deluxe version here on YouTube), this album and band is strictly Ska, which I generally have little knowledge of, but not enough previous experience to name another grou[. From the outset, it seemingly blends Jazz with Reggae. "A message to Rudy" is a classic track, heard many times of my life. It has a real comfortable and pure vibe, with the lyrics delivering a positive message to younger generations. "Do the Dog" has a punk feel to it, in it's playfully aggressive delivery and overall political tone. Speaking on this note, a strong political vein running through The Specials' music was the only real thing I knew about them before listening to this album. "Concrete Jungle" was the first track on this whole musical journey on the website that didn't hit my ear right on the first play, though the Chorus is a lot of fun. Still, the song's social commentary doesn't come off heavy-handed. "Too Hot" has a more relaxed, almost UB40, sort of vibe to it which is a big change against the rest of the tracks. Interesting to learn that "Monkey Man" is a cover track from Toots & The Maytals, who are themselves a Ska band from the '60s. "Too much too young" is one of those songs that burned itself upon the zeitgeist of 70s/80s and is recognised by everyone and for good reason. Overall, this album feels like a bit more of an acquired taste, but that may be because it feels distinctly as a product of it's time; I was a child of the 90s, but my Dad identified as a Mod growing up, so this album is not entirely misunderstood by me.
Didn't hate. Didn't love.
Some good moments but overall not my favorite
It was alright I guess
I guess it’s an important release in the revival of ska in its time but didn’t float my boat then and still doesn’t really. Curiously, it actually feels much slower than I remember it being at the time.
Eerste nummer leuk, daarna beetje zenuwachtig
80's boyband with a mix of New Order, The Cure, New Kids On The Block, and Beastie Boys. This, combined with a spin of reggae, new wave, and funk rap.
Didn’t hit me
Nice sound, but lyrics weren't great
The first song i.e. the big hit was pretty fun and different, overall as the rest of the album went on there was a certain cleanliness to it, a sort of aftertaste making me wish for more grit. It has that sound that makes it *feel* like it's a more forgettable album, but it was fun and varied enough to make a counterargument for that
7 / 10
6/10 Favourite: Nite Klub Least Favourite: Stupid Marriage
I liked the second album more...
fun little intro to the Brit-Ska scene.
This ended up winning me over since I wasn’t initially receptive to the reggae/ska vibe. Still not something I expect I’ll seek out but good for what it’s worth
I enjoyed the political messaging, but I find ska incredibly irritating. 3 stars bc I’m feeling generous
This is #day466 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… I've always liked this record cover. For some reason, I'd never actually listened to it before, even though I've always been aware of it. As much as I want to like this music, it’s just not happening. I get that it's influential and all that jazz, but... I don't know. What I did like is the way it's recorded: every instrument is so prominent and crisp, genuinely fun to listen to. Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day467.
fun old school ska album.
Much more my speed
Great album from the godfathers of Two Tone - a couple of iconic tracks, Message to you Rudy and Too Much to Young. Ghost Town, later that year was their very best though.
Yeah, I liked this!
Pickituppickituppickitup
BIG BIG MONKEY MAN
Gear: 64 Audio Duo Artwork: ▀▄▀▄▀▄ Production (2015 Remaster): 🎧👂🧈 Music: 🎺🤝🕶️ Ratinng: 🏁🏁🏁/5
I find that I like ska in small doses. I was definitely ready for this one to end about 2/3 of the way through. Shout out to A message to you Rudy (Sublime sampled), Do the Dog, and Concrete Jungle.
Kinda interesting.
combines this rock and this jazzy feel which i like. didnt realise the amy winehouse song is not actually by her but from the specials. cool but nothing very special
Funky! British… reggae? I liked it
nice sound enjoyed
Great a bit repetitive, beachy and fun
This album is nice. However, even though it's good, some songs are a bit bland and repetitive, and it's nothing impressive, to be honest. So, I liked it, but I can't say much more than that about this album, except that it's pretty enjoyable.
Chelsea
Really fun album, but one listen through was enough. You need to be in the right mindset for ska. 3.25/5
British ska, new wave, and reggae inspired all rolled into one. "Ghost Town", which does not appear on this album is maybe th le most well known, thanks in part to one my favorite movies, Shaun of The Dead. This album is okay, glad to know it. Probably won't listen to it again.
3 1/2 stars. A very fun upbeat album.
I liked a lot of this. Makes me want a hot day and a cold beer. But some was pretty slow. And theres a lot of covers and reworked stuff on here. Can appreciate its place in history. Also you can feel Costellos touch all over it.
Was ok, nothing stood out particularly
Somewhat special
Not as much a fan of this as More Specials, which we got a while ago - this one's a lot more rooted in more straightforward rocksteady/reggae stuff, and doesn't do much interesting with it. It's still an enjoyable listen though!
later
+⭐ for preemptive Death in Paradise cover 🌊 🌊 🌞 🌊 🌊 ⛵🏝️ 🌊 ⛵ 🌊 🌊 🌊
(65/100)
Ehh. I've never listened to much ska and albums like this are making me realize it's probably just not my thing. Good vibes in the music and it's certainly not bad but I don't think I'll be regularly returning to this one. 3.5 stars.
I hope there’s more ska on this list. I like ska but this album is not one of my favorites. For one, I’ve never been a fan of chanted group vocals which this album has on most songs. And the main singers voice wasn’t great to me. Musically I enjoyed it but the vocals turned me off.
this was fun, not my fav but it did rock. bonus points for the fedoras
Not all that into reggae and adjacent genres though it had its moments, I really liked the Concrete Jungle track
27/10/2025 Nothing too special about The Specials. Spotify listeners: 2.2 million
Enjoyed it much more than I expected. Going back to the source of all of the Ska tropes in this album, but it feels fresh and authentic. Might listen again.
Entretenido. Pura cultura musical y ejemplo de Ska de libro. A message to you, Rudy y Concrete jungle, las dejo guardadas.
Fun album. A lot of the songs sounded the same, so can't say what stood out. Maybe Monkey Man and Little Bitch. Easy album to get through. 3.5/5
Some of these songs are pretty good, but I just can't listen to this much Ska at once.
2.7 1x interesting to see early ska
Huh, I guess I like Ska. Interesting lyrics, and typical horn rhythem
Kinda fun, but I won’t listen again. I don’t think I listen to ska… ever? So it’s interesting to hear some of that. Sounded like boardwalk carnival music. Why, I don’t know. But that’s a fun vibe, and for that I didn’t hate it.
not bad
Good fun although not something I would listen to normally
Loving third wave ska for a long time it was very over due for me to hear. Love being able to pinpoint where bands I love got thier sound started.
5.43
2.78
I'm not sure what was going on with the UK and its sudden and brief appropriation of ska in the late 70s and early 80s - but this is probably the poster child album from that period. It's fun and you can certainly imagine this would be an incredibly engaging live act. That said, I prefer my ska as icing to the cake (as in Madness or The Police) rather than as the cake itself.
Yeah idk this stuff is weird but they have talent
This is just fine. I would prefer Bob Marley or even The Mighty Mighty Bosstones...but this is just fine!
Ska Revival - this is my first ska revival album and it was interesting. I definitely wasn't sure if it was ska or just reggae at first. I like how the songs were catchy but also tackled interesting subject matter.
Zwei Songs haben es in die Playlist geschafft
'Produced by Elvis Costello' - goddamnit, this man will not go away on this list... To be fair, this is some of the best ska music I've heard; the reggae influences are unmistakable. That said, I've never loved ska, no matter how technically 'good' it is, so I don't see myself revisiting this album in its entirety anytime soon
SKA! Why have I never heard of this band before??? Fun album.
Реггей, ска, панк. Как-то довольно гладко показалось и особенно не зацепило.
I did buy this one on vinyl back in its day. Had not heard it in many years. Entertaining still, yes. Yet, only a few songs actually stand out as classics. Can’t say that I would listen to it very often.
Enjoyable listen with fun lyrics and some catchy songs, though vocals don't always do the songs justice.
Concrete jungle and Little Bitch (minus the misogyny) are my shit. Great vibes, love the ska rhythms, and for the life of me I can't remember a single melody or lyric having just listened to the entire album. Actually that's not entirely true, as the little bitch riff was lifted straight from brown sugar.
easy und catchy - wie konnte das komplett an mir vorbei gehen?
3/5. I can definitely appreciate the punk and ska flavors mixed with the rock and reggae energy. It's also not surprising to know Costello is involved here, just replace the singer with Elvis and it would come from one of his records. The better songs though are the ones that have the whole group singing together, creates an energy usually only found in live recordings, similar to how Louis Prima was able to create a certain energy in the studio. This album is actually pretty good but I just don't think it is for me overall. Like the Clash, I will need to be in a specific mood and the mood is "rite innit bruv" vocals. Best Song: Too Much Too Young (the live version), Do the Dog, Concrete Jungle
Odd blend of genres but found it fun if very weird. Probably a 3 star
Ok, I can get behind a little early ska. It’s fun and somewhat original.
High school me would have loved this (and in fact did love their song “Ghost Town” which isn’t on this album) but now feels dated
Scooby doo haunted house ass music
it was fine
I don't think I would have guessed there would be a ska album on this list, so this was a fun surprise. I like ska, and it's fun for a little while, but I definitely can't imagine this being a staple of my music diet. Fun, but probably not adding this into my regular rotation. Still, I'll enjoy it every time it comes on ⭐⭐⭐
it's okay
Correct mais quand même un peu pénible.
I like this one, even if I got ska'd out in the late 90s. It's fun to hear I've of the early groups in the genre, with a little punk mixed around in there. Good tracks, fun vocals, enjoyable.
I like to pick it up, pick it up, pick it up as much as the next guy, but I'm very selective when it comes to ska. My favorite parts of the album were the more punk focused songs. For this reason, Night Klub and Concrete Jungle were some highlights for me. The more reggae focused songs didn't really resonate with me. Stupid Marriage plays out a bizarre and chaotic court scene, like something out of an Adult Swim cartoon. It's the type of storytelling that would stick around in the genre with bands like Sublime. Overall, a fun listen. I might not come back to it in full, but there are some songs I'd put in my regular rotation. Side note: I once went to a music festival with The Specials on the lineup. They used A Message To You Rudy in pretty much all of their marketing material. For like a month I heard that song way too many times and it drove me crazy. So hearing it again gave blme PTSD flashbacks. 3.5 stars
This is a very Clash/Squeeze-esque turn of the 1970s album. It's got a lot of hooks, bass beats, and high register singing. Songs kinda run together for me but this is a solid album. Top tracks: "A Message to You Rudy," "Little Bitch," "Concrete Jungle"
This was a super fun listen. Great run thru some early and origin story ska. Many are saying. Solid ass 3.
--Gangsters...I'm grooving to it --A Message to You Rudy...nice --Do the Dog...but not the donkey! --It's Up to You...like that bass --Nite Klub...oh, this fux --Doesn't Make It Alright...meh --Concrete Jungle...great bass, great guitar, great beat --Too Hot...not for me --Monkey Man...fun --(Dawning of a) New Era...more good bass --Blank Expression...meh --Stupid Marriage...stop yelling at me --Too Much Too Young...it's fine. album feels long at this point --Little Bitch...okay this one kicks. woke me up --You're Wondering Now...I guess this is the end
The kind of album I had never listened in full, but had already heard half the tracks somewhere without knowing the band’s name. It was nice to finally listen to the original opus. I’m not big on ska and reggae (mainly due to the inherently repetitive nature of the genre), but this album is indeed full of classic anthems. Loved the youthful energy and the 60s retro vibe, which creates a weird mix of nostalgia and teenage rebellion. A solid 3* for effort and originality.
The specials have a special music, a nice cocktail of reggae, rock, folk… which was a good mix. I’ve heard bad mix but that one was quite good but I’m not sure to listen again that album. I will stick to 3 stars for that reason
7,2/10
I didn’t realize how far ska went back. It was fun.
man that was repetitive
First or second wave ska? Where’s Ghost Town?
Love the obvious ones. As an album it gets a bit tired
Not my typical style of music, but fun enough. One listen through and don’t really need any more.
Not exciting, but lively and enjoyable.
2015 remaster sounds muddy
Probably not the genre for me. I dont think its controversial to say that ska can be fairly monotonous . There are certainly good tracks on the album but they are interspersed with too much of the same stuff to keep me properly interested, just constant off beat guitar chops and brass stabs. The bass does a lot of heavy lifting. I enjoy the dichotomy between the dark, heavy, socially conscious lyrics and the upbeat, bouncy music. But a full album is just too much of it for me. Everything in moderation i suppose. I feel like if they just dropped the 2 tone for a few choruses it would be a total game changer. Favourite track - A Message to You Rudy. 7/10
Wow. Track 1 and it is going towards a five. That’s great stuff. What an amazing discovery. Goes down to a 4, the flow is a bit off. Don’t know how else to put it. Too good for a 3, not good enough for a 5. Has great potential, but it doesn’t seem coherent. Falls to a 3 towards the end
I like ska. This album is an important part of the genre’s history. There are some really good songs, including a couple 2nd wave greats. The album does lose steam here and there. Overall it’s pretty good, just not great. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again
This was much better than I expected, however as with all Reggae, you do get many tunes that feel very similar to each other.
ba ba-ba ba-ba baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
It's Ska ya slag
1 banger = A message to you Rudy
Meh, SKA … & “light SKA”at that.
I've heard of this band before but don't think I've ever listened to them. it's fine reggae and clearly on influence on modern ska music and Subline. It didn't change my life though and I won't be revisiting this album.
Sure, why not?
Favourite song: "A Message to You Rudy"
5/10 some nice songs I guess
Late 70s SKA!
Un gruppo di amici che si divertono. Ci sta. Allegro simpatico funny ma i brani sono tutti un po’ troppo simili, un po’ too mich
mi è piaciuto dai, ho vibato
allora si solito lo ska non mi piace ma questo album mi ha gasato abbastanza 3 ma che tende al 3.5, lo riascolterei canzone preferita I can’t stand it
I think I listened to this one before. This is pretty fun ska.
I was not at all familiar with ska. I dont love it but i dont hate it either. I like Nite Klub's intro with the background chatter as if its a performance in some venue. Rest of the song, i am indifferent to. I dont usually love similar things but i feel like it works with this genre. I like imagining hearing them live in a regular night out. Generally, the songs are nice. Some of them, i wouldnt mind hearing somewhere, maybe in a bar or cafe. But never would i pull this up to listen to it myself.
Some cool beats but does feel somewhat repetitive and the humorous nature of the lyrics is not always for me. Props to "Too Much Too Young" though. I wouldn't turn it off if it came on but I wouldn't suggest to put it on kinda thing.
Is this the original ska band?? It sure sounds like it, and I don't mind it.
nawt my thing
Looks like ska, is ska. Late 70s UK. Reggae and rock. Will always sound like circus music to me. Chill and fun.
Chill
It was certainly an interesting listen, and caught me off guard. I genuinely think that it could be better after listening to it a few times, but for a first go around, it gets a 3. If I could give a 3.5, I would as thats a more accurate reflection of the record.
Can't quite seem to decide what genre it should be, is it new age? Is it blues?
I'm not a big fan of Reggae, just feels like the on ramp to punk but then gets meandry. That said a lot of this worked for me, and it's interesting to hear how those two genres overlapped in unexpected ways.
This is a great album. So different from anything in that time. And of course the legendary "Message for Rudy"
This was fun, but it got kinda old pretty quick. All the songs sorta sound the same.
very uh..... ska...
Not the type of music I would usually listen to but it was nice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IYQznBD8oI&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD I thought this was pretty good but my appreciation for Ska was low. Several times in different songs I was waiting for someone to tell me about a guy with a black coat, white shoes, black hat, Cadillac, yea.
Fun...
As far as ska goes, it was good. The problem is that ska doesn't go very far with me.
I guess it's good if you're really into ska. I'm not. It was okay enough and some of the music was interesting but didn't really rock my world.
Before this, I had not listened to much ska music. I am not a very big fan of it. It feels a bit too repetitive for me and not interesting enough for my ears, but I think if in the right mood I could listen to it. I don't care too much for the vocals. It is not my thing, really. I enjoy the more punky tracks such as 'Do the Dog' with more involved drums and bass, but other than that, I am not very interested in this album. I would give it a 2.5-3/5. Overall, I am more a fan of ska-punk rather than just regular ska. I love the basslines and upbeat feel, but the repetitive nature drops it down a bit for me. My favourite songs: Do The Dog Nite Klub
Slightly out of the ordinary genre-wise on here - late 70s punk ska. I found it enjoyable enough. I don't hold the sins of third-wave ska against them.
Generally I'm not a huge fan of ska (unless it's ska punk like Streetlight Manifesto, only ska band where I like whole albums). Thought I was gonna get a treat with this one leading off with Gangsters, with its very gothic ska, Scooby-Doo ass vibe. Unfortunately the rest of the record is just regular-old ska. Maybe some other stuff thrown in like a little ska punk here and there. Not that it's bad, but it's not something that wows me either. So yeah. Gangsters is easily the best track on the record with the rest being decent ska. I will say as a side note, being produced by Elvis Costello tracks. I'd be curious to see the listing of how many albums artists appeared on in any capacity on the list. If so, throw another Costello album on due to this, lol. Bowie's definitely much higher with guest spots and production spots probably all over the list.
I quite enjoy 2 Tone, though I admit most of my exposure to it is through listening to Madness. Still, I'd heard of The Specials and know a couple of their songs, some of which are on this album. Overall, the hit songs are really strong, but the rest of the album doesn't quite meet the same level of quality.
Fun
Surprisingly fun Ska music
This was a hard album to rate. There are so many great hooks, but the songs are always feel like a let down in comparison.
Ska is leuk voor een paar liedjes maar op een gegeven moment was ik er wel klaar mee
I really liked the vibe of this (:
I hate ska, but this is tolerable
Me aburrió un poco pero la última canción de Now you know this is the end. me gustó. Por eso le doy un 3.
The Specials – The Specials (1979) | Ska / 2 Tone | Avg: 5.77 | Favorite Song: “A Message to You Rudy”* The Specials kicks off with a bang, and “A Message to You Rudy” clearly sets the bar high with its infectious horns and laid-back ska groove. However, it seems like the energy and charm of the opener isn’t quite sustained throughout the record. Several tracks fall into the 5 range, and a few even dip into the 3s, which suggests the album’s blend of ska, punk, and political commentary felt more uneven than explosive. There’s no denying the band’s influence or the importance of their sound in the late ’70s UK scene, but based on your scores, the album might come across as a bit repetitive or thin in spots. The raw performances and stripped-down production give it a certain immediacy, but that same roughness may have made it hard to stay engaged all the way through. It’s a record that kicks off with promise but doesn’t fully cash in on its momentum.
I really loved the specials when I was a teenager. As my music tastes have matured I am curious to see how I feel about this one. It feels very silly.
Not sure if I liked this album. The songs were good individually, but together, it kind of dragged on a bit. Just too much for me.
Not into Ska, but this was fun at times and not as bad as I expected. 2,5-ish I guess. Some lyrics especially in the second half uncomfortably misogynist.
Great introduction to ska as a genre and has such an iconic song as well. It wasn’t my favorite listen so far but still stood out on its own.
Lot of a Jamaican sounding music. Some of them were okay.
First impression pre listen: Another band I haven't heard of. Learning that it's ska has me a bit worried, as it's a genre for a very specific mood. This could be obnoxious. I know next to nothing about ska however, so it will at least be a fresh experience if anything. Shouldn't be boring in any case. Individual track notes: A Message to You Rudy Starting off with by far their most popular song. Could be a sign that this album is a bit frontloaded, or it could mean nothing. Has a good atmosphere to it. Janky, carefree and fun with some decent storytelling through admitably simple lyrics. Decent. 3.5/5 Do the Dog Punk inspired vocals and lyrics. A bit obnoxious. Don't love the additional vocals on thr chorus. Decently cool instrumentation. I like the bass a lot. Decent. 3.5/5 It's up to You Audio quality is a bit rough. Very political. Great bass. I like the variety on the vocalists a lot. The second vocalist has the perfect energy and charisma for this sound. Decent. 3.5/5 Nite Klub Catchy and fun with good energy. I like the classic rock n roll guitar and the fat bass. Very British. Charming track. Decent. 3.5/5 Doesn't Make it Alright Decent lyrics. Good vibes. Relevant message. Decent. 3.5/5 Concrete Jungle A bit much. The verse melody is kinda annoying. Fine chorus. Fun guitar. Stops being interesting by the final verse. Fine. 3/5 Too Hot Slow and drowzy. Fits with the theme, but does veer a bit into boring territory. Don't love the way they've chosen to stylize the vocals. Average. 2.5/5 Monkey Man I like the erratic vocals. Varied and fun. Good energy. Fine. 3/5 (Dawning of A) New Era The rock and roll themes are fun. Fun chorus. Good bassline. Decent. 3.5/5 Blank Expression Got nothing to say. Average. 2.5/5 Stupid Marriage Kinda fun, but really dumb. The court concept is decently implemented. Fine. 3/5 Too Much Too Young Obnoxious and busy. Kinda boring. Repeats itself too much and lasts too long. The drowsy tempo doesn't help. Dislike. 2/5 Little Bitch Decent energy. Fun instrumental. Cool solos. Shit lyrics. Fine. 3/5 You're Wondering Now Kinda cute. Works well as a closer, even if its a bit on the nose. Fine. 3/5 Final review: As fun this was when it started it got really obnoxious after a while. I felt worn out when it finished. This is something that seems to come with the genre I suppose as previous ska albums have had me feeling the same way. What sets this apart however is that it never feels repetitive. The songs have distinct ideas, and are easily discernable from one another. I really like how they flirt with other genres, bringing in punk rock vocals, jazzy transitions and rockabilly guitars. I also really like some of the basslines. There's themes of revolution, standing up for oneself and anti-racism, which fits well against the punk backdrop you'll find throughout the record. It's fast paced, fun, and full of suprises. However it requires a very specific energy to not be exhausting. Even so, its quality shines through even when you're tired of it, so that's that. 3/5
Ska has never really been my thing, but I do have to admit that my experience with ska is pretty much limited to the sort of ska/punk from the mid to late 90s. I appreciate the Jamaican rhythms and percussion and the sort of harder edge (I guess that's what you'd call it?) that 2 tone has. And from my little experience with this kind of music, this album seems to fall right in line with that. I don't particularly like the vocals on this album but there are things I do enjoy - some good guitars, great bass, great percussion. But it got a little wearing. I was ready to move on before it was over. 2.5/5 and will round up.
would give 3.5 but not possible 😞🙏 it was a really nice listening during breakfast and solid album in general
For some reason I always assumed ska was more of a 90s thing. A couple fine songs on here but not quite my style.
Good enough not particularly good. Not particularly bad.
They have a fun sound and style.
Cool but not huge on ska
Hmmm.. this album was cool at first and then it kinda felt same same after a while. I enjoyed the upbeat energy, and there are songs I’d come back to. But I don’t find it a very diverse album and listening to it all at once wouldn’t be my first choice.
This was decent. I liked most of it but overall felt bored. Very listenable on all accounts.
It grew on me as it went on.
Some decent ska, some pointed messages, some good hits, I just kinda wanted it to be over though
Its hard to catch up with acts like this decades after their debut was released. I see its uniqueness, but I can't admit to like it much, as it sounds dated. And even the fact Elvis Costello produced it (whom I like), doesn't change that.
Fine, meh UK ska
Very special 3.5/5
It was okay, but nothing to get excited about, and hence a three star rating from me. The last few songs and the start were probably my high points, with it getting a bit muddled at the halfway spot.
Started off decent but soon got repetitive! It's also driving me crazy that I've heard A Message To You, Rudy on a tv show recently and I can't place what. Banger song though 3 ⭐️
3 stars
I like ska. This was fun but gave me more punk vibes than anything. His voice was VERY "The Ramones." I liked it. When they had a great song, wow did it go hard. When it wasn't a great idea, ehhhh. Solid 3. I can hear how some of my favorite Ska bands came from this. Liked Songs: "A Message to You Rudy" , "Do the Dog" , "Nite Klub" , "Concrete Jungle" , "(Dawning Of A) New Era" , "Little Bitch"
surprisingly got into it around song 4 (Nite Klub) don't really know or like ska but it was decent I don't know if i'd listen to it again though
mmm its alright. enjoyable in the moment but not super memorable - high 3
My non-musician scoring system. 5 - Love it. Would play anytime, buy, see live… 4 - Good music. 3 - Average playlist. Depends on time and setting. 2 - I can’t listen to whole songs. 1 - No.
Fun light hearted ska
Ska, New Wave, 1979 -> 3
in terms of more subdued, relaxing ska, i prefer the first wave Jamaican stuff. in terms of fast paced, hyperactive ska, i like the third wave punk stuff. but there's absolutely something special about this moment in British music history. a multiracial middle finger to thatcher. deserves to be one of the 1001? as arguably the definitive 2nd wave ska album i would say Yes, Absolutely
Ska is great when done right. When it’s not, it’s just annoying. This is done right.
Super fun. Great stuff
I know I said I hate reggae and I still mostly do but props cuz there were some absolute bangers on this. Forgot about concrete jungle! A top 100 of the 70s classic.
Fun. Ska isn’t really my thing, but this is a good ska record.
Was this a fun, summery album that I enjoyed listening to? Yes. Was my favourite song just a straight-up Toots & the Maytals cover? Also yes.
A cool discovery, pretty fun to listen to. Ska is new to me, and doesn’t grab me as a favorite new genre. But still, a cool enough summertime listen.
Loved the prominent basslines & the horns
Went in blind, sorta dug the polka/ska vibe to start which then quickly devolved into sorta hearing the same song on repeat? Is this wedding music?
6/10 SKA...SKA...as far as the eye can see. I did skank. 6-23-2025
I like the vibes, a very relaxing listening Fav song - Concrete Jungle 3/5
3,5/5 Apart from the one or two bangers, what I found especially interesting was how fun it seems like this band had, both playing and writing this album. A mix of brit-rock and reggae that works surprisingly well, combined with what I wrote above results in the biggest draw for me, which is interesting music. Probably not an album I will be listening to a bunch of times, but at least something that enriched my life by having listened to it once.
More fun than I thought it would be. Fell off a bit near the end.
6/10 Highlights: A Message to you Rudy Concrete Jungle Stupid Marriage
Turns out I’m not massive fan of ska, but fair play for ending racism in Britain. Also TIL that the Dandy Warhols stole the riff in Bohemian Like You from Little Bitch by the Specials
Couple of good ones, rest is alright.
This was okay. I liked "Monkey Man" and the "Message to you Rudy". However, I wasn't expecting them to call someone a slag.
They're just fun aren't they. High 3
Good ska! Some classic songs
Nice album
3.
3,5/5
Ska that is reminiscent of similar sounds from the 90s.
I don’t care to listen to this type of music, but this was a nice album
Really well done ska; I can see this potentially being a huge influence on certain bands and genres after the fact. I heard Rudy before and liked it but the entire album is very solid and well written. Probably not something I'd return to in my personal time vibe wise. 3.5/5
I ended up liking it more than I thought I would after the first couple of songs. Some great bass lines. I like ska, but really know nothing about it's history so I was surprised to hear a 70's British ska-revival band. Enjoyable listen.
Ska matters!
6/10 alright
Solid kind of genre bending (post-punk?) album, every other song is good really
Okay
Listening to this album, you can feel the creation of the second wave. I really like the blend of Jamaican covers and original material and knowing that Elvis Costello produced it is a big plus.
Rating: 5.5/10 I liked it...barely. Decent ska album that all starts to sounds the same after a while.
Easy listening, some good songs. Nothing overly familiar. Listened to on my PC enjoying Coopers Stout
New Ska beat to this and some good tracks got the bounce and swig to it. I dont mind it but now 100% my thing
Almost makes me like ska...
Gangsters : ★★★☆☆ A message to you rudy : ★★☆☆☆ Do the dog : ★★★☆☆ It's up to you : ★★★☆☆ Nite klub : ★★★☆☆ Doesn't make it alright : ★★★☆☆ Concrete jungle : ★★★★☆ Too hot : ★★★☆☆ Monkey man : ★★★☆☆ (Dawning of a) new era : ★★★☆☆ Blank expression : ★★☆☆☆ Stupid marriage : ★☆☆☆☆ Too much too young : ★★★★☆ Little bitch : ★★★★☆ You're wondering now : ★★★★☆ Overall : ★★★☆☆
Well, as it turns out, a second go at things does not always make you fall in love with something you didn't originally care for. Case in point, the Specials! I listened to their second album, More Specials, in my very first month of the album project, that being October 2023. In the 19 months it's been since then, I've listened to a ton of albums and my taste in music has changed considerably. I've even enjoyed a number of ska-adjacent albums in this time! It's a small number, but it's a number. However, I think this band just isn't really my thing. Don't get me wrong. I have respect for the Specials. Anyone who shows as much disdain for the National Front as much as they do on this album earns my respect automatically. Combine that with the influence that this band has had on the evolution of ska over time and you have a band that I would say deserves an album on here. AN album. They don't need two. Of the two on the list, I would keep this one. The writing on this album has some good points to it... sometimes. There are some songs near the end of the album that I find to be a tad misogynistic for my taste. Still, the political themes early on do appeal to me. The style is alright as well. What can I say? I like brass instruments. I would never play one myself, but I like hearing them. I'm not huge on the singing, but that's just me. It's a minor footnote, all things considered. Finally, my last complaint is that this album does feel pretty long. It's only 45 minutes, but I feel like an album of this nature doesn't really need to last that long. Cut the misogynistic songs at the end and you've got a better album. As it is now, I think I'll give The Specials (the album) a 3/5.
The sine qua non of ska. Very catchy, annoyingly so.
Solid ska album.
I like the vibe of this album but it's too samesy for me. I'm not into ska enough to fully appreciate this album and I feel like it's lacking some of the fun, quirky creativity that their other album had. Do the Dog is playlist worthy and has kind of a 50's rock sound. The ones that have more of a reggae vibe to them are cool but not as good as authentic reggae. Stupid Marriage is pretty quirky but also kind of creepy & cynical. It doesn't really express the emotional rage that someone who is smashing up his ex-girlfriend's window would have. Too Much Too Young... even more ridiculous. Is he shaming her for having a baby? What a dick. Little Bitch... is that a Rolling Stones riff they stuck in a ska song? kay then. I think this an album I would actually like less the more that I listen to it. So we'll just stop while it's a 3.
This was ok. It felt a little all over the place, making it kind of hard to focus on. And some of the messages were odd.
3.5
Amazing that this was a debut album, really. Such energy, rawness and love Terry Hall’s voice and cadence especially. A hoot to know it was produced by Costello. Again, very original and of its time. Did a huge amount for British ska. To be picky, got a little bored towards the middle/end - some weaker songs and similar vibe throughout (3.5)
Definitely a few things on here I want to replay. Fun vibes and reminded me of 90s soundtracks like “10 Things I Hate About You.”
3 - yeah it's okay, just not my favourite genre
Never been much of a Ska guy, but at first I was finding this a lot more pleasant than I expected. But by the end of the record I was mostly just bored from a lack of variety. 2.7/5
About a 3, not really my cuppa, but it wasn't bad. Reminds me of my college newspaper editor's kind of music. She would play stuff like this in the office, and it was ok, nothing I would go by from her husband's record store. (Hi Diane!!)
Didn't like this as much as I wanted to.
The reggae parts were pretty good, but the punk? Not so much...
Мне бы хотелось больше агрессии и какого-то напряга что ли, но это музыка про другое, и звучит в целом хорошо. Лучшая песня - Too Much Too Young.
Just because I feel positive about this album doesn't mean you'll get to turn me into a ska-head.
One of the best known UK ska bands , without which they’d be no Madness. Some great songs on this album.
Really cool band for where they came from and what they stood for, real culture and genre defining stuff. There’s some really iconic songs on here, and I’d never before noticed some of the more trad rock and roll/surf guitar style on some tracks which worked well. However, I just don’t really love Ska. Even if this is ‘peak ska’ it’s nice to listen to in small doses, but as for an album it’s a bit much for me.
"The Specials" seems like an overstatement; maybe they should have called themselves "The Alrights," "The Averages," or (in their worst moments) "The Misogynists."
If I had to rate this back in 7th or 8th grade, I probably would’ve slapped a 5-star rating on it without hesitation. It’s got that infectious energy with it's punchy ska vibe that hits just right when you're young and discovering music with attitude. That said, I like to think my taste has refined a bit since then. While I still appreciate what The Specials brought to the table, and I definitely recognize its importance in ska history. However, the album as a whole is just okay. Fun in moments, but it doesn’t quite hit the same anymore.
its pretty good, groovy reggae type songs. They all sound pretty much the same though, so it gets a bit tiresome. Vocals are good, there's a mix of reggae type singing and weird punk stuff. songs feel quite basic thouhg. Favourite songs: A message to you Rudy, do the dog, it's up to you, nite klub, monkey man, (dawning of A) new era, you're wondering now. Overall around 6/10
Fun collection of short ska/reggae songs, and they even sound quite punky at times. The only ska I ever really heard was by Madness so it was fun to hear another band, although I think I like Madness better - but that is only after having heard this one album for the first time.
I recognize this having some solid sounds and likely being influential for when it was released, but I was not in the mood to hear this today.
I honestly don't see how this can be seen as anything better than mediocre
Special Ska
Decent listen.
A nice mix of music that makes for a nice listen through the whole album.
Prolly just not for me
Not a big ska fan but this was pretty good. May not revisit it a ton but I can appreciate it.
I’ve never got into ska. It’s interesting to see it emerging as a sort of oddball love child of reggae and punk at this point in time. But that doesn’t quite equate to me wanting to pop this on and listen to it again. 2.5⭐️
The other day I was watching a wrestling show and there was a guy in the crowd with a sign that said “Ska and pro wrestling are the only legitimate forms of art”. I agree with half of that, and it’s not the ska part, but… I liked this pretty good anyway. Most of the ska I heard and made fun of as a youth was from the America Skater Wave of ska, which uniformly sucks. This is a lot better. Funny it’s produced by Elvis Costello, maybe the coolest thing he’s done?
Interesting band for sure, feels like a mix of so many different genres and sounds. 'A Message To You Rudy' is by far the best song. Other than that it is a bit of a mixed bad, some are good and some not so much. Still, fun with something different!
Simultaneously both good and bad? Best Song: A Message to You Rudy Rating: 5.5/10 Stars: 3/5
This beat feels off
Can hear the Caribbean/reggae/Bob Marley influences. First song stood out (maybe because of the harmonica).