Reviews (page 8 of 10)
It's good. It's special. But not amazing.
Ska not really my jam, but I can appreciate the energy and levity.
This was a lot of ska, ska punk? Ska rock? There were trumpets. It was okay.
Perfectly alright album, and a fun introduction to ska. Though evidently, not my favourite genre. Another middle of the road album for me, but there were a number of pretty good tracks. 6/10 Top 3: 1. Little Bitch 2. Concrete Jungle 3. Gangsters
Okay but not my thing
not that great but it's the brieflos song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! brieflos for youuuuu
Good but very repetitive
Enjoyed this far more than I initially expected
Did not expect the reggae influence. Really blending genres, you can tell it's original and an early ska influence but has very brit roots. Sounds much later than '79
Favorite Tracks: A Message to You Rudy, Nite Klub, Doesn't Make It Alright, Concrete Jungle, Monkey Man, Little Bitch, You're Wondering Now
Early ska sound
Quand même bien aimé malgré que c'est très ska. J'ai l'impression que ça a dû avoir un impact important sur la scène. J'ai trouvé peut-être un peu long mais c'est probablement parce que ce n'est pas mon style de prédilection. J'y retournerais. 7/10
They sound disorganized but with a lot of heart. There are some really great aspects such as originality and instrumentation, but also bad parts like the lyrics and production. It was fun, though. 3/5
Lots of fun!
I thought the album, including the live tracks, was going to be a bit much but I enjoyed. Some songs haven’t aged well, and that’s why you won’t hear them on the radio.
- Tropical vibes with some ska influence this is great blend - Great blend of instruments that work together very well
Not my vibe
I had fun listening to this album but I was simultaneously ready for it to end at any point. I'm not a huge ska fan but I like it well enough and there were a couple fun tracks on here (rudy, stupid marriage) but also a decent number of duds (too hot). In all honestly will probably completely forget about this album about three albums from now.
I like The Specials in small to moderate doses but their style does grate after a while (Ghost Town is grate-proof; I like when they explore that darker edge to their sound, but they don't do that on this album). I respect what they're about and their reputation as state-of-the-nation documenters, though I have to take that on faith a bit having not lived through those times. Social commentary comes across in a few of the songs but not all of them. To summarise: Fun and important, but not *that* fun or *that* important.
Definitely a good time. I don’t really have much to say about this album.
70's british ska with reggae influence. Sounds like they had an impact on 311 and Sublime.
Meh. 3 stars. Its early reggae.
Another one where I have no idea what to expect. The album opens with Gangsters that has a ska-infused, polka beat going for it with some whiny buried vocals. This feels like it would be at home in the intro of some cheesy Halloween movie. I've definitely heard A Message to You Rudy before. Either embedded in a DJ set or sampled in some other artists work. Pretty classic vibes on this one. Very dusty feeling; I'm into it. Do the Dog is an energetic surf song with a very strange chorus + vocal overlay. I think it works in a surf/skateshop context, but outside of that I'm not huge on it. It's up to You is a groovy dub track. Has a lot of similar vibes to some Police tracks. One of the better so far, with some sweet fretwork to boot. Nite Klub follows up with a meaty slab of bass forming the backbone. I can get down with it. Concrete Jungle goes in hard with the drums out of the gate. Gives way to a pretty standard energetic dub hop, but damn this song rips. The guitar work in the background is fire; reminds me of Minutemen in the tone and vocal nature. Jam. Too Hot is more reggae than ska. Reminds me of a Marley song that I can't quite put my finger on. Kaya maybe? Monkey Man feels familiar as well, though I'm not certain why. Unfortunately the back half of the album doesn't keep up the energy of the first. Either that or it becomes repetitive. Either way, I lost interest shortly after Monkey Man, which is too bad because I was really surprised and into the first half. Wish there was a bit more virtuoso guitar work as in Concrete Jungle, or bass rumpus as in Nite Klub. All said, I enjoyed this much more than I expected. Surprise 3 / 5 for me.
This is a nice sounding album right out of the gate. A little reggae/punk? A good combo in my eyes. Feels like some beach rock. It's easy to listen to, but gets a little bit monochromatic throughout the album. Overall was an enjoyable listen, but didn't have much variety to send it to 4 stars. I could see this whole album playing on repeat at a place like Mackey's on a Tuesday afternoon.
A eclectic mix of ska and reggae, and really these guys were doing ska before many did. It's a lighthearted yet earnest album for the most part, it would be the type of thing that you'd kick back on a beach and just vibe while it plays in the background, which isn't a bad thing at all.
var nice å høre men har eksamenshjerne nå så husker ikke hvordan d var 3.5
Fun listen like the Jamaican thing
The Specials ken ik vooral van Back to Mine. Verzamelcd's met de favoriete muziek / inspiratie van van grote namen in de elektronische muziek. Liam 'Prodigy' Howlett en de Audiobullys zetten beide een nummer van dit album op hun Back to Mine. Een leuke cd-serie om muziek te ontdekken of mee te reizen met een artiest. Tip! Hier had ik dus zin in. Tja, en dat moet dus eigenlijk niet. Is de verwachting groot, dan valt het altijd tegen. Nu ik het hele album hoor, staat de matige zang me tegen. Het mag allemaal wat voller. Maar ach, dat komt dus wellicht vooral door de verwachting.
Fun and still fresh-sounding, but not as good as the second record, and perhaps a bit one-note and unnecessarily lengthy. "You're Wondering Now" and "Message to Rudy" are tops.
3.5 Prima album, maar too much too young is gruwelijk kut.
“There was some good stuff, there was some skippable stuff but none of it was a bad listen at all.” - Me, yesterday, can be repeated today. Although I was more pleasantly surprised this time, enjoyed it more than I expected
I bet these guys are a blast live. Music was good
Kinks möter Hoffmaestro
was alright
These are very special boys. A special 3.5 for being so special. 👨🦼
Hörde talas om The Specials för något år sedan, och än mer för några månader sedan då sångaren Terry Hall gick bort. Tyckte de verkade väldigt spännande, hur de gjorde sin egen ska- och reggaeinfluerade musik i en period som känns mer dominerad av postpunk och new wave. Alltid härlig, svängig musik med tydliga basgångar! Gillar! Temat är aldrig heller fel, antifascistiskt och om hur brittiska ungdomar känner frustration och hur man borde "stick it to the man". 'Doesn't Make It Alright' har lite långsammare tempo och väldigt fin refräng, men melodin i verserna låter så jävla mycket som en annan låt och jag blir galen när jag inte kommer på vilken det är. Men den, tillsammans med låtarna innan och efter - 'Nite Klub' och 'Concrete Jungle' - utgör albumets bästa låtföljd. 'A Message to You Rudy', bandets största hit, är också bra, men inte bland de bästa. '(Dawning of A) New Era' också bra. Bästa låt: Doesn't Make It Alright.
Like basically every ska album I’ve heard, it’s fun at first but grows a bit tiresome
British reggae funk, pioneer band for the period. Enjoyable and funky 6/10
Ska
The Clash after a year in Jamaica. Pleasant, but forgettable
Nothing Special
One that deserves a second listen, upon first it didn’t seem too impressive. May have missed on the ska influences as it just felt more 60s/70s rock and roll
HL: “Concrete Jungle”, “Too Hot”, “A Message To You Rudy” Decent. More punky than I expected (tbf I knew “Ghost Town”, & nothing else) July 3, 2023
2.5
first listen bouncy romp, kinda forgettable idk
Pretty fun older alt vibe. 3.5
Spot ik hier een Dries bop?
Een Dries bop. Leuke gezellige muziek.
Alright with some weak songs.
3/14
nite klub is good, the other songs before it have blurred together so far too hot is neat but deserves more instrumentation to make the lyrics stand out. taking a break at midway point of album as of 21:38. to be finished
Starts strong, tapers off
Pretty cooo sound. RUDY!
Even though it was the forerunner of reggae which I love, I've never really cared for ska. Too poppy and almost like novelty music.
This was alright, certainly an albums you would bob up and down to, but it doesn't feel it has too much substance. Once you ignore that, fun enough.
Quite conflicted regarding this record. I have several issues with ska and reggae, but the punk nerve and general dissatisfaction on tracks like 'Little Bitch' are great. That being said, I'll probably never listen to this again.
Enjoyed this one. Unlike anything we’ve had up to now and sounded ahead of it’s time.
Not the biggest fan of ska but that was alright. First half definitely stronger. Could hear a lot of ska-punk elements that bands I used to love borrowed/stolen.
I get the impression that The Specials and two-tone ska in general reflected a regretfully limited social movement to be easygoing, inclusive and optimistic about life in general and about race relations in Britain in the 80's in particular. This record portrays a possible world where you and I can get along alright and have a some fun along with a tinge of rock-reggae and horns.
Some fun individual tunes on here, but I just couldn't get it out of my head that every once in a while the lead singer sounded like John Mulaney. 3/5
I can't really explain it, but I have a weird soft spot for ska music. It's not cool at all and it kind of surprises me that it was ever popular, but it's light and fun and it always brings my mood up a bit. This album basically aligns with my general feelings about ska (though occasionally it's a little more alt-rock-y than just ska (Concrete Jungle), and sometimes more heavily reggae (Too Hot)). Good vibes throughout, a few interesting songs, generally a pleasant listen, though I would still probably not choose to listen to this over other things. The genre caps the rating a bit, but it's perfectly good for what it is. Favorite song: You're Wondering Now Other: A Message to You Rudy, Doesn't Make It Alright, Concrete Jungle, Too Much Too Young
2nd wave ska meta
fun but over wrought
Highlights: "Concrete Jungle," "Gangsters," "Nite Klub" It's good that a seminal ska-punk act, with compelling intros, hooks, and vocals, also knows how not to be appropriative way back in '79. Jamaican, Cuban, and British members each speak as themselves to their shared situations. But. If we're caring about the politics of the songs, because that's part of punk music, it absolutely trips on the finish line.
Nah
It was enjoyable enough. I don't really know what else to say. I'd say this is a perfect three. My favourite song was Monkey Man, I think.
Not for me
upbeat, pretty cool - bits of ska, rock, some reggaeton
Its got some pretty good angst and recognisable songs Unfortunately not what I’m really into but I understand it’s influence in teenage rock and drifting away from the norm
Enjoyed my time bopping away at most of the songs, I already knew the song Message to you rudy just not that version but was happy to hear it again. Over all a pleasant album.
One of those records which owes more to its history than to its values. A couple of great tracks/covers, 'A Message to You Rudy' and 'Too Much Too Soon', a wonderful cover and the birth of a movement, label and attitude which would become pretty relevant at late 70s/early 80s. Very far from a masterpiece though
OK ska music, gets a bit repetitive. "Concrete Jungle" was the highlight for me - it rocks.
They do The Specials thing, it's great
Somewhat enjoyed hearing The Specials. The ska sound does wear itself out a bit, but I think there’s enough variety. Walking bass lines, some cool guitar licks. The song Concrete Jungle provides a good example of this. Although the vocals don’t really steal the show on this album, I did enjoy the ensemble in A Message to you Rudy. You can’t say this album isn’t at least a little bit of fun.
Busy day! Gave a quick listen. Pretty fun album but not sure if I’ll revisit soon.
(Mandatory "SKA SUCKS") I've never heard of these guys before, but actually enjoyed this quite a bit. Solid short and catchy ska songs - I never realized A Message To You Rudy was them (which is apparently a cover of a reggae song). Favourites include Nite Klub and Little Bitch. Too Much Too Young is super repetitive.
Well I can definitely say this is the first time I've ever listened to an entire ska album. My impression of this was that it was like if someone really liked the Clash's Revolution Rock and decided to make an entire album of slight variations on that song. However, this actually came out a couple months ahead of London Calling so I guess it was just in the air of London at the time. The musicianship is decent but the album drags on a bit since it's all the same thing. Definitely some good tracks sprinkled throughout though, and I didn't hate it. I bet these guys are fun to drink with.
Events in my life have shaded 2 tone and ska in a bad light. Despite that, there were some gems on this one.
Not really big on ska but there's some good stuff here. Some of it is incredibly repetitive Saved songs: Doesn't Make It Alright, Concrete Jungle, (Dawning Of A) New Era, Too Much Too Young
An intriguing document, somewhat of its time, politically activist, racially progressive, a little misogynistic, music that bounces, mix of genres, occasionally entertaining.
Good but not great. Favorite song: (Dawning of a) New Era
Score: 60 Album art: 70 It's funky, weird mix of Ska raggea rock and funk, but worst of all its British. Its well made but it's just hard to get through 40 minutes of the same sounding songs. Im not a huge ska fan. Little bitch is really fun. Blank expression and too much too young go one for too long. The fun incel charm really wears off after the 4 minute mark. Keep eating beans and toast boys
These surely are some special boys. Black and white people come together to make... British Ska. This is a pretty fun and upbeat album. Never heard this band but I heard plenty from the revival in the 90s. I like this genre, but it's not my favorite and can be annoying. The music is light and unpretentious with a little attitude and sometimes funny lyrics.
Too Ska
Ska punk forever
I really like the energy of the Specials, but ska lulls me into a state of hypnosis. That beat turns it all in to white noise. There are moments that rip, though and Message to Rudy is strong. And Little Bitch was a blast - that's a edgy one.
The Specials, and similar bands, were not much of my thing as a whole genre. I like to hear, "A Message to you Rudy", on occasion, but for the most part, I wouldn't listen to the whole record.
An album very much of its and time and featuring a strange live sound, I found the performances earnest but not ones I will readily return to.
Rudy is a classic. Stupid Marriage is hilarious. First concert I ever saw was in this genre, first non school band I played trumpet in we did songs from the generation inspired by the specials - streetlight manifesto and RBF. Costello's fingerprints are all over this. That being said, it's not really the sort of thing I really seek out much nowadays. It's completely listenable and I appreciate the historical context and the whole checkered flag racial harmony ideals, but subjectively if this is for albums to hear before I die, I can't go higher than 3.5 out of 5, which for me is solid. 3 means if I heard it in the wild I wouldn't skip. A 4 has to have some special spices and a 5 would need to be something I immediately want to hear again. The half point is for stupid marriage, that was so fun. PS the chord changes and instrumentation in Little bitch is almost exactly the theme of the game show Cash Cab. Dunno how to feel about that.
If you like ska, you have to like this album. As someone lukewarm to it at best, I found the middle of this album to be a little hard to get through. A Message to You Rudy is of course the best song by far and a bop. Doesn’t Make it All Right and the unfortunately titled Little Bitch were also decent. Would listen to again if I was feeling like a rude boy.
I know there’s some famous songs on here but it’s not really my thing
This was the first Ska music I had ever heard during my freshman year at college. Kind of like reggae but still different. I like the album but I think I like the clothes more. After a while it begins to sound repetitive to me.
I feel like this must have influenced the Clash and the Police greatly, but it isn't exceptional on its own. The fusion of rock and reggae into ska can very easily verge into corny territory, this one does not do so but there are times where it got close. This really should get a 3.5 if possible as I’m totally stuck between scores.
Somewhat compelling. May revisit.
Don’t like ska much, but some bangers
Madness
Lively, engaging and cheeky, this is a fun ride overall. One finds the second record quite a bit better, actually, for being quite a bit richer and more mature and considerably more diverse, sonically and creatively. One also confesses to preferring the genuine article (that being reggae) to hybrids such as this. Still, it's not hard to imagine what a breath of fresh air this must have been in 1979 and it remains quite hard not to like today. "You're Wondering Now" is wonderful.
First listen
Now that was fun. I didn’t even know this genre of music existed, they sound kind of like the clash. I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily good music, but it’s definitely fun to listen to, unlike Mariah Carey.
Liked the drums
Pretty nice ska album. The attitude of the songs is a really distinguishing factor for the music. I however got slightly tired of it after a while.
The Specials are one of those bands that I've always been curious about, as I am a product of the 90s revival of ska and wanted to know if I have more appreciation for the originators of the style. I can now say with a lot of confidence that i do not fine the Specials interesting. That may be influenced by the fact that the production on this album is terrible, but even if that weren't the case, I find a lot of their songs dull. There are some good moments on the album, but overall it is not one that I will ever come back to 3/5
3.5
In the late 70's Thatcher's England was a powder keg about to explode. In this volatile environment three British ska bands were able to fuse 60's Jamaican music, 70's British dance music and 80's punk to create a wonderful blend of highly danceable and politically relevant music - The English Beat, Madness and The Specials. The Specials were probably the most legit of the three (with two Jamaicans on board) and their hit single - A message to you Rudy is still pretty timeless. The rest of the record has great energy and is highly danceable and I would consider it to be one of the best of this genre.
Only made it to "Concrete Jungle", but I thought it was really interesting. Maybe it's because I listened to a remaster from 2002, but the audio was really close and good-quality. I liked "Nite Klub"!
Had a great time with this record. And now I feel like I understand the British ska scene more, which always seemed opaque to me. The styles on this album run the gamut, but the pervasive feeling of cynicism, feeling trapped, angst is present throughout. But it’s also fun! I just appreciated how deftly this album moves between styles… things feel very urgent and never overwrought. I read that it’s not unlike a live album, and I really get that sense. Great listen!
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Do the Dog (3) 2 - A Message to You Rudy (2) 3 - Concrete Jungle (7)
Not really my type of music, but I enjoyed parts of it.
Early ska! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
When I think of Ska, this is one of the bands that comes to mind. Terry Hall just passed away the other day and I really hoped I would get to heard this album to honor him. I really enjoyed More Specials when it appeared on this list. Stand Outs: A Message to You Rudy, Others: Monkey Man, Dawning of a New Era, You’re Wondering Now 3.5
It's ska.
Slaps but i like dub better sorry fam
Прослушано! Бойкий, музыкальный альбом. Ничего особенного но слушать можно.
If you like artists like Madness you would vibe with this
This was ok, but nothing special.
Favourite song: Stupid Marriage
I'm kind of ambivalent to ska. I like it in small doses but a whole album gets grating. The Wikipedia article for this album is worth reading as I had no idea ska originated in 1950s Jamaica, nor that some of these songs were covers from older ska bands. I wouldn't listen to this again but it was okay.
A Message to you Rudy
I did not expect to like it, as much as I actually did. It was very interesting music.
This was fun but the double album was too long.
Not bad, definitely a vibe you gotta feel
Very interesting reggae punk skaw vibes
Faint memories of this. Reminds me of the English beat who I loved
I'd rather listen to this ska revival album than the terrible ska revival albums that came out in the 90s and early 2000. That's not really high praise though. It's not offensive, but since I'm not an unemployed 18 year old in Leeds in 1980, this really doesn't do much for me.
Ska, reagge, punk ish, very similiar to the Clash
I don’t like reggae but I enjoyed most of the post punky stuff. Reminded me of the B52s sometimes. Props for being a fairly diverse album I don’t understand the difference between ska and reggae
I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would. Songs dont all bleed into one, and I like that. Favorite tracks on first listen; A Message to You Rudy, Do the Dog (pause), and Too Hot.
Yes, ska, love this shit. Message to you Rudy is a classic. Ultimately, The Specials is not sustainable for a whole album. It's like a one trick pony that doesn't work after a handful of songs.
I like a bit of ska, me. I admire this more than I like it though. Maybe you just had to be there? I could see it being groundbreaking at the time.
Ok
Honnêtement, j'ai l'impression d'avoir écouté la même chanson pendant 45 minutes. C'est entraînant, par contre.
Nice. Nice.
Wasn't convinced by this at first, but it did really grow on me. Only know a couple of Specials songs (Rudy and Ghost Town). Surprising amount of variety, good to hum along to, and really works as an album together. Someone mentioned that it sounds a bit dated, in places I agree but in others it sounds totally fresh. 3/5.
Better than their other album on the list "More Specials", but not by a whole lot. Still worth a listen.
The problem with ska is that only a small amount of ska carries you pretty far. A lot of the songs are very same-y. The whole "chik-chik-chik" by the singer gets grating, the offbeat guitar gets boring, and an album that is only 30 minutes long goes on for an hour. They can extend songs for twice as long and you don't even notice. The vocals start to become indeterminant, and god forbid you see the band live. You won't be able to tell one song from another. And then I just lost interest. I don't hate ska, and they performed ok (aside from the repetitive "Too Much Too Young"), but it's just... I can only take so much of it before I have to go on to something else. So maybe a high 2, rounding up to a 3. So let's go on to something else, shall we?
Still not my cup of tea. Found myself waiting for it to be over. Maybe I would change my tune if I listened to the album a few more times but I don't want to. I didn't hate it but I don't care about it either.
Ska. White man reggae. Actually didn't hate them.
I really enjoyed this! It reminds me a lot of Rancid as well as Weird Al. I like the energy and hypeness this reggae type stuff brings. I would rate it a 4 however none of the songs itched the spot in the right way. Great change of pace from some of the other albums and if I could I would rate it 3.5. Fave songs are probably " A message to you Rudy" or " Too much too young".
Pretty straightforward second wave ska. I had "More Specials" a couple weeks and enjoyed that a lot more than this, it seemed a bit more eclectic, while this feels a lot more like a straight take on classic ska. Obviously an important record in the grand scheme of all things ska. Not bad by any means.
Too much too young, Monkey man er bra. Er det her ska? You’re wondering now!
Ska bueno y bonito, de la vieja escuela y como debe ser. Sólo conocía A Message to You Rudy y aunque el resto de las canciones no le llega, mantienen un buen nivel. 3.5 estrellas que voy a bajar a 3 porque el disco muy bien pero se queda un pelo abajo de las 4 estrellas.
Muy indeciso entre 2 y 3 estrellas para este disco. Por un lado, musicalmente es poco impresionante e incluso la calidad de la grabación a veces no es la mejor (con todo y Elvis Costello como productor). Sin embargo, su marca histórica sí es interesante por ser la base de la segunda ola del ska y los que hicieron el ska inglés, alejado del de Jamaica. Triste que las buenas rolas del disco todas son covers de un modo u otro, y las originales de The Specials son las olvidables.
Standouts: Gangsters, A message to you Rudy, too much too young, you’re wondering now
Me gusta este disco y eso que no tiene ninguna canción que yo haya escuchado antes.
Boa referência para conhecer mais de ska.
It was an interesting early sounding ska/punk album that was definitely leaning towards the ska side of things. Not something I'd have in regular rotation. Best: A Message To You Rudy Worst: Too Much Too Young 2.5 Stars
Some tracks lean reggae, some lean towards punk, while many are pure ska. A nice little distraction from what I was doing.
3/5
SKA legends. this wasn't bad.
Fun, Ska can only be so different though innit
not bad, not mindblowing
Not the greatest ska
Good, but not really my vibe right now
Never been a big ska fan, so while I found this pleasant while it was on, I probably won't revisit it. Favorite tracks: "A Message To You Rudy", "Monkey Man"
More blasts from the past. Ska beats are ok. Kind of repetitive and simplistic - there were a few good guitar riffs. I will not intentionally listen to this again. 2.5 and rounding up for the retro memories.
specials, hm
Wanted to write "flat", have corrected it to "thin", and in doing do so have made appraising them a lot harder. The former epithet's invariably bad, but the latter's far more ambiguous. Their jauntiness is a dead cert, which in the long run is likely to make this a winner.
5/10. Kinda blah
Didn’t latch onto any song in particular but found it all decently listenable.
This was fine. Kind of weird, but in a boring and not interesting kind of way.
Se parecen a Toreros Muertos, pero en inglés. Más british, aunque no sé de dónde son.
kinda boring, would rather listen to either the beatles, 100 gecs, or real reggae. started to vibe with this around "Nite Klub"! Realizing that I like the idea of ska more than I actually like ska. Very mixed as this album goes progresses, some of the songs I get annoyed of, but some of them I am vibin' and bobbin' along to, feeling like a rude boy. I think that the album gets better towards the end, or maybe I just got used to their sound.
It's a band I didn't know but the first song sounds to me from having heard it on the radio. Not bad.
Like many a pop-rock crossover, The Specials straddle a line that, not being a fence, doesn't really need straddling. Still, there's more good than bad and ska is pretty great. Strangely lacking in energy at many points and that makes the sentiment of Too Much Too Young come off really poorly.
Bom.
Early, unrefined ska revival. I think that the album is good, but there are better ska albums out there, so I don't know that I'd listen to this one again.
Fell like I'm giving out too many fours so I'll give it 3.5/5
Very fun sound and attitude… high 3
head thoughts no empty
Barb says each song sounds the same. I agree, but I do like the sound, Barb not so much.
Fun
Familiar, never really been my lane, but not terrible by any means
vibes 'beach boys' e a faixa dois é engraçada com o voice over. já to vendo ali o nome da penultima faixa e tô fazendo cara de eca, mas bora ver né? milagres e tal.
I'm a casual ska fan. Definitely like this album and appreciate its history in the genre. Not my favorite but we wouldn't have ska as we know it without it.
3. You know, I went into this expecting to be annoyed. I know, I like ska, I should like The Specials. But turns out I don't like older pure ska that's much more reggae based and tend to roll my eyes when the Specials come on. But you know what, once we got the way overplayed Message to You Rudy out of the way, I enjoyed the rest!
Gott ska. Fínasta partý. Riffið úr Little Bitch er ækonik.
Genre: 2 Tone 3/5 Another brief piece of history album. The Specials was one of the UK’s most successful ska groups to come out of the country’s collective attempt to keep up with the musical times. The music here is inoffensive (except for Little Bitch), fun to listen to and jig to, but doesn’t really offer much more than your standard reggae/ska offering may provide. An interesting look into 2 Tone as a genre, and may lead some down a rabbit hole.
First half > second half. Like, I had a very fun time listening to the first half. I wish I felt the same about the whole album, but it was still a pleasant enough listen. I can't quite give it a 4, but it's a 3.75 in my mind so it's VERY close!
Lepposaa menoa vaikka muutama hutkin osui mukaan. Taidan kuunnella uudelleen kun saan jonon kurottua umpeen.
More focused and fun than their sophomore album, I think this is a cool but inconsistent debut.
Ska. 6/10
‘I once heard Ska described as "what plays in a 13-year-old kid's head when he gets extra mozzarella sticks" and nothing in this world is more accurate’ - @NeverOnBrand I would’ve thought it would make this list a sheepish spectacle, but I didn’t mind its cheekiness.
Loved the Ska. Some interesting and very catchy tunes.
decent british ska like, not sure who came first but i get some strong iggy pop vibes from parts of the album
Interesting combo, did mind the punkish singing but enjoyed the catchy rythmsnof the ska
Pretty good Ska album. Favorites: A Message to You Rudy, Nite Klub, Too Much Too Young
Fundamental album for....ska. Ska is a weird genre. It originates out of Jamaica which is considered the "first wave" of ska in the 60s and 70s. It's very calypso-inspired, if you know about that. Heavy on the brass section, emphasis on the off-beats, and so on. Then, in the late 70s and into the 80s, it was picked up in England and thus began that "second wave", more commonly known as 2 Tone. The Specials embody 2 Tone. You hear more guitar, along with elements of new wave and early punk rock in 2 Tone compared to the original Jamaican Ska, but it's still unmistakably ska (just pick any track and give it a listen). This was then picked up in North America during the late 80s and was expanded upon as Ska Punk. Leaning more into hardcore punk, you had a heavy focus on faster and dirtier riffs, more aggressive vocals, while still retaining the brass section and off-beat rhythms. This was the most commercially successful iteration of ska, with The Mighty Might Bosstones being a standout of the genre. Gamers will be quick to recognize this flavor of ska in Tony Hawk games, with Goldfinger being a favorite. Pop Punk enthusiasts will know of Jeff Rosenstock, former member of ska punk bands "The Arrogant Sons of Bitches" and "Bomb the Music Industry!", along with his more recent solo release "Ska Dream", which features all flavors of Ska, not just Ska Punk. So what does this say about The Specials? Well for one thing, they aren't in one place for the album's runtime, no. They tend to move back and forth between the more energetic punk-rock influence distinct to 2 Tone, and the more laid back original sounds of Jamaican Ska. This represents largely the "importing" of ska to England, brining a fresh and more local sound. This mirrors the very real migration of Jamaicans coming to England in the 50s after World War 2. Children of Jamaican parents growing up in England during this time would be adults by the 70s and 80s, and some would be musicians! So the blend of Jamaicans Ska along with punk-rock and new wave would be the natural conclusion of Jamaican immigration. Specials members Neville Staple and Rico Rodriguez are both from Jamaican and contribute largely on this album. Worth noting that this album was out in 1979, too early for new wave, so we got mostly punk rock influence. This put The Specials on the leading edge of the genre, with none others like it. This, however, becomes a double-edged sword for 2 Tone. On one side, The Specials were doing something very unique and notable at the time, indicative of real-life current events at the time. On the other edge, few could meet the same level of quality of The Specials (Madness was the closest), as a result of Ska being kind of...hokey. Almost like a cheap imitation of the more "genuine" ska music of Jamaica, as leaning too much into international music can sort of cheapen the experience. This leaves The Specials being special and important, but not really all that good. It's a hard thing to swallow, but 2 Tone deserves to be clowned on. Jamaican Ska and Ska Punk can hang though, they're cool.
Alternative/reggae band. Fav song is “doesn’t make it alright”
So...I'm going to have to (at least slightly) revise my opinion on Elvis Costello, given that he produced this album. It is a period piece, true, but a fairly good one. Odd thing about this is that it is easy to be pessimistic about the state of the nation etc. But even it its pessimism, stuff like ska actually pointed out other viable possibilities, an organic reorganisation of the order of the day. The point is to remember this, and not what the naysayers have to say. They always have something to say. Most of it is useless.
Not my kind of ska. Good but my tastes long for other jams
Groovy, upbeat music that literally screams "the 80s". Fun lyrics and good sounds for background work. Definitely gives the feeling of doing too much too young.
Never listened to this before. Foot-tapping fun. Little Bitch is a nice detachment from a fairly similar-sounding album.
Has some energy but pretty much every song sounds the same.
Lots to like about this. All about the voices
I feel like I would have liked this more if I was still on that side of the 90s. It seems like primitive ska, and while it’s good, I would do better with in very very small doses. I suspect it’s on the list for influencing future artists.
70s with reggae influence
Ritmos ska. Con coherencia.
Really cheesy lyrics. I've certainly heard worse ska albums though
Fair
Good, perhaps oversold by critics? It feels far less essential than singles comps. 3.5.
Probably wouldn't go out of my way to listen to The Specials, but I do really enjoy them when I do. Solid meshing of genres, and hugely influential. Strong messages, and despite the often bleak lyrical themes the actual music relays joy and positivity. And I like the fact that it sounds like a band playing together, rather than an amalgamation if individually recorded parts. (3.1)
-Nice bassline in "Nite Klub." It's definitely higher energy than a lot of the other songs. -I like the pickup in speed of "Stupid Marriage" -Generally cool basslines relatively high in the mix throughout the album -Perfectly fine ska music, but nothing in particular is making me want to listen again
👍
Good ska, but a little varied in terms of quality. Best to cherry pick Specials and Terry's music.
This is an ok album. A few good songs on it, but this kind of ska sound gets a little too repetitive for my taste. Still, not bad overall.
I liked Little Bitch - give another listen
Classic feelgood tunes. Interesting combo of bratty punk vocal and Afro-beat style vocals. Opening track is a banger and Monkey Man kicks ass too.
The Ska style is ok for me. I know some are big fans. This is my first time hearing the band or the album. I think the album cover is cool. I listened a couple of times today. The sound just didn't grow on me today. But, I think with more listens it will just get better. For now I'll give it a low 3/5.
Good album and very fun!
Good album. Not sure I'd listen to the whole album again, but enjoyed this listen. Definitely can hear how this influenced later ska or semi-ska bands like Sublime.
Take warning... "I hate reggae music, I hate it" Amen to that Billy Waldman. Though this isn't reggae, it's a derivative. Ska or you might be able to think about this as 'punk reggae', maybe? I can deal with the punk and I can handle a little bit of reggae so, for the most part this was fine. In the 70s when this was released, I can plainly see how groundbreaking this was. Fast forward to the late 80's / early 90's when we were all listening to OpIvy and discovering The Pietasters and The Toasters, we were completely in love with this stuff and now we're going back to the source of truth. The Specials who started a lot of what was so amazing is really unique and I like things that are unique... errr, a conformity of uniqueness.
Some fun Ska.
I like the specials so I was excited for this one. I feel like their genre is some sort of reggae punk mix and I love it. Message to you Rudy was the first song I found from them and ghost town next. I love ghost town. Im three songs in and so far I really like it. Actually I take it back it’s definitely ska. I wanna dance to all these songs on the beach or something. The baseline in nite klub is fantastic. It’s like a bass solo whoa.
My first ska album in this. Almost sounds like a live recording. Message to you Rudy sounds like a classic movie song idk why.
I like the ska sound (4 stars) and dislike the lead singers voice on many of the tracks (2 stars). I guess that leaves me with an average rating of 3 stars.
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would
I wasn't sure if I had heard of the Specials before or not. I am familiar with the first track, "A Message to You, Rudy", which i rated as the track I like the most from the album. "You're Wondering Now" was in second place. The album is good, but I'm not sure I'd listen to the whole thing again.
Shaka Zulu origin story
A friend introduced me to this band in my college years. I enjoyed it, but I haven't really listened to them since then. Still nice to listen to, and I notice the skill of the musicians more now than I did then. Looking back with the benefit of over 30 years' hindsight, I can hear how they (or at least them and similar bands of that time) influenced later bands.
Mye forskjellige moods på det albumet her. Hopper mye mellom 60-talls radiorock, rå punk-rock og 2000-talls radioska / -reggae. Digga visse sanger som Do The Dog, Message To You Rudy og Little Bitch, men de mer trege reggae-sangene gjorde det litt tråkig til tider. Albumet var litt for langt, og følte det var noen litt rare, unødvendige digresjoner her og der. Tror jeg likevel kunne nytt dette albumet på en god sommerdag, tror det kunne passa vibbene bra.
Yupp, det var ganske digg album. Likte de fleste sangene, gøy med noen som var litt forskjellige, spesielt den derre rettsak tingen, lite avbrekk fra det vanlige, men ikke for mye heller. Den Too Much Too Young ble i motsettning alt for repeterende.
Gutta koser seg, og tekstene er vittige, tørre og politiske på en henslengt måte. Albumet er på sitt beste når de drar opp tempoet i de mer ska-aktige låtene, særlig Nite Klub, Concrete Jungle og Little Bitch syns jeg var kule. Men mye av resten av plata er treg reggae jeg ikke har så veldig sansen for.
It's a shame that the main issues raised on the album (racism and violence) are still prevalent today. In 42 years no one has got close to managing a change to the cultural narrative around what it is to be British - a depressing thought for the day. Solid album but the thumping tempo is let down by slower numbers.
Like orginal ska punk. Reggae beats. Really decent, can tell it influenced a lot of stuff that followed it. Couple of famous tracks in there too, like Too Much Too Young. Prob wouldbt go out of my way to listen to it again, but can appreciate its significance. 3/5
didnt save any songs but it was p decent
The music is very enjoyable, but I think a full album of ska is a bit much for me. 2.5 and I'll round up to a 3 Saved: A Message to You Rudy
Saved Prior: A Message To You Rudy Saved Off Rip: None Cutting Edge: a couple man idk which ones Overall Notes: not terrible, not amazing, I'll probably end up saving a couple. Similar to marvin gaye i'd say
Wat standaard ska, maar ik vind het wel leuk om luisteren
De bakermat van de Britse Ska. Hier en daar wel een minder nummertje.
I like ska, but this album wasn't that great to be honest
Ska heeft zeker zijn plek in de geschiedenis. Of die plek 2021 is weet ik niet.
Enjoyed listening to this on Friday. Good album.
The Specials are the best of the trumpet tooting wanky ska bands and this album was more enjoyable than I was expecting
This was a reasonably enjoyable album. I wouldn't listen to it on my own again, but if it was in the background I'd tap my foot.
Wasn’t my thing first time around but I quite enjoyed hearing it this time.
Funky. Kind of reggae-ish vibes with an arch british twist.
Great singles, let down by the rest of the songs, swings between a 2 and a 5, more of a 3.5 score
The hits hit. The album tracks are naffin mind blowing like
I was not expecting this. When I saw the album cover my eyes rolled so far into the back of my head that I thought I was in the UK. In all serious, I’ve just been burnt out with these 70’s and 80’s UK bands and their mediocrity, especially this week. But this album is…Special. I can almost sense the beginnings of Ska in their music and wonder if bands like Reel Big Fish were inspired by these blokes. Now this doesn’t mean I love the album, I certainly enjoyed it but a lot of it fell into the background. I will say that Monkey Man was a stand out because monkee. The reggae tones as well really sets this album apart from a lot of the other rubbish that has been put on our list this week. I still stand by my opinion of the album cover, looks like something that would be on a menu at a diner. Actually, I am just now getting that it is a menu of specials.
love the energy
Se parecen a Toreros Muertos, pero en inglés. Más british, aunque no sé de dónde son.
Nothing here is bad but it's dated. I'd listen to it again but it's on the same category as sublime. I'm sure in 1979 this inspired scores of ska and pink kids. Today it's just ok.
Nice hearing the originals,
1979, Ska, reggae, 2 Tone, punk rock, geht
Love 'A message to you Rudy', nearly fell of my chair on 'Monkey Man' - I know that song from a Wiggles video with Kylie Minogue! I like ska, so enjoyed this but dont think it will be everyones cup of tea
Bon album de ska classique, moins mon vibe mais discours très amusants.
i felt like i was in lazytown, but if lazytown was in britain in the 70s. high 3
This is pretty good. I'm sure they are/were a great live bad, just not sure how well that translates to their recorded music. 2.5 stars, rounding up to 3.
Very fun album. Reggae inspired songs, so not quite what I'm interested in but there are a few really good songs in here.
Ska came before reggae
Ska is too repetitive for me
At first sound, I was excited and wanted to give it a five. Then I heard some racial lyrics so I read a blurb that said it was politically reactive to Thatcher and got excited again. Then I paid attention to the lyrics as the songs went on and I gotta say when I do that the mysogyny always lets me down
At least it's not *all* white guys making reggae. The album cover still reminds me of Snatch for some reason. This band is very much a Clash lookalike. I just wish Ghost Town was on this album
is this ska
It was just okay
Pretty good. I know all the songs.
Ska again not a big factor in my musical lexicon but it's a fine album and some standout songs I've long appreciated.
I think I have heard of this band, part of the first wave of ska revival I think? Never heard any of their songs though. Oh, I guess I have "Little Bitch", It had to look it up, but it was in DDR haha! Might have been a cover though. Also heard "Ghost Town" from another of their albums. I do like ska though, I think it's fun. Not something I necessarily go out of my way to listen to, but if it comes on through the radio or online, I usually enjoy it. Some really dumb songs in here though, like "Too Hot" and "Stupid Marriage". But, I guess it's all in fun. Apparently they even have a song called "Rat Race" haha. Overall, the album is good but doesn't really blow me away, so 3.5 rounded down to 3.
Like sublime on cocaine
It was okay... for a ska album
Very similar to mighty mighty bosstones
Anyone that’s able to spearhead a genre revival like this is ok in my book
3.5! good background music! i liked it a lot!
Feels a lot like Jamaican. Not sure if that's 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
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
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
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.
2/5
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 thought I liked the Specials, turns out a whole album is too much.
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.
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
Ska music. I imagine guys wearing checkered Vans, bowling shirts and dancing with big girls. It’s a low form of music.
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.
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
Never heard this before but I mostly can't stand ska. It's always that same sound with most songs.
Robbie Rotten type beat
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
- a lil ska on this fine sunday
Reggae punk are not my genres. 4/10
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.
Achei ok mais nada q me fez reouvir
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
hmm, not a fan. pick: message to you rudy
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.
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.
This is an ok album, I guess... Fairly generic and safe overall, but kinda boring.
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
They are special. Typical One Hit Wonders, album is bouncy but Kara remarked that all the songs sound the same. She isn't wrong.
White dudes doing reggae. Not for me
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