Reviews (page 8 of 10)
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!
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
This is the second UK ska band on my list in a short time, following The Madness' Rise & Fall. As I mentioned in that review, I do like ska. This album may be even better, even though it doesn't have a massive hit on it. From a similar realm, I already enjoy the Sex Pistols and The Clash, and I do think that there is something shared with these artists. Possibly it is growing up in the "concrete jungle" that The Specials are singing about.
To be honest, I don't remember much about it, which probably means it deserves only 2 stars
- a lil ska on this fine sunday
Reggae punk are not my genres. 4/10
It has a fun sound that reminds me of many different others like Bob Marley, 311, maybe a little Beach Boys..but it just wasn’t remarkable to me and is not an album I’d reach for in any mood.
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
Nah.
Don't really like ska :(
For most of my life I've argued that there are no bad genres of music. Within any genre you can find brilliant artists creating great work. It's just a matter of distinguishing the great artists from the bad and putting in the time and effort to appreciate their work. After hearing this album, I think ska might be the exception
Tampoco fue mi favorito
Eh, some of this was all right.
Old Ska/Reggae sound. Could be a really good ska/reggae sound but could not get into it.
4 - BAD
Its ok, but its Ska so theres that.
Ska was never my thing. Reggae either. And unfortunately they still aren’t, folks.
what kind of british strangeness is this.
I'm not a fan of ska or reggae. So, I understand this may be a good album, but I find it kind of boring (at least musically).
muuuuy chill, no me encantó
Idk, I think there's a reason ska has always been a niche genre. It's like almost chill yet annoyingly upbeat at the same time. And not very interesting. About the only place I want to hear it is on a warm, breezy, sunny day sipping drinks on a patio with friends. But even then, I'd probably enjoy something else more. But that wouldn't be a bad vibe for the novelty.
A good ska album. Not very memorable but it had some good jams
Reggae married punk and had a baby. That baby is ?ska?. Musically ok, if only they wouldn't sing. Two stars for horns; leass stars for the lead's voice.
One glance at the cover photo and I knew it would be ska. I can't get past the vocals. Gave up.
Great start with A Message to You Rudy. And....they've lost me with Do the Dog. The talking over the song is a strange choice. One good song and a bunch of terrible ones after that. The straight ska songs are their best songs. Too Hot is a welcome respite. Monkey Man was in a cruise ad I think, I do not like it. The chorus is annoying. Listening to these albums it does become clearer that nothing exists in a vacuum. I wonder if I would feel differently about some of these albums if I listened to them chronologically rather than randomly. This is Cake's favorite band. I'm ready for this to be over. There is a reason ska songs aren't six minutes long. The lyrics leave a great deal to be desired. Little Bitch straight up rips off the Rolling Stones' Brown Sugar.
I'm really sorry folks, I just can't get into ska. It feels like white boy reggae, and I have a hard enough time enjoying regular reggae. It just doesn't do it for me. It's not the worst 40 minutes of music I've ever heard, but I could have done like 10 minutes of it and called it a day. 😔
This is one of those albums that I absolutely believe deserves a spot on this list despite detesting it. The worst of punk fused with the worst of reggae (two genres I typically enjoy). I wish I liked ska but this era really doesn't work for me. The vocals grated as well. Extra star out of respect for its influence and technical musical quality.
Some iconic Ska songs on this but I've never been really into ska. 2.5
Catchy at times, had a song stuck in my head for a few days. Won't make it onto a regular rotation though. 2.5.
Its crazy this album is from 1979. Sounds at least from mid 80s. Overall, its was ok. I hadnt heard a British ska reggae album before.
I’m not really a ska hater, and I can understand how this was impactful in its time, but man I was not into this. Mostly sounded like cartoon music.
Like Madness but worse. It just dragged on for too long.
Just unbearable for me.
The longer this album went on, the less I liked it
Honestly sure this was a different vibe and style but I didn’t hear much that was “special”
Going to try and look at these tracks objectively as I’m not a ska fan. Unless we’re talking about something like Sublime with their slightly ska inspired tracks. Probably not going to manage to break this one down on a song by song level. Stop Your Messing Around has a recognisable main melody, something I’ve heard many many times. Not certain if this is where it originated from or its derivative of something else. Simple repetitive lyrics cover a repetitive melody. Do The Dog immediately significantly more interesting than the opening track with a prominent drumbeat. Something almost reminiscent of UK punk rather than ska in this one. Like the use of chromatic movements in the bassline. Vocals are EXTREMELY UK punk. Hugely ignorant lyrics in this song, an attempt to be political probably not hugely well thought out. It’s Up To You starts off with a reggae inspired bassline that gives a nice reprieve from the harsh “punkiness” of the previous track. This one includes an extremely soulful guitar solo. Quite a fan of this one. Nite Klub after an ambient intro kicks into what I would associate with a typical ska beat. Maybe this is my issue with ska? It all feels a bit too typical? Same-y? There is some nice lead in this followed by a break and some funky bass which gives it almost a freestyle jazz feel. It Doesn't Make It Alright is a thoroughly uninteresting track. Nothing positive to say about it. Concrete Jungle has a fun use of discordant notes in the intro bassline. Also features an understated but good lead section. Definitely a much more interesting track than some of the previous. Really nice guitar solo in this one, just wish the bass over the top of it was toned down a little bit, it’s slightly too prominent and is a bit distracting. I hate Too Hot. That’s it. The only good part about this song is when it bumps up the tempo in the outro, making the song end sooner. I hate Monkey Man also, it’s faster atleast? Dawning Of a New Era is maybe the first track to get my attention? It starts with a somewhat interesting guitar riff and the melody of the chorus is actually somewhat different to the same old boring staccatoed up and down that every single other track has used. Discordant organ sounds in the background are interesting layering. It’s honestly as if they got halfway through this album then suddenly decided they ought to make some sort of effort to make decent music. Blank Expression is a lot better than some of the rest. It still has that grating typical ska beat but what more to expect from a ska album, but atleast this one has some fun lead and variation in the verse sections. The spoken intro in Stupid Marriage is fun I guess? The rest of this is shite to be honest. Somewhat decent guitar solo hidden behind noise. Too Much Too Young again just sounds same-y. It’s also far too long for what it is. Ironically, too much Too Much. The chorus guitar riff in Little Bitch is actually really really good, I like it. Unfortunately the rest of the song just isn’t good. Real shame. But then suddenly a great solo???? This is probably my favourite song on the album and even then I’m conflicted. You’re Wondering Now is a perfect outro to the album in the sense that it sounds like every single other song in the album. That’s not a good thing in my opinion. Glad to see the end of this album, definitely haven’t changed my mind about ska. Maybe I’m wrong in saying everything sounds the same or derivative, perhaps The Specials were pioneers in ska. I don’t know enough about the context. But I’m just not a fan regardless. 2/5.
Ok grooves but the album in whole felt a little stale. Not bad, not good it just was.
Didn’t really do it for me, but had some solid sounds.
Not really into this. Early Ska. I can handle ska if it leans pretty heavily into the punk side, but this is way more reggae toned. Rather slow and doesn't have the frenetic energy that can make ska fun. I don't know the history of the genre well enough to speak to the influence, must be significant or this kind of minor sounding album probably wouldn't be on the list. Would be decent in a small club setting, but I don't need it here. Very very British. Overall not exciting and I will not be revisiting.
A few decent tracks, the rest forgettable reggae/ska songs
I debated on this one for a while. There are two classic ska tracks on here (“a message to you Rudy” and “Too much too young “). The overall sound isn’t bad. But there’s just not quite enough to make me want to put the album on instead of just those tracks. Can’t quite break into 3 territory.
Ga opp etter 3 sanger - regner med det stort sett går i det samme resten av albumet. Ikke for meg. Kan ikke fordra den sjangeren.
Klarte å høyre gjennom heile, men med ein sunn ompa-distanse. Nokre artige augneblikk, men ikkje noko eg høyrer meir på.
I really can't handle this
fine for ska, not my favorite revival
music for those life support lobsters in grocery stores
*1979. British ska, new wave. *Bizarre combination of very British, and occasional good bits of actual ska/reggae. They need to just kick the white guys out of the band. *Did not enjoy the British bits. Did enjoy the reggae bits. RATING - 5/10
This was a pretty painful listen overall, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a little fun listening to a handful of these tracks. Highlights: Nite Klub, Concrete Jungle, Monkey Man, Stupid Marriage, Little B**ch
That is certainly what ska sounds like.
I really wanted to like this one. There were a couple cool songs, but the album just wasn't that good.
Was this The Specials or the Borings?
Influential, but too raw and unpolished for my taste .... rather listen to Madness
Rock medio reggae por momentos, soft pero tiene algunos momentos mas hardcore. The beatles sound pero como más juguetones y bailables creo. Me hace acordar a La Vela Puerca. Tiene muy buenos vientos. Tienen un toque experimental. Likes A message to you Rudy - It doesn't make it alright - Dawning - Blank Expression
Not my forte. Its music that exists.
Has to be the precursor to ska. Has a ton of drum licks that a suspiciously similar to Sublime. Some of the lyrics are a bit outrageous, in a good way. 2.4/5.0
It's ska.
I am not super into ska so this all stated to sound kinda same-y to me. Fun tho. Song(s) added to my 10001 Bangers playlist: A Message to You Rudy
Uh-oh. The Specials, huh? I have heard of this band, and I think they’re a ska band…..Yep, they are. This might be a tricky one. Ska is a reggae-like music that annoys me most of the time. The most famous “ska” band that you’ve heard of is No Doubt, though I’d imagine most true ska fans would think No Doubt is not ska. Lots of trumpets, saxophones, and reggae licks from guitars. Ska is short for skank, which is the signature off-tempo beat played on the guitar or piano. For some reason, the United Kingdom really got into reggae and ska back in the late 60s and 70s. It’s kind of weird. I guess they were starved for music other than the crap they played on pop radio in the 1960s. The Specials were a UK ska band, and this album is seen as the height of the ska movement in London. A lot of punk bands were into ska and reggae. Elvis Costello produced this album, which seems weird to me. It seems the UK wasn’t a fun place for young people in the 1970s. I guess we had our own problems, so we didn’t spend too much time learning about the rest of the world in school. Hmmm, while I’m not ready to say this album is a must-hear, I must admit, as I’m arriving at track 5, I’m finding I’m relaxing a bit more and getting into the groove. Basically, because all the songs essentially have the same groove. Maybe it’s the cold, although it's 26 degrees, so compared to -2 last night, we’re having a heatwave here in Kentucky. In track 10, Blank Expression, we get the steel drums coming in, unless it’s just a dude playing a steel drum barrel. I just never got into this kind of music. It all sounds similar to me, which sounds dumb. I realize how all music in one genre sounds alike; otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to pigeonhole that music into that certain genre. The organs also sound like the band should be singing songs about baseball or some other sport, very ballpark organ-y sounding. In track 9, Stupid Marriage, the organ gets a solo, and I literally thought it was going to play Take Me Out to the Ballgame. Amazing. Ugh. Too Much Too Young is six minutes of the same verses over and over. It should’ve been 2 minutes. Listen, I’m never listening to this again. This album proved I still am not a big fan of ska or reggae. I can tolerate it in short bursts, though. Is this an all-timer that needs to be heard before you skank off this mortal coil? Not really. I think its inclusion is more for historical means than being a great album. But it's worth exploring if you know nothing about the genre. This might be something you've been looking for your whole life.
Nothing special about them
Huge generational barrier to this one for me. Kinda funny how strange the lyrics are? Unfortunately I don’t get it
you know what, these guys sound like they're having a blast making music, so good for them. the only song I would go back to is "A Message to You Rudy", a cover of a reggae classic from a decade prior.
I can get on board with ska for a song or two. But man this gets old quick. Won't give it a 1 because it's just not my genre. I think it's good for whoever likes a lot of ska.
It took me a while to appreciate what they were trying to do on this album. Once I accepted that this wasn't an attempt to craft a serious album and that maybe ska is all just a joke, I decided I could tolerate most of it. Except for "Doesn't Make It Alright." Fuck that.
2.5 i enjoyed this listen unsure if i would listen again
More like The Mehs (2.5)
It’s fine but not something I’d listen to again
Not my jam, perhaps one day Ska will work for me. But not so far
i can't say for certain but this might've been worse than being waterboarded. i mean it probably isn't, and i do have to appropriately credit the ska revival movement's counter-cultural influence on racial tensions given the (white) nationalist trends in thatcher-era britain, but also this was pure agony to get through. i don't know how much i weigh historical importance against my personal enjoyment, but i know that i'm leaning on it pretty hard here. elvis costello, a man who haunts me, is a terrible producer. the misogyny in the second half is again tiresome.
Sounds like a soundtrack to a movie set in 1980s suburbia
They switched up their sound every once in a while.
The bass was doing some fun stuff but overall I didn't care for it.
This album grew on me as I listened through it. Still, Ska is pretty one dimensional and died out for a reason. It tends to all sound the same after a while.
Prima gezellig maar was het wel zat na 20 min
Definitely not my vibe and would not play any of the songs again.
It's fine - if you were new to ska/rocksteady, this would be a decent introduction. Just keep in mind the best songs on this album are covers and make it a point to find the originals - Monkey Man and Rudy A Message to You. No issue with the band, but keep in mind there's a lot of ska/rocksteady that's way better!
Not my style of music
Ska is blah, imo. The vocals are nothing special either.
Fine but it doesn’t
A couple songs on here that I really liked, but as a whole, the album started to blend together and I was ready for it to be done by the end. I do like the sound a lot, and love this ska vibe they really pioneered, but as a whole this wasn’t a standout for me.
2,5
I see why there are fans of ska, but I'm still not one of them. The songs are well written and are without a doubt fun, but over the runtime of the entire album the listening experience can only be labeled as grating.
I fear what this has taught me is the belief I like The Specials should be quantified by “the singles”. Apple Music included “Gangsters” as this album’s opening track, which wasn’t included on the original pressing - great song, but I can’t really consider it here. This would fare a bit better mark wise if I could. “A Message to You Rudy” is a fabulous song. The rest of the album feels like a let down in comparison. When the opening bars to “Too Much Too Young” started, I got a bit excited - but then I remembered I didn’t like the studio version compared to the live version; it lacks that quick, sharp spark that the live version has.
Liked this album more than I thought I would just based on first appearances. Not necessarily my style. But there were some enjoyable moments. Favorite song: a message to you rudy
🍃🎷🪘🥁🎸🎤🍃
its like… ska?? idk i js didnt rlly fw it
Still doing nothing much for me
A lot of British bands and British artists recently and a lot of music from the 70s. I don't know if the 70s were really my era musically. I feel like a lot of the music that I have heard from then is more upbeat and energetic than the music I prefer to listen to. I'm not saying I don't like it, I think it's a nice mix-up from what I normally listen to, but it's just not music I will likely reach for again. They are known as a "ska-revival" band, which is a blend of Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae, and punk influence. Overall, seems like an important album is music history as it blended black and white music, but it's just not my favorite. Rating: 6/10 Favorite track: Too much, too young
I just don’t like the beat of ska. I’m glad I listened right through to be sure. The album wasn’t offensive to have on as background noise.
Oi, oi, argey bargey can in hand and powdered nose jostlin' amongst it. Otherwise, a bit old hat. Not much fun without the scene to go with it and I'm over it.
ніби трохи й качова, але абсолютно не моя музика
Standouts A Message to You Rudy
I found the vocals so annoying, it took away from the enjoyable parts of any song. Even the horn section couldn't save it. Standout Tracks: Blank Expression
Ska should be banned