The Specials - Specials

Decade - 1970's



The Specials - Specials (1979)

Well, where to start? This is certainly an acquired taste, and not one I'm going to acquire anytime soon.

The Specials were an English "Two Tone" band, which was basically the British revival of Ska in the 1970's. Ska was a Jamaican style of music which blended with American jazz and rhythm and blues. THIS particular style, "Two Tone", pretty much sounds like an alien mix of reggae with a punk vocal. If that sounds weird, it's because it is!

Now like any specialist genre, I'm sure this has it's devotees. I just don't get it. It was niceish, happy music, but it makes no sense to me. It's like the wrong parts of each genre mashed together just to confuse me. Imagine Johnny Rotten trying to sing Opera and you'll get what I mean.

A lot of the album just blends together - it's very similar in tone throughout and so inevitably, it's much better as background or driving music. It would certainly struggle to hold my attention for more than one song.

Score - 5/10

Best Tracks - Concrete Jungle, A Message to you Rudy

Genre - Ska (Two Tone)

Recommended? - If you like either reggae or punk, you can try!