Album Reviews
Embodying the name of its self-created U.K. record label 2-Tone, the black-and-white band specialized in contrast, flaunting sharp vintage suits and sharper contemporary commentary, party sounds and rueful sentiments, kinetic remakes of previously obscure ska and reggae oldies (including Dandy Livingstone's "A Message to You Rudy," Prince Buster's "Too Hot" and the Maytals' "Monkey Man"), as well as songwriting that equaled or bettered its inspirations. Produced with straightforward intensity by Elvis Costello, The Specials' fourteen tracks veered between racism ("Doesn't Make It Alright"), urban anxiety ("Concrete Jungle"), babies making babies (the BBC-banned but chart-topping "Too Much Too Young"), trendies ("Nite Klub"), free will ("It's Up to You") and more. Although Hall, Staples and guitarist-singer Lynval Golding would soon split to form Fun Boy Three and the others would regroup as the Special A.K.A., this early achievement remains one of New Wave's greatest and most diverse debuts.
(Posted: Oct 6, 2005)
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- A Message To You Rudy
- Do The Dog
- It's Up To You
- Nite Klub
- Doesn't Make It Alright
- Concrete Jungle
- Too Hot
- Monkey Man
- New Era (Dawning Of A)
- Blank Expression
- Stupid Marriage
- Too Much Too Young
- Little Bitch
- You're Wondering Now
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