Emily: I'm embarrassed to say that in all of my ska fandom I have never listened to The Specials. I had really only heard of them through Mustard Plug's Brain On Ska with the line "respect the Specials!" Truth is, The Specials are the founding fathers of third-wave ska. They pioneered the two-tone sound which is commonly associated with ska today. And they were one of the first to combine the island reggae of Jamaica with the punk beats and sensibility of the UK. The combination, although on paper it sounds a bit weird at first to non-ska fans, works together seamlessly. Rather than mashing both sounds together entirely on every track, they tweak the balance a bit from track to track. Some songs feature heavy reggae vibes, while others are guitar-driven, shout-along punk songs. Each song stands out, but they all work together as a whole. If you are a ska fan, you need to listen to this album. Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, and Streetlight Manifesto are all amazing in their own right, but The Specials started it all.
Favorite Tracks: Concrete Jungle; Little Bitch; A Message to You, Rudy
Zack: There's definitely something special about the debut album by The Specials, appropriately named, Specials. It isn't the narcissism involved in the naming process or the fact that it is a masterful piece of production by Mr. Elvis Costello himself. What makes this album so special is the focused rebellion of the lyrics. Jerry Dammers, the primary songwriter for this album, puts actual meaning into each song that truly represents the feelings of the Skinhead culture of the late 70s and early 80s in the UK. There are songs about growing up, free will, the Clockwork Orange-esque streets of the grimy parts of London, the foolishness of marriage, and birth control. Some are covers or adaptations of 1st wave ska bands from the Caribbean but every song is done in such a way that makes them all uniquely The Specials.
Favorite Tracks: Concrete Jungle; Stupid Marriage; Little Bitch
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