Concrete Jungle - Specials (The)

Advantages: It's the Specials!
Disadvantages: One or two tracks not so good.

...Specials - The Specials It's 1979 I am 16 going on 17, left school and am a scooter skin, which basically meant I rode a scooter (Lambretta SX 200) and had a skinhead. I was into Ska in a big way, but old style skinhead Ska, The Pioneers, The Upsetters etc. Then something happened, we got British Ska, The Beat, Selector, Madness (early on) and the best of all, The Specials. I have two vinyl LP's left in my house, this one (very scratched) and one by a band called Back To The Planet. This LP rocked, it got played over and over from '79 to '81 (when The Jam took over for me). ~~~~~The Band~~~~~ The band themselves seemed to consist of hundreds of people, though in fact there were: Jerry Dammers - Keyboards Terry Hall - Vocals Neville Staple - Vocals and percussion Roddy radiation - Guitar (Sir) Horace Gentleman - Bass... Read review

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Advantages: inteligent varied original
Disadvantages: their last record as a group

...Some are born great,as the saying goes ,others have greatness thrust upon them,and in the case of The Specials it seems not only did they achieve greatness with their debut album "Specials",but had even more greatness thrust upon them by an over expectant music press and ravenous fan base all eager for more of their punk/ska riotous rapture ,however in the spirit of true greatness and wanton defiance they delivered "More Specials" in the autumn of 1980,and in direct conflict to its title could well have been called "Less Specials " In the twelve months which had elapsed between their debut and this daring follow up the musical landscape had changed a great deal ,the fury of punk which gave rise to the groups foundations was now a fading memory as new sounds and movements splinterd into a varied buffet of sounds and movements... Read review

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Advantages: COOL INDIE REMINDER OF DRUGSTORE / MAZZY STAR
Disadvantages: ONLY 40 MINUTES OF CLASS!

...Earlier Concretes sounds were a little confused and conflicted. Hinting at the indie marvel they've now become, but instead approaching a jazzier and less befitting sound. As well as this, their songwriting is clearly less established than it is, later in their career. This release with its opulent artwork, filled with lusciously illustrated creature of the world, surrounded by psychedelic, yet dark patterns, that hint at the cool that's contained here in this great LP. Upbeat drums guitars and driven bass, dressed up to the nines in a suit of brass, sharp enough to kill, are unleashed on the LPs opening 2 tracks 'Say Something New' & 'You Can't Hurry Love', both of which were singles, and understandably, as was the somewhat sullen, but sublime 3rd track 'Chico', which stirs up sounds and sentiments that the 'Magic Numbers' would... Read review

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