Reggae & Ska > Ska Reggae & Ska > 2 Tone Ska

Advantages: Great beats, great lyrics, brilliant songs - all hits
Disadvantages: Couple of songs not so hot

...on the album. 06 - Best Friend, good song, yet another chart hit, but just average compared to the rest of the album. 07 - Rankin Full Stop - this is the first song I heard by The Beat many years ago and is a brilliant ska beat. Should bring back lots of memories. 08 - Can't Get used To Losing You - one of their more main stream songs, brilliant love song, amazing how many can be done with ska and not feel wrong, great beat and vocal combo. 09 ...
...average than some of their best stuff, but considering everyone song on the album was a hit...its not bad. 11 - To Nice To Talk To - great song - a reminder how stupid I used to feel as a teenage when faced with someone I had a crush on. 12 - Doors Of Your Heart - my favourite song on the album, great lyrics, vocals and music arrangement, explains why it was a hit. Starts with what feels like a love song, but leads into querying racism, and ends ... Read review

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

...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 ...
...and movements allowing for a more tolerant musical enviroment free from the confines of punks tunnel vision and it was into this climate the genius of Jerry Dammers was allowed to thrive unchecked ,a youth mispent listening to samba ,ska ,soul , calypso,disco and film soundtracks was finally put to good use . The resulting sound was so far ahead of its time that some people never caught up,it condensed and distilled the sound of a United Kingdom ... Read review

Advantages: Fun, Racy Tracks
Disadvantages: Songs aren't labeled by which band wrote them.

...shelf and it was the best £2 i ever spent! This is a brilliant abum featuring Neville Staple and his guest band with special appearences from Jane Wiedlin Jennifer and Leila Avila. The front cover design is based on traditional ska style with the black and white check and fully dressed Rude Boys, Pork Pies and all! The album inclides ska classics such as, -Ghost Town (which hit number one in 1981) -A message to you rudy -Our lips are sealed ...
...in coventry 1977. The members were, Jerry Dammers Terry hall Neville Staples Sir Horace Gentleman Roddy Radiation Lynval Golding John Bradbury Their debut LP was 'Specials-Too Much Too Young' which instantly hit number one in the UK. After their well known song ' Ghost Town' hit number one in 1981 Neville Staples, Lynval Golding and Terry Hall left the band and Stan Campbell joined. In the 1980's Lynval Golding, Neville Staples and Terry ... Read review

Advantages: catchy new takes on classic songs
Disadvantages: nothing new

...Spunge albums. Bear in mind that I have not heard any of the originals, so I will be able to offer comparisons in that respect. The tracklist for That Should Cover It (even the name of the album seems to imply that they only released it to stop the gap between albums) is as follows: 1. Centre Fold 2. Circle In The Sand 3. Oliver's Army 4. Land Down Under 5. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) 6. Happy Hour 7. Whitehouse 8. Get Along 9. Skanking Song ...
...original, but is so cheerful that one can't help but sing along. Land Down Under, originally by Men At Work, I have heard before, and I must say I prefer the Spunge version. The lyrics are just as sublimely weird as they were to begin with, but ska just seems to fit the song's atmosphere a lot better. I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) has been covered by every punk band since history began, and this version is no different to any others. Happy Hour, originally ... Read review

Advantages: great selection of artists and classics
Disadvantages: one track a bit samey

Ali Campbell's Running Free is a great mixture of songs featuring some equally as talented artists. What a brilliant CD to be given. "' Why this CD?'" I have been a big fan of UB40 since the age of 14yr and own some of their orginal albums on vinyl. For those too young to remember - those black things that came in 2 sizes 45" and 33" and when put onto a turn table played crackling, sorry cracking, sounds. I was given this Album by one of my daughters ...
...magically around the octaves of Running Free with Ali reflecting both perfect pitch and fast rhythms. What a beautiful version of this classic. (4 mins) Ali's solo of Hold Me Tight is one of my favourites of the whole CD. For all UB40 fans this is the 'real good old stuff' that take you back to when the gang appeared on Top of the Pops. Reggae beats keeping that constant flow with interjections of Ali's powerful harmony pleadings and 'baba babas'. ... Read review