Lessons Learned

adamwhite:

(via kelseymcardle:deathatbay:)

Probably one of the most perfect and important albums ever created, The Specials (1979) is not only the sound of the kids, but it was the soundtrack to a lifestyle, a scene, a movement, and much, much more. Clocking in at only 3/4 of an hour, the album is a concoction of impeccably phrased ska and boiled punk, amounting to the quintessential sound of Two-Tone. The Specials, more than anything though, were the spearhead for a glorious and sometimes forgotten moment in time; they had many contemporaries like Madness and the Selecter and the Beat, but it was they who defined and became the uncompromising nod to the past but also to the present and future. Lyrically charged, often political and polemic, The Specials blended street smarts with high-concept theory, eschewing punk anarchist idiocy in favor of sharp and biting musical elegance. By embracing their moment in time as critics and observers—Thatcherism and the Faulklands War; post-industrial economics and the downturn of the people; social unrest and the burgeoning will of the people; and the rise of pop culture—the Specials created a compelling picture of the world around them, asking of their audience to listen and look around as well. Their positive stance and pro message in a time of incredible nihilism and distrust set a standard for scene-unity that is unheard of, even to this day, and their open stance against racism and nationalism was a forceful reminder of their power as commentators. Every track on their debut is great, whether it be “Monkey Man” or “(Dawning of) A New Era”, and they all coalesces into this overwhelmingly faultless and linear thought: part ideology, part pragmatic statement, but all soul. The Specials is quite possibly one of the most important albums ever made, if-so-fact-o, but it holds itself up behind that claim. The historical context and the ageless wonder and importance that is presented therein is astounding and still sounds fresh and better than most, if all, music of a similar ilk that tries to pass itself off as meaningful these days. This is just one of those albums that everyone should have.

Listen to “A Message to You Rudy” (Live on the Old Grey Whistle Test, 1979) and “Too Much Too Young” (Live on the Old Grey Whistle Test, 1979)
Download “The Specials”

Editor’s Note: Here is a fantastic, complete, and often moving history of the Specials - 2 Tone Records: The Specials