The Specials
- 101Walterton
- The Best
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- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 5:36pm
- Location: Volcanic Rock In The Pacific
The Specials
First review of the new album Encore is promising:
By Pete Chambers
Encore by The Specials
So finally after all the talk, conjecture and rumour, we have a new Specials album to be released next year to celebrate 40 Years of the iconic 2-Tone label.
I was one of the first to hear it, so it feels good to finally be able to talk about it.
Of course, there are those that will not be joining the party, some because Specials founder Jerry Dammers is not involved, some because the band has effectively become a trio (Hall, Golding and Panter). That’s a shame because any new offering should be judged on the music it presents.
Here in my opinion, Coventry’s finest are walking a tightrope that sees them balancing new sounds with the sounds of old, hopefully with no major falls. Did they pull it off? Well lets dive in track by track.
The album opens with a funky tip of the hat to The Equals, Britain’s first multicultural band and a cover of their hit ‘Black Skinned Blue-Eyed Boys’, an anthem to mixed race, very much the theme of this album, no surprise that The Specials are still fighting the fight.
Further in that vein is ‘B.L.M. (Black Lives Matter)’ – Lynval Golding telling his story of arriving in England and the racial abuse he suffered, something that continues in the land of the free where he now lives, “Is that all you see, the colour of my skin, welcome to my world.”
‘Vote for Me’. originally the working title of the album, gets much more into the Ska groove, effectively the bridge from Ghost Town to this new album. I can see this becoming a live favourite. Terry’s vocals sound so strong throughout, and the total second-to-none musicianship from all as you would expect after all these years.
‘The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum’.. If the Specials had continued this was a strong contender to be the next single.
Terry and Lynval recorded it as The Fun Boy Three with Neville Staple (who also does a great version of this). So it’s good that they chose to cover their own song.
The arrangements on this album have been intricately crafted and this track is no exception, Nikolaj Torp Larsen’s keyboard playing reminding me so much of the great Mike Garson Bowie’s one time keyboard player. By the way, Nikolaj Torp Larsen also co-wrote and co-produced this album alongside Hall, Golding and Panter.
More politics as we move to the dangers of the internet with ‘Breaking Point’, with Terry being Terry making a joyous swipe at it all. Then just as you think that this band may have forgotten their Trojan roots, we have ‘Blam Blam Fever’, a clever cover of The Valentines’ ‘Gun Fever’.
So next up, The Specials are legs akimbo musically speaking, one foot in the past, and one very much in the round about now. ‘The Ten Commandments’ is an answer to Prince Buster’s misogynist ‘Ten Commandments of Man’ with the voice from the lady who famously stood up to the EDL, Saffiyah Khan.
Defiant and in your face (of course), it’s so important that this is on here. Yes, The Specials are still relevant.
‘Embarrassed By You’ points an angry finger at the hooded youth (does that make the Specials angry old men?), with the vocals superbly shared by Lynval and Terry, another track guaranteed to be a skanking favourite.
‘The Life And Times (Of A Man Called Depression)’ is a Terry Hall part confessional part swipe at those who would ask a person with depression to ‘Cheer Up’. Yes, its finally good to hear him address this, he refuses to be defined as a human being by the chains of depression, and those who love to say, ‘he doesn’t smile much’, well, this one is for you.
The song is an album highlight and has classic written all over it. ‘We Sell Hope’ is just a great track that finishes this set off perfectly. Like Pandora’s box, in the final shot we are left with hope. Once again Terry Hall shines through, and that is it, this new journey ends.
This album has lot to live up to, it was a long time coming and expectancy is high.
Did they get it right? I believe they did. Each track has its own personality, its own reason to be on here. They are still fighting the fight, still making us dance and still asking questions.
There will be some that won’t buy into this (already some hate it, but have yet to even hear it). But thousands will love it, and to them it’s the dawning of a new era, but like the Specials of old, that was so last century.
Tour dates were announced on Tuesday with tickets going on general sale on Friday November 2.
(The album is on Island Records via Universal Music, released 1/2/19 also on available on download. The CD version comes with a bonus Best of The Specials Live CD).
https://coventryobserver.co.uk/news/mus ... of-2-tone/
By Pete Chambers
Encore by The Specials
So finally after all the talk, conjecture and rumour, we have a new Specials album to be released next year to celebrate 40 Years of the iconic 2-Tone label.
I was one of the first to hear it, so it feels good to finally be able to talk about it.
Of course, there are those that will not be joining the party, some because Specials founder Jerry Dammers is not involved, some because the band has effectively become a trio (Hall, Golding and Panter). That’s a shame because any new offering should be judged on the music it presents.
Here in my opinion, Coventry’s finest are walking a tightrope that sees them balancing new sounds with the sounds of old, hopefully with no major falls. Did they pull it off? Well lets dive in track by track.
The album opens with a funky tip of the hat to The Equals, Britain’s first multicultural band and a cover of their hit ‘Black Skinned Blue-Eyed Boys’, an anthem to mixed race, very much the theme of this album, no surprise that The Specials are still fighting the fight.
Further in that vein is ‘B.L.M. (Black Lives Matter)’ – Lynval Golding telling his story of arriving in England and the racial abuse he suffered, something that continues in the land of the free where he now lives, “Is that all you see, the colour of my skin, welcome to my world.”
‘Vote for Me’. originally the working title of the album, gets much more into the Ska groove, effectively the bridge from Ghost Town to this new album. I can see this becoming a live favourite. Terry’s vocals sound so strong throughout, and the total second-to-none musicianship from all as you would expect after all these years.
‘The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum’.. If the Specials had continued this was a strong contender to be the next single.
Terry and Lynval recorded it as The Fun Boy Three with Neville Staple (who also does a great version of this). So it’s good that they chose to cover their own song.
The arrangements on this album have been intricately crafted and this track is no exception, Nikolaj Torp Larsen’s keyboard playing reminding me so much of the great Mike Garson Bowie’s one time keyboard player. By the way, Nikolaj Torp Larsen also co-wrote and co-produced this album alongside Hall, Golding and Panter.
More politics as we move to the dangers of the internet with ‘Breaking Point’, with Terry being Terry making a joyous swipe at it all. Then just as you think that this band may have forgotten their Trojan roots, we have ‘Blam Blam Fever’, a clever cover of The Valentines’ ‘Gun Fever’.
So next up, The Specials are legs akimbo musically speaking, one foot in the past, and one very much in the round about now. ‘The Ten Commandments’ is an answer to Prince Buster’s misogynist ‘Ten Commandments of Man’ with the voice from the lady who famously stood up to the EDL, Saffiyah Khan.
Defiant and in your face (of course), it’s so important that this is on here. Yes, The Specials are still relevant.
‘Embarrassed By You’ points an angry finger at the hooded youth (does that make the Specials angry old men?), with the vocals superbly shared by Lynval and Terry, another track guaranteed to be a skanking favourite.
‘The Life And Times (Of A Man Called Depression)’ is a Terry Hall part confessional part swipe at those who would ask a person with depression to ‘Cheer Up’. Yes, its finally good to hear him address this, he refuses to be defined as a human being by the chains of depression, and those who love to say, ‘he doesn’t smile much’, well, this one is for you.
The song is an album highlight and has classic written all over it. ‘We Sell Hope’ is just a great track that finishes this set off perfectly. Like Pandora’s box, in the final shot we are left with hope. Once again Terry Hall shines through, and that is it, this new journey ends.
This album has lot to live up to, it was a long time coming and expectancy is high.
Did they get it right? I believe they did. Each track has its own personality, its own reason to be on here. They are still fighting the fight, still making us dance and still asking questions.
There will be some that won’t buy into this (already some hate it, but have yet to even hear it). But thousands will love it, and to them it’s the dawning of a new era, but like the Specials of old, that was so last century.
Tour dates were announced on Tuesday with tickets going on general sale on Friday November 2.
(The album is on Island Records via Universal Music, released 1/2/19 also on available on download. The CD version comes with a bonus Best of The Specials Live CD).
https://coventryobserver.co.uk/news/mus ... of-2-tone/
- Heston
- God of Thunder...and Rock 'n Roll
- Posts: 38356
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 4:07pm
- Location: North of Watford Junction
Re: The Specials
This sounds promising, I'm really glad they're making music.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
- 101Walterton
- The Best
- Posts: 21973
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 5:36pm
- Location: Volcanic Rock In The Pacific
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58890
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: The Specials
Yep can't wait to hear it.
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- 101Walterton
- The Best
- Posts: 21973
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 5:36pm
- Location: Volcanic Rock In The Pacific
Re: The Specials
Have you heard Vote For Me?
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58890
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: The Specials
Yep I dig it. I grabbed it from Spotify.101Walterton wrote: ↑03 Dec 2018, 9:14pmHave you heard Vote For Me?
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.
"there are no rocks at rockaway beach and all that glitters isn't gold"
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- tepista
- Foul-Mouthed Werewolf
- Posts: 37872
- Joined: 16 Jun 2008, 11:25am
- Location: Livin on a fault line, Waiting on the big one
Re: The Specials
We reach the parts other combos cannot reach
We beach the beachheads other armies cannot beach
We speak the tongues other mouths cannot speak
We beach the beachheads other armies cannot beach
We speak the tongues other mouths cannot speak
- 101Walterton
- The Best
- Posts: 21973
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 5:36pm
- Location: Volcanic Rock In The Pacific
Re: The Specials
Marky have you ordered it yet, where did you get it from as I need to do it?Marky Dread wrote: ↑03 Dec 2018, 10:30pmYep I dig it. I grabbed it from Spotify.101Walterton wrote: ↑03 Dec 2018, 9:14pmHave you heard Vote For Me?
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.
"there are no rocks at rockaway beach and all that glitters isn't gold"
- Dr. Medulla
- Atheistic Epileptic
- Posts: 116017
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
- Location: Straight Banana, Idaho
Re: The Specials
Written with 101 in mind: https://thehardtimes.net/music/ska-wait ... -specials/
"Wandering through starry skies and when tomorrow's day arrives, I'll be a morning closer to the brightest hour here with you. One step closer, getting brighter. One step closer, getting brighter." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58890
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: The Specials
Oi doofus look a couple of posts up to teps post.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 9:59amWritten with 101 in mind: https://thehardtimes.net/music/ska-wait ... -specials/
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58890
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: The Specials
Not seen a physical copy yet. There is a download at Amazon UK for 99p. Me I just grabbed it from Spotify with some software for now.101Walterton wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 4:54amMarky have you ordered it yet, where did you get it from as I need to do it?Marky Dread wrote: ↑03 Dec 2018, 10:30pmYep I dig it. I grabbed it from Spotify.101Walterton wrote: ↑03 Dec 2018, 9:14pmHave you heard Vote For Me?
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.
"there are no rocks at rockaway beach and all that glitters isn't gold"
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- Dr. Medulla
- Atheistic Epileptic
- Posts: 116017
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
- Location: Straight Banana, Idaho
Re: The Specials
Ha! In this case, no, I don't read this thread.Marky Dread wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 10:11amOi doofus look a couple of posts up to teps post.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 9:59amWritten with 101 in mind: https://thehardtimes.net/music/ska-wait ... -specials/
"Wandering through starry skies and when tomorrow's day arrives, I'll be a morning closer to the brightest hour here with you. One step closer, getting brighter. One step closer, getting brighter." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
- Marky Dread
- Messiah of the Milk Bar
- Posts: 58890
- Joined: 17 Jun 2008, 11:26am
Re: The Specials
No harm done mate. I mean it's not if it's anything important like the KISS thread.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 10:17amHa! In this case, no, I don't read this thread.Marky Dread wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 10:11amOi doofus look a couple of posts up to teps post.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 9:59amWritten with 101 in mind: https://thehardtimes.net/music/ska-wait ... -specials/
Forces have been looting
My humanity
Curfews have been curbing
The end of liberty
We're the flowers in the dustbin...
No fuchsias for you.
"Without the common people you're nothing"
Nos Sumus Una Familia
- Dr. Medulla
- Atheistic Epileptic
- Posts: 116017
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 2:00pm
- Location: Straight Banana, Idaho
Re: The Specials
Less oozing, anyway.Marky Dread wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 10:21amNo harm done mate. I mean it's not if it's anything important like the KISS thread.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 10:17amHa! In this case, no, I don't read this thread.Marky Dread wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 10:11amOi doofus look a couple of posts up to teps post.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 9:59amWritten with 101 in mind: https://thehardtimes.net/music/ska-wait ... -specials/
"Wandering through starry skies and when tomorrow's day arrives, I'll be a morning closer to the brightest hour here with you. One step closer, getting brighter. One step closer, getting brighter." - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
- 101Walterton
- The Best
- Posts: 21973
- Joined: 15 Jun 2008, 5:36pm
- Location: Volcanic Rock In The Pacific
Re: The Specials
I meant the album pre order? I was waiting to see what options there were like delux versions etc.Marky Dread wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 10:14amNot seen a physical copy yet. There is a download at Amazon UK for 99p. Me I just grabbed it from Spotify with some software for now.101Walterton wrote: ↑04 Dec 2018, 4:54amMarky have you ordered it yet, where did you get it from as I need to do it?Marky Dread wrote: ↑03 Dec 2018, 10:30pmYep I dig it. I grabbed it from Spotify.101Walterton wrote: ↑03 Dec 2018, 9:14pmHave you heard Vote For Me?
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.
"there are no rocks at rockaway beach and all that glitters isn't gold"