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The Specials

Posted: 30 Oct 2018, 5:42pm
by 101Walterton
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/

Re: The Specials

Posted: 30 Oct 2018, 7:02pm
by Heston
This sounds promising, I'm really glad they're making music.

Re: The Specials

Posted: 31 Oct 2018, 3:08am
by 101Walterton
Heston wrote:
30 Oct 2018, 7:02pm
This sounds promising, I'm really glad they're making music.
Agreed. Doesn’t matter what they are called I’m just looking forward to the songs. I’m a big fan of the stuff Lynval wrote for The Specials.

Re: The Specials

Posted: 15 Nov 2018, 10:13am
by Marky Dread
Yep can't wait to hear it.

Re: The Specials

Posted: 03 Dec 2018, 9:14pm
by 101Walterton
Have you heard Vote For Me?
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.

Re: The Specials

Posted: 03 Dec 2018, 10:30pm
by Marky Dread
101Walterton wrote:
03 Dec 2018, 9:14pm
Have you heard Vote For Me?
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.
Yep I dig it. I grabbed it from Spotify.

"there are no rocks at rockaway beach and all that glitters isn't gold"

Re: The Specials

Posted: 04 Dec 2018, 1:40am
by tepista

Re: The Specials

Posted: 04 Dec 2018, 4:54am
by 101Walterton
Marky Dread wrote:
03 Dec 2018, 10:30pm
101Walterton wrote:
03 Dec 2018, 9:14pm
Have you heard Vote For Me?
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.
Yep I dig it. I grabbed it from Spotify.

"there are no rocks at rockaway beach and all that glitters isn't gold"
Marky have you ordered it yet, where did you get it from as I need to do it?

Re: The Specials

Posted: 04 Dec 2018, 9:59am
by Dr. Medulla

Re: The Specials

Posted: 04 Dec 2018, 10:11am
by Marky Dread
Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 9:59am
Written with 101 in mind: https://thehardtimes.net/music/ska-wait ... -specials/
Oi doofus look a couple of posts up to teps post. ;)

Re: The Specials

Posted: 04 Dec 2018, 10:14am
by Marky Dread
101Walterton wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 4:54am
Marky Dread wrote:
03 Dec 2018, 10:30pm
101Walterton wrote:
03 Dec 2018, 9:14pm
Have you heard Vote For Me?
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.
Yep I dig it. I grabbed it from Spotify.

"there are no rocks at rockaway beach and all that glitters isn't gold"
Marky have you ordered it yet, where did you get it from as I need to do it?
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.

Re: The Specials

Posted: 04 Dec 2018, 10:17am
by Dr. Medulla
Marky Dread wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 10:11am
Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 9:59am
Written with 101 in mind: https://thehardtimes.net/music/ska-wait ... -specials/
Oi doofus look a couple of posts up to teps post. ;)
Ha! In this case, no, I don't read this thread. :lol:

Re: The Specials

Posted: 04 Dec 2018, 10:21am
by Marky Dread
Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 10:17am
Marky Dread wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 10:11am
Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 9:59am
Written with 101 in mind: https://thehardtimes.net/music/ska-wait ... -specials/
Oi doofus look a couple of posts up to teps post. ;)
Ha! In this case, no, I don't read this thread. :lol:
No harm done mate. I mean it's not if it's anything important like the KISS thread. :mrgreen:

Re: The Specials

Posted: 04 Dec 2018, 10:32am
by Dr. Medulla
Marky Dread wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 10:21am
Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 10:17am
Marky Dread wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 10:11am
Dr. Medulla wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 9:59am
Written with 101 in mind: https://thehardtimes.net/music/ska-wait ... -specials/
Oi doofus look a couple of posts up to teps post. ;)
Ha! In this case, no, I don't read this thread. :lol:
No harm done mate. I mean it's not if it's anything important like the KISS thread. :mrgreen:
Less oozing, anyway.

Re: The Specials

Posted: 04 Dec 2018, 1:58pm
by 101Walterton
Marky Dread wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 10:14am
101Walterton wrote:
04 Dec 2018, 4:54am
Marky Dread wrote:
03 Dec 2018, 10:30pm
101Walterton wrote:
03 Dec 2018, 9:14pm
Have you heard Vote For Me?
Came up on my Instagram, very good, well impressed.
Can’t wait to hear this album now.
Yep I dig it. I grabbed it from Spotify.

"there are no rocks at rockaway beach and all that glitters isn't gold"
Marky have you ordered it yet, where did you get it from as I need to do it?
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.
I meant the album pre order? I was waiting to see what options there were like delux versions etc.