The Specials- S/T (1979) MP3 & FLAC

"What you gonna do when the morons come for you? They won't go away; they want the whole world painted grey."

Unquestionably the defining statement of the late 70s British Ska revival, The Specials' debut album, with its satirically bitter tales of urban decay and racial violence, is no less relevant today than it was in 1979. While the album contains a number of impressive "reworkings" of songs originating from the "first wave" Jamaican Ska, it is to the band's credit that their original compositions stand toe-to-toe with (and occasionally best) these classics. While most Ska bands of the time engaged political issues on some level (although often very obliquely), The Specials were political through and through, explicitly dealing with topics such as class hatred, racism, and economic hopelessness; despite this, they never sound overly didactic and the music is never anything less than danceable. A great marriage of art and politics, and an absolute classic in every sense of the word.

The Specials (2002 Remastered Edition)
 1. A Message to You, Rudy  (2:53)
 2. Do the Dog  (2:09)
 3. It's Up to You  (3:25)
 4. Nite Klub  (3:22)
 5. Doesn't Make It Alright  (3:26)
 6. Concrete Jungle  (3:18)
 7. Too Hot  (3:09)
 8. Monkey Man  (2:45)
 9. (Dawning of a) New Era  (2:24)
10. Blank Expression  (2:43)
11. Stupid Marriage  (3:49)
12. Too Much Too Young  (2:16)
13. Little Bitch  (2:31)
14. You're Wondering Now  (2:36)

MU: Lossy (MP3@320)

MU: Lossless (FLAC)