The Specials — (Dawning of a) New Era

This is the dawning of a new era!

Woke up and thought, “This ain’t exactly heaven,

Oh shit, this is area seven!”

I’ve never been a big ska guy, but I’ve really fallen in love with the Specials’ debut album. Their ska roots don’t disguise the fact that they’re very much a band of the moment (1979); even their covers bristle with punk rage, cut with a nerdy outsider’s wit (and a disconcerting amount of spite arrayed at women). Their producer? Elvis Costello.

I like it when things make sense.