Political messages with a disco twist
The Specials are a ska revival band from Coventry, England. Founded in 1977, the band’s career has been extremely illustrious to this point. The band has released eight albums with many different lineups. Still, even in the midst of these obstacles, the band has never failed to be themselves. It may be unconventional, but The Specials have always loved performing covers. This tradition stays alive on Encore with three tracks: “Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys” by the Equals, “Blam Blam Fever” by the Valentines and “The Lunatics” by Fun Boy Three. What’s more important though is that Encore is the first album of the band to contain original tracks since 1998. Considering the band’s 20 year songwriting hiatus, listeners may be skeptical going into this record. Luckily, they can throw their doubts aside. Encore is a fun, self-aware record that old and new fans alike can enjoy.
This album blends a lot of styles and genres. The opening track “Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys” is an updated version of The Equals song. The updated version extenuates a disco style that is very catchy with an anti-war message. That style blends well into the next track, “B.L.M.” As an obvious reference to the Black Lives Matter movement, this shows the band’s tremendous ability to tell stories. While the song’s blend of reggae and disco is interesting, the repetitive nature of the instrumental allows listeners to truly hone in on the lyrics. The next track, “Vote For Me,” which is obviously another politically themed song, starts out with a typical reggae style, but the smooth jazz lounge style piano is really relaxing.
This technique is implemented often across this record. The heavy political discourse displayed in the lyrics is contrasted with a smooth and laid book groove. In a way, it makes their message easier to hear. The music is inviting, but the message resonates long after the music has ended. Just as this musical contrast was very deliberate, so was the track order. The track list takes the listener on a musical journey. The whole thing feels very cohesive. Even the covers are carefully chosen for their lyrical content and spaced throughout the album strategically to tell their point of view.
Overall, Encore is impressive. The way The Specials are able to find a way to present their political views in a light and fun way is extremely smart and commendable. For a band as aged as The Specials, you might expect something stale, but every aspect of this project feels well executed and authentic. It truly is a brilliant performance.
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