It’s nice that the late Seventies Ska pioneers The Specials have reformed to stash some pension cash, but The Beat, strafing Two Tone’s punky reggae template with taut new wave twin guitars, afro-pop inflections, and dubwise excursions, delivered the movement’s best debut.
I Just Can’t Stop It’s sparkling originals still outshine the cover reliant sets of the Birmingham band’s contemporaries, and here, with two discs of extras, it emerges from oblivion as one of the great British albums, gilded by Bob Sargeant’s innovative digital production.
And in 1980, where Big Shot’s anti-capitalist rant seemed caricatured, now it reads as reportage.
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Idrie, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com