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.
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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John Robins, Comedian
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Peter Fears, Twitter
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter