The Specials

June 6 - June 13, 1 9 9 6

** The Specials

TODAY'S SPECIALS

(Virgin)

The good news: back after nearly 15 years, the reunited Specials include four of the six original bandmembers. The bad news: the two who didn't return are lead singer Terry Hall and songwriter/keyboardist Jerry Dammers. This low-key, all-covers album doesn't equal the high or low points of the original band; it's a long way from their fiery 1980 debut but more entertaining than the listless follow-up. Instead of the original band's punk/ska, these Specials play a well-behaved brand of reggae, and some of their covers are far too obvious: Bob Marley's "Simmer Down" was already nailed by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and Toots Hibbert's "Pressure Drop" didn't need another revival after the Clash's.

On the other hand, the Pogues' "Dirty Old Town," Dave Brubeck's "Take Five," and the Clash's "Somebody Got Murdered" all adapt well to their reggae reworkings, and the Monkees' "A Little Bit Me, a Little Bit You"-- the furthest stretch for material -- gets an infectious dancehall treatment. The old, punkish sound turns up only once, on another Marley cover ("Hypocrite") that's the disc's highlight. This is a decent covers album, but it's not really special, and it's not really the Specials.

-- Brett Milano