CD-Charts Position 1
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The Specials Singles: the Best of the Specials

by: The Specials

Release Date August 27, 1991
The Specials Singles is just that containing at least the a-sides of the 45's of one the greatest bands of all time. Opening with one of the strongest debut single of all time `Gangsters' it moves through double `a' side `Rudi, a Message to You' and `Nite Klub' to the first side of there live EP `Too Much Too Young' and the Skatalite inspired `Guns of Navarone'.

Stand alone single `Rat Race' is next before we move into less comfortable territory with double `a' `Stereotype' b/w `International Jet Set' and then `Do Nothing'. The magnificent `Ghost Town' is next together with both of its equally good b-sides `Why?' and `Friday Night, Saturday Morning'.

The quality drops as Terry Hall, Neville Staples and Lynval Golding ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Utter Madness

by: Madness

Release Date July 07, 2003
The Specials Singles is just that containing at least the a-sides of the 45's of one the greatest bands of all time. Opening with one of the strongest debut single of all time `Gangsters' it moves through double `a' side `Rudi, a Message to You' and `Nite Klub' to the first side of there live EP `Too Much Too Young' and the Skatalite inspired `Guns of Navarone'.

Stand alone single `Rat Race' is next before we move into less comfortable territory with double `a' `Stereotype' b/w `International Jet Set' and then `Do Nothing'. The magnificent `Ghost Town' is next together with both of its equally good b-sides `Why?' and `Friday Night, Saturday Morning'.

The quality drops as Terry Hall, Neville Staples and Lynval Golding ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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The Very Best Of The Jam

by: The Jam

Release Date June 18, 1999
Whatever people tell me about the ramones: i always say that these guys defined punk music. Still today The Jam is a classic band that will always have a place in my album collection. This CD however is overdoing everything. Punk rock albums are usually very short and having to listen to 20 songs that do all sound extremely simmilar can get tedious. More than this I believe that punk bands very designed for live performances: they had a great attitude to live acts which made them amazing to listen to. The CD takes the heart out of this genre and for that i mark it down. Also there are a few songs could have done without.
81/100

CD-Charts Position 4
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The Specials

by: Specials

Release Date March 25, 2002
This is my favourite of the 2 Specials albums. 'More Specials' is quirkier, but this is equally fun and more up-tempo. I love to leap around to this record at every oportunity, (much to the annoyance of my neighbours). I could wiffle on about all of the profound lyrics and such and Terry Hall's deadpan style, but once you buy this record then you will find out for yourself. Suffice to say that this record is well worth getting for your collection. If you like that 2 tone sound, then it really doesn't get any better than this. And at this price it is a steal!!!!

CD-Charts Position 5
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One Step Beyond...

by: Madness

Release Date June 10, 2008
By 1976, rock music had become so saturated with pretentiousness that people started to react and a whole mass of styles developed. The British Ska revival was one, led by the Specials and Madness, adopting an authentic attitude and philosophy that echoed the ska bands of the 60s. This is encapsulated in Madness early albums; "One Step Beyond" (1979) included. Their style was sometimes accused of not being truly reflective of traditional Ska, and their lyrics lacked the sense of protest projected by some other bands. There may be some truth in this, but they seemed to do so with an attractive sense of innocence i.e., they said 'hey, this is just music, music to enjoy... there are no politics here!!! In terms of song writing, Madness were probably one step ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
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Legend: Remastered

by: Bob Marley

Release Date September 04, 2006
Brilliant artist,superb songs, awful remaster.This has took all the raw sound out of this mans music.If you listen to the originals there is no comparison.Messing about with tracks either works or it does not,this is the latter.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Greatest Hits

by: Blondie

Release Date October 21, 2002
Excellent CD well put together compilation of Hits - great to listen to well worth buying.

CD-Charts Position 8
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Greatest Hits

by: Selecter

Release Date May 13, 1996
Like all cut price compilations they are most telling for their omissions rather than what they include. This one has only one glaring omission debut side `The Selecter' the instrumental on the b-side of The Specials 45 `Gangsters' which created the initial excitement to start the band in the first place. Also absent is the classic version of the cover of `Train to Skaville' which with its 12" dub version was definitely a high point of the bands career.

However gripes aside it manages to include the non album singles `On My Radio' and my personal favourite `The Whisper' along with the best eight cuts from the debut LP `Too Much Pressure'. The remaining six songs are drawn from the bands disappointing second LP `Celebrate the Bullet' which is perhaps ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
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The Essential Clash

by: The Clash

Release Date April 25, 2005
This is such an awesome collection!
I have more or less every Clash album made, but this 2 disc CD is a great mix of some of their best work, and really represents why they are one of the greatest and most important bands ever formed.
The first disc is my personal favourite - opening with the stomping 'White Riot', this CD shows their early work...tracks such as 'Complete Control' and 'London's Burning' have heavy political views, but performed in such a furious rage that demands your attention. This is the band in their youth years - all the tracks are pure punk anthems, which I love!
Disc Two starts off with their best work - a mixture of genres such as reggae and rock are clearly heard in 'London Calling' and 'Rudy Can't Fail', but particularly ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
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The Best of OMD

by: OMD

Release Date February 29, 1988
Besides the obvious highlight, 'Enola Gay', most of this is mediocre 80's synth, grating and dated-sounding.

The synth grates after a while, and the likes of 'Messages' is repetitive and hokey, without even any lyrics to drag it above average. 'Souveneir sounds like something you would hear playing in B&Q or General George, utterly banal.

The vocals are unpleasant, and the rest of the album plays out in the same way, so inoffensive it's offensive. Droning synth-by-numbers.