Guilty Til Proved Innocent
Though they'd be hard-pressed to match the musical intensity and political commitment of the original Specials lineup's heyday in the late '70s to early '80s, these seminal ska-punks acquit themselves quite respectably on this comeback effort. With most of the group's original members (though not co-frontman Terry Hall and keyboardist Jerry Dammers) on hand, the resurgent band refuses to pander to its living-legend status, and catchy, rhythmically skillful tunes like "It's You," "Fearful," "Bonediggin'," and "All Gone Wrong" have a thoughtful, upbeat spirit that honors the band's history without exploiting it.--Scott Schinder