Too Much Pressure

Of all the 2 Tone ska bands, the Selecter had the hardest edge and the punkiest vibe. While Madness were silly and fun, the Specials were ironic and reggae-inflected, and the Beat experimented with calypso and soul, the Selecter pumped out tense, high-energy ska that simultaneously celebrated the tradition (note their wonderful cover of Justin Hinds’ “Carry Go Bring Come”) and brought a new intensity to it (“Too Much Pressure,” “Three Minute Hero,” “Danger”). The not-very-subtle “Collie (Not a Dog)” brought some humor to the proceedings, but overall this is a tense and serious album.