Beat This! The Best of the English Beat

iTunes Review

The English Beat emerged from a peer group of literate and hyper-catchy New Wave groups that included R.E.M., The B-52’s, The Specials, The Police, and Madness. Though they never achieved the mass success of those peers, The English Beat were easily the best in their class. An interracial band hailing from bleakest Birmingham, The Beat (as they were originally known) started as a ska band, which reflected the influence of two Jamaican natives in the group: vocalist Ranking Roger and saxophonist Saxa, who had played with Prince Buster and Desmond Dekker. While “Twist and Crawl,” “Rankin’ Full Stop,” and “Click Click” are some of the sharpest songs the Two-Tone genre has to offer, it is “Best Friend,” “Save It For Later,” and “I Confess” that really set the Beat apart. Here, they merge the jangly guitars of the Smiths and R.E.M. with uptempo dance beats and ska flourishes for an utterly delirious pop confection. “Mirror In the Bathroom” and the anti-Thatcher “Stand Down Margaret” showcase the band’s ability to go darker without sacrificing the energy of the party. After a glorious run of singles, the Beat burned out in 1983. A solid gold collection from one of the era’s best bands, Beat This! is a blast from front to back.