Peaks are matched by (very pleasant) plateaus. Exodus isn't so much a great album as it is a good album with a handful of iconic songs.
True to its reggae roots, Based on a True Story's mood is consistently mellow, providing an ideal vibe for those warm summer evenings.
There is plenty of anger in the album, but it is used constructively. At a time when much music was obsessed with rejection, The Specials gave affirmation.