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I often return to the reggae. It may take months between each listening session, but once the bass kicks in I’m trapped. Since I’m hooked on strange sounds I prefer the most spaced out old school dub, but regular mainstream reggae might work just as good. If I was forced to pick ten albums that I had to listen to for the rest of my life, The Wailers Catch A Fire would doubtlessly be one of them. Just make sure you get the original (previously unreleased) Jamaican versions of the songs, since the remixed English versions suck ass. Trust me. If you want both, then get the Deluxe Edition.
One of the 10 best albums of all time.
The religious and simple-minded homophobic message often present within the reggae culture is fucked up, of course, but stuff like that has never stopped me from listening to good music, and when reggae is good it kills. Too bad 90% of all reggae is crap, though. But that’s the tiresome problem with all music genres: everything sucks, except for that 10% worth of gold.
If you want some heavyweight dub, make sure to check out pretty much everything released by the Blood and Fire label. Instant faves ought to be The Dubmasters remix album X-Ray Music, the first Heavyweight sampler, King Tubby’s Dub Gone Crazy albums, I-Roy’s Don’t Check Me With No Lightweight Stuff… Everything!
Yesterday my friend David Bock sent me an amazing dancehall mix named Roll Like A Thunder Vol. 1, mixed by the folks at Computer Style. It’s been on repeat ever since. Check out the track list:
01. Scientist – Dematerialize
02. Anthony Johnson – Soundclash
03. Supercat – Dance Inna New York
04. Early B – Bicycle
05. Shabba Ranks – Respect
06. Barrington Levy – Murderer
07. Carlton Livingston – 100 Lbs Of Collie Weed
08. Shinehead – Billy Jean
09. Lone Ranger – M16
10. Tenor Saw – Roll Call
11. Tenor Saw – Golden Hen
12. Sizzla – Blessed
13. Capleton – Weh Dem Go So Fast
14. Elephant Man – How Di Fire Fi Out
15. Lexxus – Quit
16. Michael Palmer – Lick Shot
17. Michigan & Smiley – Diseases
18. Cocoa Tea – Lost My Sonia
19. Josey Wales – Gateman
20. Nicodemus – Boneman Connection
21. Jah Thomas – Dancehall Connection
22. Michigan & Willie Williams – Armagedeon
23. Barrington Levy & Cutty Ranks – You Must Be Greedy
24. Johnny Osbourne – Ice Cream Sound
25. Mega Banton – Sound Boy Killing
26. Cobra – Gundelero
27. Johnny Osbourne – Little Sound Boy
28. King Tubby – Death Row
29. Michael Bitas – Die Yu Die
30. Courtney Melody – This Sound A Dem Trouble
31. Courtney Melody – Ninja Mi Ninja
32. Ackie – Call Me Rambo
33. Lee Perry & The Full Experience – Disco Devil
If you’re the nerd then books about reggae is essential too. Here’s a list of 10 books that I’d like to read. I’ve only read The Rough Guide so far…