Reggae & Ska > Universal Music Reggae & Ska

Reggae Pressure: Boss Sounds '69-70 - buy this album, now!

Advantages: High quality tracks, excellent sleeve notes and photos
Disadvantages: You may have most of the tracks

Compiled by reggae experts Chris Lane, Noel Hawks and Dave Hendley (people who were actually there in '69 and love and know the music inside out), this CD is an absolute must if you enjoy the classic era of reggae. Even if you already have most of the tunes, this album is up there with other top-quality Trojan releases covering the same period, such as "Dancehall '69" and "Dawning of a New Era", and also includes a few rarities such as George Dekker's ...
...up, with classic early reggae instrumentals, rocksteady, DJ cuts and fast skinhead reggae anthems. Just stick it your CD player and it'll never come out! Note: four of the advertised tracks are not on here, namely "Vampire" by The Upsetters, "Swan Lake" by The Cats, "Barbwire" by Nora Dean, and "Rooster" by Tommy McCook. Don't let that put you off though. Enjoy! ...

john_harrison 20.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Reggae Pressure (Boss Sounds 1968-70) - Various Artists

The Ghost Of Bob Marley

Advantages: Old favourites remixed as "urban duets"
Disadvantages: Not for the purists; this isn't real reggae

...dominate throughout 4. Rastaman Chant (Featuring Busta Rhymes) The first track on the album that retains a bit of the original's feel. There's no hip hop beats, just a beautiful plucked guitar and a reggae riddim married to Marley's vocals that for once do not seem to be added to the track as an afterthought. BUT! Two minutes in that all changes. Busta Rhymes makes a couple of half-hearted, two-line raps and disappears only to return complete with ...
...Original: 4/5 Remix: 2/5 TAP: Busta's nonsense "chatting" on three minutes: "when Babylon farl" 5. Guiltiness (Featuring The Lost Boyz) Never heard of the Lost Boyz, however this little known quantity show surprising respect and restraint. It starts of appallingly with a bit of rap chat and overpowering beats, but Marley's pained vocals of "these are the bad men/who always drag me down" actaully goes brilliantly with the new beats. A success ...

waynehorrigan 10.08.2004 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Chant Down Babylon - Bob Marley

Fun from the Sun

Advantages: Great fun music. Sunshine on a rainy day...
Disadvantages: Watch out if you have a dodgy back!

...The Judgement Nana's Chalk Pipe Below The Bassline And a muscicians list (also easily available off the 'net) Ernest Ranglin Guitar Gary Mayone Percussion & Keyboards Idris Muhammad Drums Ira Coleman Acoustic Bass Monty Alexander Piano & Melodica (also Producer) Roland Alphonso Soprano & Tenor Sax Please forgive me for not ranting on about each of these guys, but as I have already said I'm no expert on Reggae - I just love this album - and ...
...In summary, why do I like this album? Its fun. Pure and simple. Its sounds like the guys had fun when they made it, it draws you into it and gets you moving and emotionaly involved. If you can sit still and listen to this then change your Hi-Fi ('cause you ain't hearing it right) or call the undertaker! Enjoy. ...

NomisG 02.10.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Below The Bassline - Ernest Ranglin

Him Name Buju Banton... Nahh Mr. Mention

Advantages: Lots of bangers
Disadvantages: Ends on a track that's weaker than the rest

“Mr. Mention” was released in 1992 as the second album from the Jamaican Dancehall musician Buju Banton. It dropped soon after his debut (within a year) and so had him showing just how productive he could be at the time as he brought lots of his Dancehall material (that became much more Reggae-styled as his career developed and he embraced Rastafarians ways. 1. “Batty Rider” The album opens up with one of the biggest singles that he had released ...
...that here you get him blasting through a fly tune that has him bringing through the sort of controversial lyrics that gave him notoriety when he broke into the game at the age of 15 with “Boom Bye Bye”. It is a hardcore tune, but one that I can’t say is really for all due to the themes. **Five Stars** 2. “Love How The Gal-Dem Flex” This is a big tune on the release and one that is seen to build upon the sorts of things that were heard on the first ...

XICripZ 18.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Mr. Mention - Buju Banton

Dawning of a New Era: AMAZING!

Advantages: Perfect in every way! So many tracks!
Disadvantages: Nothing

...one of them! Dawning of a New Era gathers together tracks from the classic era of reggae, 1968 & '69, and like the equally-essential "Dancehall '69", was compiled by Michael De Koningh, which means you get an impeccable selection of prime reggae, beginning with the massive tune "John Jones" from Rudy Mills. From there highlights include the so-terrible-it's-brilliant "Rescue Me" by The Reggae Girls, the even better "Su Su Su" by The Pioneers, a perfect ...
...Flint", and "Reggae Hit the Town" - the absolute classic tune from The Ethiopians, plus my personal favourite - "Splash Down" by The Crystalites, a driving instrumental which could be used as the musical dictionary term for "skinhead reggae instrumental" (if there was such a thing), it's so good. With a great mix of skin organ instrumentals and vocal anthems, and with two CDs there are so many classics pakced on here that you'll have a fantastic ...

john_harrison 21.09.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Dawning Of A New Era (The Roots Of Skinhead Reggae) - Various Artists