Best roots albums recorded since the 90's, must-haves ?

[rootsmanx]

The best 90's roots album is a compilation as far as I am concerned.
"Rough Inna Yown The Xterminator Sound" (released on Maximum Pressure)

Next to this:
Buju Baton "Till Shiloh"
Sizzla "Royal Son of Ethiopia"
Culture "One Stone"

According to my opinion these are killer albums. Easily surpassing the level of many roots classics from the 70's.

[Nefta]

Here in the caribbean we have bands producing locally with live instruments and real roots vibs..Check for example..Midnite..Ikhaba..Dezarie..Bambu Station...

Must have: Midnite & Dezarie ..Nobody can't deny is a must!!!(tu)

[TheExpanders]

Yes..

Midnite's "Ras Mek Peace" is an absolute must have roots album. It was recorded straight to two track, and sounds almost like a rehearsal, but the performances and the material are killer.

[stepper]

Yes..

Midnite's "Ras Mek Peace" is an absolute must have roots album. It was recorded straight to two track, and sounds almost like a rehearsal, but the performances and the material are killer.

Oh, man.
The sub-title of the record is "Before Reverb And Without Delay", and it's true... It's *such* a stripped-down and raw sounding record. Like you're standing in the room with them.

"Banking In The Pig" is a 100% **crucial** track from that album.

I'd add Midnite's "Unpolished" to the list, too.

[Dubs_West]

edited

[jahadambom]

Let us not forget The crucial Roots set by Ooklah the Moc ! Their first album release "Ites Massive" (CD) is sooooooo hard....and I'm talkin bout Roots. All original riddim, by full live band including wicke dhorn section. No bubble gum reggae, no slackness, no bull. aDam

[benjamin]

-ooklah is good, i like the latest album with koko.

-Check out Dry and Heavy, real dub from japan in the lee perry way

-A very unknown singer I like who plays in the pure tradition of roots music (but with mid quality recordings as auto produced) is B. Davis http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu ... d=58840022

-of course the most CRUCIAL album since 1990 IMO is Ras Mek Peace by Midnite, Unpolished also is good, to the bone sounds nice too. From the Islands you surely have to check out Yahadanai One atonement (not old school vocals but very good album), Dezarie (both albums are good), Bambu Station (One Day has some great tracks)

-Groundation "Hebron Gate" is for me a true classic, with wonderful tracks

-We all forgot the great Clinton Fearon latest albums (I particularly love Give and Take)

-Really agree about the misty in roots album

I think I forgot some others but here are the most important items coming to my mind. And if you are curious check the album I made in 2004-2005 (in the signature below)

Jah Bless

[Guest]

ok, i see if we take all kind of reggae this thread will be too long,

for original roots i must say i love that Daweh congo album basing on channel 1 tapes, every version is a original track from channel 1 its called "Earth Runnings" and it come outa france. this album is a milestone in my eyes, still no one knows it.

another one would be bitty mclean - on bond street
one more: alpheous on studio 1.. i forget the title
one more: natural black album on king jammys, came out recently, he rides original riddim such as water pumping and some other classic from past. but it still like half roots cause he got modern tracks also included on the album

[Sir Marvin]

Both recent sets (Natural Black and Sizzla) recorded over classic Jammy´s riddims are somewhat overated (just my opinion)and they´re far from what I´d call original roots. That Alpheus album was not bad, but Glen Washington recorded pair of stronger albums.

I´m just listening to american group JohnStone and their second album Innocent Children. I owned it for a while, but wasn´t terribly impressed, when I listened to it first. But now I have to say, it´s a damn good album.

What about Gathering of the Spirits? One of the first retro albums produced by Mutabaruka with nice line-up and strong selection. Classic in its own way.

[Sir Marvin]

-... to the bone sounds nice too. From the Islands you surely have to check out Yahadanai One atonement (not old school vocals but very good album), Dezarie (both albums are good), Bambu Station (One Day has some great tracks)

I guess you mean Jubilees of Zion cd.

There is a new album by Dezarie called Eaze The Pain and it´s equally as good as her previous one - Gracious Mama Africa. Yahadanai is a truly gifted siger, who sounds very much like Lutan Fyah. I´m very devoted fan of Bambú Station, too:)

Mentioning Groundation... These guys also run label called Young Tree. There are not tons of albums on it, but it´s quality, that matters and there are only quality pieces on Young Tree. Apart from Groundation´s own albums I like especially Congos-Give Them The Rights and V/A-Mr.Bassie´s All Stars vol1 (Mr.Bassie-Andrew Campbell is just putting out second level, but on different label. He also recorded very interesting instumental album called Live&Direct)