New into reggae music

[Michael92]

Hello!
I've been likeing reggae since i was a kid, but i never used to learn more about this style..
Recently, as i started to listen reggae songs from different artists, my interest in the reggae culture started to grow rapidly.
I read about the sub genres of the reggae, and now i'm kinda "lost"
On some places i read something like "the new reggae scene isn't the original" or something like that.. How can i know what's the original reggae scene? I want to learn more...

I don't know where to read anymore.. I want to always read fresh news, reviews, interviews etc. Can you recommend me some links?

I'm really new and (as i said) kinda lost in this culture, so i'll appreciate if you give me some advice

[giant panda]

its true most new reggae is nothing like early reggae. nowadays its recorded digitally whereas it used to be recorded with analog equipment. it doesn't sound as raw or real anymore. the difference is night and day. listen to any reggae music from the 70's, then listen to reggae from a later decade. most people on this forum prefer the earlier or original sound of reggae, myself included.

don't get overwhelmed by the sub genres, just spend some time with dub (King Tubby, Scientist) and dancehall (Big Youth, Dillinger).

the best way to learn about the reggae culture is to listen to the music. most records that came out of Jamaica in the 70's range from good to excellent, just be weary of music that came out after that. some people think the cut off is around 83, others say 85. the truth is there's good reggae released every year, but the 70's is a goldmine.

[Michael92]

Thank you for the reply!

Can anyone recommend me some blogs, portals or anything where i can read fresh news about the scene, reviews, interviews etc.?

[j j]

Rough Guide To Reggae is a good book to learn from.

j j

[musical fire]

don't know about reggae but this is original 80s & 90s dancehall:

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheCrimeMedia

and yes it have changed to technohall-rave which would have nothing in common with the root, it comes in more like a parasite , I've seen such things in nature before

bout reggae well reggae remain still the same even nowadays, reggae and especially roots reggae shouldnt get mix up with lovers rock which was proclaim dead from around 2000 now rule over whole world pushing real roots aside

roots reggae around 80s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHxw088qQms

roots reggae now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sZ7lmNBbYw

the music didnt change too much neither the message


but now we have lovers rock nowdays:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_GkE27-3KI

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4m5816Y4xk

people mostly who new to the genre call this "modern roots" but that is foolishness. they think 1 ras artist makes whole genre "roots" but that makes no sense

[musical fire]

90s lovers rock:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzACPGQIImc

it was all good until

part2:

end of 90s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrSmC2qqHiQ

same for dancehall (2000):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhIliAJ454k

those tunes came out so big that it created an impact world wide and after many suspect people have joined the business for the hype everything gone mash up
and on top of dat the mp3 have destroyed the business structure within the music and brilliant people will not work for cents, babylon turn music in a circus for teens, teen producers make tracks for teen listeners and some suspect grown men in pink shirts.

[kalcidis]

Welcome, Michael! I hope you enjoy it here.

I can second that recommendation of Rough Guide To Reggae as it's a very helpful book when you're new to the music. I had immense help from it myself when I really started listening to reggae.

Regarding websites there are some good blogs and online mags that you could check for;
http://unitedreggae.com/
http://www.dancecrasher.co.uk/blog/
http://achisreggae.blogspot.com/ (this one I found recently and was quite impressed by)

[Yardie]

Hi Michael92,

here's my site where I comment on my CDs (490 titles so far).
I hope it can be useful.

http://www.yardie-reggae.com/index.htm

Irie

[Michael92]

Thank you very much guys! I really appreciate your replies.

[blakbeltjonez]

to have a good overview, it's best to have a handle on the classics and build from there. it's never a bad thing to look at Studio One and Treasure Isle releases, those two labels produced so many classics from the early 60's through the 70's that have been redone and adapted by others over the years.

find out what the classics of rocksteady and reggae are, and learn about them - obviously, it's a topic far too big for this post. you may not like them all - i don't... but it will give you much needed perspective and you'll find out what your personal tastes are. Youtube is really a great source to hear a record, lots of collectors post videos.

it's fun digging up unknown songs, i grew up in Jamaica during The Golden Years Of Reggae and there are loads of records i had no clue about, you never stop learning.