Roots Archives Forum

Ijahman Haile I Hymn and Are We A Warrior.
Nick

Totally disagree on "Heart of the Congos", for me it is one of the best albums not even in reggae music, but in music in general. Try to find so much brilliance, such happy historical circumstances, such vibes, such a hard to achieve juxtaposition of hipness and ancient religion, such a unique production on any other record. I bet even a Martian could appreciate it, if only they wouldn't get that annoying headmelting reaction to falsetto singing.

I agree on Abysinnians... totally. "Sensimillia" i can see your point. Junior Murvin Police and Thieves is a good album, but not the cornerstone album many non-reggae journalists make it out to be.

I would say "King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown" is somewhat overrated in that it's not that much better than many other Tubby's dub output of those days.

Rocky VIII wrote:I bet even a Martian could appreciate it, if only they wouldn't get that annoying headmelting reaction to falsetto singing.

Nominee for best reply ever!

Rocky VIII wrote:Try to find so much brilliance, such happy historical circumstances, such vibes, such a hard to achieve juxtaposition of hipness and ancient religion, such a unique production on any other record.

Doesn't the above really count on numerous other reggae records from the 70's and 80's (perhaps even records after even though I'd be hard pressed to mention any)?

As stated earlier I don't think anyone said it's anything else than a very good record but rather a great record amongst many others.

flashman wrote:Though I will add that merely listing albums you don't like just for the hell of it isn't particularly interesting. A discussion on those albums' perceived strengths or weaknesses could get interesting though, I guess.

Flashman, this seems even more personal approach than saying which albums are overrated to us. I emphasised that this is only my personal opinion, maybe I simply don't get these albums, but anyway, I don't find them nothing special.
Some noted Satta Massagana, which for me is one of the greatest. It's just so hipnotic and meditative, like Israel Vibration debut.
I think in a genre like reggae, where technical skills are not the most important thing, it would be senseless discussing what we like and what we don't.
Police & Thieves is just boring to me, but it's not annoying. Sinsemilla seems like they tried to do something new in reggae so hard, they were just destined to fail, except two songs (Sinsemilla, Happiness). Kaya is so boring and sweet I just couldn't handle it.
And War Inna Babylon... It's just annoying. Except the title track and probably I chase the devil, everything here is so dull. Riddims are far far away from exceptional, harmonies too pure and the lead vocal (approach) reminds me on some singers for children. It's so nice and warm... Just doesn't fit to this genre.
Here's what I don't like about each of this albums. And now you see, that this is even more suitable to argue...
And once again, people this are MINE opinions. Feel free to add yours.

I'd say there is no overrated reggae records, cause the whole genre is underrated. The question so out of place.

nickfa wrote:Ijahman Haile I Hymn and Are We A Warrior.
Nick

Are We Warrior is like listening to a wet flannel. Awful album.

Police And Thieves has a couple of good tracks, but his voice is too high and just really pierces the ears a bit.

*Bunny Wailer - Blackheart Man*
Can't figure out what all the fuss is about. In fact, I find 99% of Bunny's solo work to be totally boring.

*Bob Andy - Songbook*
There are some good songs here, but I don't know why people rate this album so highly.

And almost anything by Ijahman.

Completely *disagree* with the comments made about War Ina Babylon and Police And Thieves, but that's another story.

Mick Sleeper wrote:Bunny Wailer - Blackheart Man
Can't figure out what all the fuss is about. In fact, I find 99% of Bunny's solo work to be totally boring.

Bob Andy - Songbook
There are some good songs here, but I don't know why people rate this album so highly.

And almost anything by Ijahman.

Completely disagree with the comments made about War Ina Babylon and Police And Thieves, but that's another story.

I'm also wondering what's all the fuss around Blackheart Man. Totally forgot about it...

Totally agree about King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown. Of course it's a great album and I love it but the amount of attention it gets makes it seem miles ahead of other dub albums of the period when it really is just one great album of many. It kind of makes me think of it as reggae's Kind of Blue, which is the favorite jazz album of most people who aren't that into jazz, not because it isn't great but because most jazz heads have digested it fully and moved on and gone deeper already. So I kind of think of Rockers Uptown as the knee-jerk dub favorite. I personally prefer Firehouse due to a greater degree of original rhythms on it.


I'm also struggling to really get into Joe Higgs-Life of Contradiction, which seems highly rated. I think for me it spends too much time transcending the genre and since the genre is really what I like, I don't find it too interesting. I appreciate its creativity and uniqueness but don' t find myself wanting to throw it on very much.