Roots Archives Forum

big up maxi priest

Guns in the ghetto from 96 is in my view a fantastic album and well over looked. Their new album is being given away with the mail on sunday tomorrow.

I have Guns In The Ghetto but I don't listen to it much--I'll have to give it another spin, what I do like about UB40 is their evolution--their sound has changed and aged well over the years and this is their next step.

They have kept up with the times and their 'Who You Fighting For' was one of the best album of international contemporary reggae that I have heard in a while. It was nominated for the Grammy- a great achievement for any musical act.

I've seen them live before and I look forward to seeing them in their new form at the Hollywood bowl this summer.

I have the DUB SESSIONS ( dubs of the new album 24/7 ) cd and it is great.
I think a change of singer will be just what they need.
Ali has his moments but his voice can be a bit much over several songs and several albums.(but I will miss him)

I bought the DUB SESSIONS cd at a recent outdoor live event here in Brisbane Australia and there were thousands of people there to see them...
..and they were great live.

Sure they did 3 albums of covers which may have hurt their reputation (or may have help) but they certainly helped some veteran singers along the way by doing so.
(and introduced a lot of people to some classic reggae)

I look forward to a new singer,I just hope he does not try to continue Ali's sound.

As for not doing anything good since the 197..
WTF, their first album came out in September 1980 !!!!!!

I understand that some of you don't like the UBs because of their music or because most people in the forum dislike almost everything past the 80's.
What I cannot understand is statements as "they only play covers", "Present Arms was OK but they decided that they weren't a political band anymore".
I think that if you are going to give your opinion about sth, at least be informed.
Most of their material comes with socio-political critics and messages, they play love songs as well but only a few in each album. Of course I'm talking about their original material, we all know the "Labour of Love" series, which to me are great because is pure groove, recreating the music they love and that they used to listen when it was all about fun, not to say the benefits these recordings have brought to some forgotten singers. To make a cover album does not mean you are pop, or you don't have enough original material. Come on ! So... a cover album means assured hits ? then... bring it on ! I'm joking, of course... listen to labour of love 3, it is pretty obscure. Did u heard the fathers album ?

I think the UB's have a well established fan base, so they record pretty much what they like, they don't have to answer any commercial call on my opinion... their music is highly original and 90% of their covers (in Labour Of Love and other albums) are very different from the original. They are English, and developed their own original reggae style, is that wrong ?

I like them, I listen to them. I like what they have to say and the music they put out, of course some albums are stronger than others, the same happens with most bands/singers, right ?
I can enjoy their music as well as some obscure Roots material, but hey, that is just me...

Jah bless
Selector Benyo
CHILE

This issue was discussed before inhere, please use 'Search' or check:
http://www.roots-archives.com/forum/rea ... #msg-37206

Javier, What you have said could be said about any number of artists.
You like UB40, I like them very much too.That is all that matters.
They started out strong and then did a few cover albums
( maybe 2 too many ) and became POPular which is often a curse for musicians......
look at DAVID BOWIE.
He was rubbish to begin with but then became the new thing then did some very experimental music that made him widely respected then became POPular with
LETS DANCE and TONIGHT but lost respect as a result. It happens to the best.
UB40 lost respect when they became MOR and POPular too.
I do not have the vocal version of 24/7 but the DUB SESSIONS album is great.
I hope a new singer and a new direction gets them some "street cred" back.
Here's hoping.

I think it is unfair to say they did too many covers albums, because these are part of a major project which ended with the Fathers album and they have been released with a lot of time (and albums) in between. The music has changed, but it has been that way in every album, and that is something I appreciate. Isn't that what we all appreciate ? originality ?

Is it bad to be POPular ? poor Bob Marley.
UB40 plays Reggae, no doubt.

Bless !

PS: So what if this has been discussed b4, can we discuss it again ?
Open your minds friends, make space for the new visions.

And by the way, im not new in the forum. I've been posting at least 3/4 years, maybe not regularly but I read pretty much everything.

Their first two albums were okay but ever since then, UB40 have been getting old and fat and rich playing watered down black music for middle-class white people.

Rubbish. Total rubbish.

Javier, I am not saying that it is "BAD" being POPular but it does have some negatives...Bob Marley (wrongfully) suffered some some negative shit when he became world famous too. IT IS JUST A FACT OF FAME.
Also "unfair" or not, in MY opinion, MAYBE they did 1 or 2 too many cover albums.
There is not a lot of ORIGINALITY in doing so many cover albums.
BUT, like I said, WE like them and that is what matters.