Roots Archives Forum

I agree with your point entirely here Litelet. I was on a facebook group discussing reggae not so long ago and certain members of the group assumed I was white because of the way I talked about reggae! I realised this (and the negative connotations that went with their comments) said a lot more about them than me! Never had such an experience here on RA I'm glad to say: this forum offers something very different and nonetheless very worthwhile than face to face discussions...

I just had 2 Japanese guys follow me out of a record shop here in Chicago. They came to my house and bought 20 records out of my collection for a rather large sum.

no questions asked, they're definitely still out there.

Just got back from JP. In a fairly major, mainstream record store (HMV close to Shinjuku station south entrance) I found a fairly large section of Reggae from JA. Seemed large compared to other genre represented in the store, anyway. The store itself took up most of the floor (14th, IIRC).

The section for local Reggae and Ska bands was maybe a quarter the size of the JA section, but I found lots of good stuff there. Ska/Reggae band "The Miceteeth" have been getting a lot of play around the house lately.

Only down side was that I didn't get to any vinyl-oriented stores. Everything I got was on CD--which does transport better then vinyl. Anyway, Reggae and Ska seem alive and well in Tokyo!

Hey James how's it going?
I have been there many a time, nice selection.
Who was in the TOP TEN ?
I usually got most of my stuff from HMV or DISC UNION.
No need to go anywhere else really !
mata

Embarrassed to admit that I was so taken in by the selection that I didn't notice the top ten lists. Sure had a good time, though!

I love the Disc Union shop in Shibuya, Tokyo. Great selection of rare vinyl down in the basement, including choice Singers & Players and Lee Perry cuts. Well worth a visit if you're in Tokyo.

James wrote:Embarrassed to admit that I was so taken in by the selection that I didn't notice the top ten lists. Sure had a good time, though!

What did you get ?

Rebel Familia with Max Romeo "Babylon Fall", The Miceteeth "07", and Kemuri "our PMA" to name three. All JP bands (except Max Romeo, of course).

I'm a little disappointed in the Kemuri album (hoping it's just an off effort), but have been playing the others quite a bit.

James wrote: I'm a little disappointed in the Kemuri album (hoping it's just an off effort), but have been playing the others quite a bit.

Thought they well a soft punk rock band, have a digipack single (not listened for years and i'm not at home right now), did they play some reggae ?

Kemuri played Ska pretty much exclusively when I first started listening to them a few years ago-solid third wave stuff. This new album is more "ska-light." There are some tracks with the sound I expected, but they do seem to have lost some of the old fire.

Their trumpet player died a couple years back and it seems like they never really recovered from the loss. I keep hoping, though, as I do for all sufferers.