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The bass!

melodic bass, angelic, soulful vocals, hypnotic production. its music with real emotion and passion

also the quality of output was incredibly high in the 70s

It never goes out of style!

I have always been amazed at the sheer volume and quality of music recorded in Jamaica, worth checking out for that alone surely?

thought about this often...because its truely the most common denominator/middle ground of sound for all types of people. Especially dub.Its soundtrack to life music if that makes sense. You just can't put someone on to Bob Marleys legend though...variety is key.

The most common complaint i think is that people will say it all sounds the same(and there's certainly some truth to that don't get me wrong) although these same people when out at the bar will drop a twenty in the juke and play all the same old same old we've heard literally hundreds of thousands of times!!!?? I skip the whole Marley catalogue go straight to some Black Uhuru, Tubby dubs then some Police or Clash reggae infused jawns and I always feel I'm not the only one diggin it. And if you are the only one diggin its time to find a new place to sip on ya stout...yes I!!!

The people who claim all reggae sounds the same usually don't understand that the emphasis is on the bass and drum, and not the guitar. it's the opposite of rock music, which emphasizes guitar over bass. it can take a few weeks of listening to reggae for a person to adjust their expectations

however it's true that most reggae uses the same lyrics, though I view this as a positive thing; the lyrics are a result of Jamaicans being unified in their sufferation and inspiration.

-Real instruments. In a computerized world, it's as authentic as can be.

-It is an authentic, heartfelt roots music, the cry of the people in their suffering and also an expression of their joy, a mirror of life with all its highs and lows.

-To understand where much modern music came from. This is the granddaddy of every hip hop track and "remix" (much as you can't understand rock music without knowing anything about the blues).

-Often a message music, going far beyond the banalities of most "popular" music to reach a high spiritual plane. As biblical as gospel, but makes you move like funk.

-Some of the greatest melodies and most heartfelt singing to be found in any music. Anyone who thinks reggae all sounds the same isn't listening very closely.

Space, texture, subterranean, up the down escalator bass, drum patterns that make you go "How the **** is he playing that?!", singers that can really sing, dub that's like opening a door into another room...
...and that's just on my morning cup of coffee.

I would say because it's a hypnotic feel when you dig a new track. The 70s era has a certain type of sound that I consider the high water mark of music anywhere. Sounds have a raw feel, not over-produced. Dub is the original remix, and was often done on the fly. Lyrics tend to aspire beyond women/possessions, and promote a positive message of peace and up-fullness. Generally the music feels genuine and unpretentious, and can take you to some wonderful places if you give it the chance.

our own heartbeat is the best music. just as the earth
is the most beaitiful work of art and best source of food(ital/vegan)
Man has no reason, in theory, to make his own music not to say
it is a crime if he does so. Reggae is man's appreciation of the sound
of heartbeat as it's rather simple beats most closely resemble the
sound of one's heart. This is the conclusion I've drawn over the years
from message/lyrics of reggae, but it is without a doubt the sound that to me is most important now, because I've been putting the message into action for years. why I've come to love DUB the most. put on some tubby and meditate on that one.

and yes it is a crime not to be vegan.