Roots Archives Forum

For me the absolute winner is War Inna Babylon by Max Romeo.
Other overrated albums, for me, are:
Junior Murvin - Police And Thieves
Black Uhuru - Sinsemilla
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Kaya

Oh this thread is going to piss a lot of people off

I agree with you on Junior Murvin and the Black Uhuru (early 80s Uhuru just doesn't do it for me). Kaya maybe Bob's weakest Island-Album, I still think it's a pretty good record (Sun is shining is THE killer imho).

My winner is definitely Satta Massa Gana by the Abyssinians. Not that I totally hate it, it just never "touched" me in any way and it's still in so many people's must-haves-list, I don't get it.

Must admit that I find Max Romeo's "Open the Iron Gate" very dull.

It's funny how opinions may vary. I would totally agree on the Jr. Murvin which I almost never listened to and I think never have listened to the whole way through. Sinsemilla however might be on of the finest reggae albums I know.

One quite overrated record in my opinion is Heart of the Congos (a great record in many ways but I don't see it as that one record all other great reggae records should be measured by). If an overrated record still can be regarded as a good album.

Most of us have never played or sung or recorded a single note, written a single line. So, who the fck are we to anoint or damn an album or an artist? As a matter of fact, it is highly probable that a recording artist would stay away from this exercise.

Those people try their best to produce something that they think represents their feelings and message at that time and place.

It's one (positive) thing to rate one's favorite albums / songs / artists, but ranking overrated stuff is an exercise in negativity.

^^ seems an odd comment to me. Whether or not you are a musician has no bearing on whether or not you can have an opinion on music (see virtually all music critics). This is not necessarily a forum for recording artists, it's for fans of reggae.

You're right, it is a negative approach, so I can see why some would not like it, but to me it does seem a reasonable topic for a reggae forum.

What if we changed it to 'least underrated reggae record"?

Me personally? I think I have some sort of illness, because I almost always end up liking virtually everything. I hope that doesn't mean I'm not discerning, but on repeat listening there is nearly always something interesting I can find. I don't like them all equally, of course, but I guess my biggest problem is I like too much stuff!

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.

No reason to be so irritated, Guillaume. As the consumers of a product I think we're entirely correct to anoint or damn music since we're the ones that are supposed to consume it as long as the music has been distributed for consumption.

Also the topic could always be a reason for some discussion on why some albums are held in such high regard while others aren't -- a discussion that could be very interesting.

If a forum was just about patting musicians on the back and being positive without any critical opinions it would be a pretty dull forum I would think.

MatejkoFarI wrote:For me the absolute winner is War Inna Babylon by Max Romeo.
Other overrated albums, for me, are:
Junior Murvin - Police And Thieves
Black Uhuru - Sinsemilla
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Kaya

Interesting that you picked three LPs on a major label, and therefore three that had an advertising budget behind them. All three received quite a bit of music press advertising when they came out, which often leads to high expectations. They are also three LPs that have been in print in some format since their release.

I won't comment on "overrated"........."overrated by whom"? This is pack mentatility stuff.

Has to be heart of Congos, its good but not the maasterpiece some people make it out to be