Roots Archives Forum

Greetings Idrens and Sistrens,
I recently acquired the album mentioned in the subject above and was not impressed. Is there something that I should look for in this album that seperates it from other mediocre reggae albums? Although Willi Williams does have a very good voice, I believe that I've heard far better tracks of his elsewhere. Maybe my critical listening needs some fine tuning?

Ites,
Jah Chicken

You Know I felt the same way. I was very surprised it won best album. I didn't think it was that tough besides the track "Messenger man". i thought the best re issue should have been the In Crowd because that is a tough album.

I also felt the same way. I was quite dissappointed having read many raves about it. This is the second time i've had this experience with buying a willie williams cd. I was also dissappointed with Armagedion Time(Heartbeat). I had only heard the tune Armagedion Time-an absolute classic IMO- and had high hopes. But alas it wasn't to be.

Ites,
PAPA D

The album is a grower. Try not to listen to this album as a typical example of seventies Jamaican reggae. I always feel a strong Bullwackies vibe with this album. A bit more dense, claustrophobic, maybe a bit grimmer. I guess a matter of taste. Good album to listen to at night.

Dread Out!

*sigh*
For me i agree, "messenger man" is one of the best roots album ever, i have purchase this album just for one song "give jah praise", so beautifull vibe and voice, one of the best in all the roots for me... Just for this one im crazy, and lot of other songs as "slave", "zion town", "valley of jehosephal" on the album are killers or very goods... Sure, its a taste prob then, cause lot of roots lovers think that its his best album... List again! :/
(i have too "thanks & devotion", "jah will", "armagedeon time", "roots & culture" with Barry Brown, "from studio one to dumb street")

definitively one the best ones, I heard that most of the songs were recorded in canada. Just listen to the first song the psychedlic guitar is very haunting. The 2nd Song slave begins with a Wailing, seems to me like an alternative outcry to the wailers "slave driver". This Album is big

I've just got to say what the last three people have said. It's definately a record that needs to get the time it deserves. It's a great record, if you just give it a chance. Listen to it some times and then put it aside for a week or so. I promise you that the next time you pull it out you've start liking it and after that it just gets better.

To be honest, I prefer the Studio 1 stuff of Willie Williams. I got the messenger man album for years (JA pressing), but I did not listen to it very often despite the fact that there are very good songs on it like "Give Jah Praise". I am missing the typical Jamaican reggae sound on this record... y'know giving me a positive feeling. However, respect for this man trying to find other ways for recording reggae and experimenting with music in different directions...