Roots Archives Forum

so in general, aside from lots of dub plates, i tend to not really like synth and electronics added to reggae, and am not really a big fan of a whole lot of 80s reggae that i have been exposed to.
but, black uhuru is a big exception for me.
i actually got turned on to them in the early 80s, even before i discovered bob and peter tosh and all of the others that followed for me (actually, the dub plates came into my collection very soon after and still remain the favorite).
i remember buying "chill out" when it came out...i recently got another copy after not hearing it for many years, and man that is a very good album with incredible energy.
i also like their other records but for some reason i really, really dig chill out. i'm enjoying it right now, i just put it on after hearing "red" on my stereo.
i wish they were still together and touring. carlos and rose could whip someting up, couldn't they?

they have some great albums but all the synth is whats stops them from being one of my favorite reggae bands. if i'm in the right mood i can ignore it, but usually i'd just put on a different record.

michael rose has some very punk politically charged lyrics. what sold me was their militant look on the "Red"album cover. i was so into that look that i actually silk screened some black uhuru shirts taken from the image on the "sponji reggae" 12"

thats what i mean- the synth would be something that turns me off. and it isn't my favorite, like some sly n robbie is just too much synth for me.
but when in the right mood, it just hits the spot.
rose has a fantastic voice and the lyrics are hard hitting and match the energy of the music perfectly.
it had been a long time since listening to chill out. and almost as long for red and anthem. i also own brutal which i hadn't heard since the mid 80s but it is just too much synth and i had to take it off.
i've had dub factor for a long time and it still remains a great choice.

you should check out michael rose's stuff he done with twilight circus/ryan moore. especially the lp - warrior. very much like his black uhuru days

Some great music from this group.I recall in the early 1980s when youth of eglington was a big hit and i was getting into guess who`s coming to dinner and general penitentiary.Great reggae.My fave Black Uhuru dub track i
is one of the track Emotional slaughter.
In the ghetto its a free for all
Star rise
star fall
emotional slaughter

i totally agree with sean...this dub track is a killer even better than the vocal cut....they made some beautiful music..i also love their song elements

Yes, "Emotional Slaughter" and "Elements" are two of my favourites. They are just beautiful.

Personally for me, "Chill Out" was the beginning of the downhill period.
I respect those opinions, is just my personal taste.
Sly & Robbie kept trying to innovate, I appreciate that a lot, but the results weren't always my cup of tea.

Chill Out is clearly the beginning of a new period, I would say the third one ; the 2 first albums (Love Crisis and Showcase) belonging to the "roots" era, the following two (Sinsemilia and Red) to the, let's say, "baroque" era, and Chill Out opening the "funky/synthesizer" era.