Roots Archives Forum

was thinking about buying this album on cd. RAS released it on cd along with the dub.
michael rose had left before this was recorded and was replaced by junior reid.
wondered if any of you had heard / owned it and if you think its worth picking up?

jah bless

i have both on vinyl
i dont know if there are any extra tracks on the cd release, but i dont really recommend this album, as far as "black uhuru" is concerned.
"haf fi fit" (i believe is the title)is the only track that comes to my mind.
Jr. Reid "poor man transportation" is better.

i agree with mr mountain
brutal isn't all that great. i once bought them for nostalgic reasons and ended up only listening to them once. there are worse albums out there in the world, but i would save your money if i were you and get something that you will end up listening to and enjoying a lot.

I don't love it, but you should judge for yourself, of course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=662LnzTMy7A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMmGx3WUKAo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osS6LQpiREM



DB

i just noticed that brutal isn't in the r.a. archives list of albums for black uhuru?

db
i just watched that great train robbery vid you posted
i haven't seen that since probably 1984? 85?
there used to be a uhf tv station in nyc that played nothing but reggae music videos around that time period. i wish i could remember the station's name.
wow the 80's were a strange time. but hey i had fun.

I seem to be the only one who likes this album. I'd say get it for sure. I love the title track, fit you a fe fit, dread in the mountain, conviction or a fine, and great train robbery.

oh, and how can i forget... Let Us Pray!!! Great song.

Brutal fits into that short list of mine of songs whose synth use doesn't bother me.

This LP lives up to it's name in that it is BRUTAL !! Very poor offering. imHo so was most of the RAS catalog anywayz !! Very little on that label does it for me. Reggae with a too polished a finish to my ear. Not all of it but 99% for real.

Brutal does not offer the quality level of Michael Rose-led Black Uhuru but Junior Reid is far from being a bad singer and songwriter.
Ask yourself if you like the sound of Anthem LP : if not, forget about Brutal (and Positive). Otherwise, I think it is a good following to this LP : it provides the same "big" sound from the mid-80s.