Roots Archives Forum

According to the thread about the Clip of new "The Congos" Album i ask myself what your reason is to buy new reggae releases in general.
Would you buy the record, even when you don't like the music to much, because it's a new release of a legendary singer/ group and you can support them with it? Or are you just like to listen or buy music you like 100%, so the background of the singer/ group is not important to you?

For myself sometimes i feel like having a little pressure on me when a new record is released. Most of the times i won't like to spend much money on a new release, wehn i like only a few tracks on it, but then... i don't know...

The two last "modern" albums I actually bought were "Something a Gwaan" (The Gladiators), which I found rather good, and "Jericho" (Israel Vibration) in 2000, and due to the poor quality of the latter (with the exception of some good tracks), I decided to save my dunza to buy 70 and 80's music ONLY. But this one made me change my mind. After having seen the making of the new album and the Congos on stage on wednesday, I'm sure I'll buy it.

Guys, the modern roots scene right now is fantastic. Don't get too stuck only in 70s and 80s, unless you are new to reggae (in which case, you have plenty of gold to discover). The majority of artists from back then are dead, or tired. Some still shine, but its the circle of life. New generations are doing wonderful work.

Try for example:

12" Cos Tafari Beloved Ethiopia
12" Revelation Time/The Concept - SHANDI I & The SHANTI ITES

if you loved Something a gwaan by the Gladiators, then this new Sam Cook version of the Congos is a MUST to you ! So is the latest Burning Spear...

To me, these are just tricks played on newcomers into reggae music who do not understand what they are buying until a few years later. Then 1) they totally stopped listening to this awful music called reggae (when they quit smoking or whent they start to LISTEN TO music) or 2) they totally stopped buying those craps to concentrate on old time music of old time artists or brand new music from brand new artists...

JoLong wrote:if you loved Something a gwaan by the Gladiators, then this new Sam Cook version of the Congos is a MUST to you ! So is the latest Burning Spear...

Yes, as long as the voices are good. Israel Vibration sing sometimes sing off key on recent records. About Burning Spear, I'm not a big fan of the man, except for some old classics.

But obviously I know I'll not buy a new Heart of the Congos with this album... anyway I personally think old artists can be quite inspired from time to time. And the new roots generation is not my kinda stuff you know... just a matter of taste.

But Cedric voice is... AWFUL ! Man, he sings off key too... And that's not a matter of taste, it is a matter of "good taste" !

ANyway, every mouth has to eat and they are not committing any crime (apart against good taste). Plus, the Congos paid their dues in due time. And hopefuly, they picked up the worst tune of the set to promote it.

JoLong wrote:But Cedric voice is... AWFUL ! Man, he sings off key too... And that's not a matter of taste, it is a matter of "good taste" !

Man, you're not fair. Cedric sings falsetto style - ok, that means "false" - just as Curtis Mayfield and Junior Murvin do. Skelly (from I.V.) sometimes does sings off key, but I think this is not a choice, unfortunately.

Falsetto is the head voice. I like Congos ever since. Most times, Cedric sings fine. In case it should be off key, this is soaked up by the chorus:)

OK, back to topic...

I don´t feel that I have to buy an album just becuase it´s a new release. It has to convince me to be a good album. Which means that more than 50% must be good. If not...I save the money and buy some original vinyl pressings from the 70`s.