Reviews (16)

THE BIBLE IN MUSIC FORM
LET'S FACE IT THIS IS THE GOSPEL IN MUSIC FORM, EXPLORE THE NIV AND OTHER NEW VERSIONS AS THERE IS A LINK. GOD USES WHAT AND WHO HE CHOOSES TO GET THE SEEDS OF THE GOSPEL SOWN.

LISTEN AND ENJOY,

OPEN OUR EYES!

FEED YOUR MIND

You have to listen closely...
Yes, the songs are all the same tempo, and they all start with a variant on the classic reggae drum roll.But in order to truly appreciate this album, you have to listen closely--not only to the lyrics, but to the inflection of the voices.This album is, in a way, sad; the songs are wrought with a sense of pain that other albums don't convey.Listen to the WAY that "Black Man's Strain" is sung, and the pain in his voice when he sings the word "Why..?"Or the sweetness in his voice in Reason Time, when he is pleading with others to just "walk and talk" so as to reason with each other rather than fight.

This album is filled with subtleties like this that make it unique and a pleasure to listen to.And we can all feel and learn something if we listen close enough.

Reviews (1)

Reviews (14)

Steel Pulse Still Pulsing in my Ears!
I remember the first time I heard this album.I was 14 years old, andon the block with some friends and my friend "E" put this tape into his car stereo and turned it way up.As the songs rattled off, songs like "Throne of Gold" and "Grab Education" and "Bodyguard" I was amazed at the rich blends of Reggae style and deep social conciousness embedded in every song.If you listen to the lyrics closely, there is also a seriously religious undertone in every song, far removed from the Dancehall, sex you up Reggae that became popular here in America during the 90's.This is a must have CD for any collection.The horns and the bass lines are rich, and at the same time there is a minimalist sound to each and every song, keeping the purity of reggae intact.The lead off song, "Steppin Out" is a classic, and I guarantee that you'll be chanting this song long after the CD has stopped playing (Open Sesame, Here comes Rasta Man...Abracadabra, catch me if you can...Steppin out!).This is an excellent album.Steel Pulse is like the "Frankie Beverly and Maze" of reggae- their style never changes, and their songs stay relevant regardless of the time period.I am still an avid fan to this day, 14 years later.

Simply some of the best Reggae
Steel Pulse is a bit different than Marley and Peter Tosh.They have put modern sound to the Reggae beat and I for one think it is fabulous.They are not like the old type Reggae, which I also love, but this is really good listening music.I made a CD mix with some Culture and Mikey Dread to mix it up and I have not listened to anything else for awhile now.

My teenage sons turned me onto this music and I am asking for more.

Reviews (18)

Not a Reggae Fan and I Love This Album!
Like Marley, these songs transcend any musical style.Great melodies, intelligent and meaningful lyrics, talented musicianship-- it simply does not get any better than this.Why they aren't world famous is beyond me.Every song is a five out of five.

roots at its best
i bought this album years after purchasing smashhits. both albums have many of the same songs. smashhits is a compilation album. i also bought true democracy because it contains songs by the group that i have not heard. new to me were: find it...quick, a who responsible, and man no sober. the last song is the group's protest against alcohol or at least the abuse of alcohol. the vocal and instrument qualities are pretty good. go out and get it. you won't be disappointed. i also recommend handsworth's revolution by the group.

Reviews (1)

Asin: B000003QIP
Sales Rank: 202155
Subjects:  1. Contemporary Reggae    2. Pop    3. Reggae    4. Reggae-Pop   

Reviews (5)

Rebel Music
Ignoring for a moment the cheap CD cover, this is a great collection of Marley's best 'political' tracks.Marley has always called for justice and dignity for all people and his songs always hit home.So Much Trouble, Get Up Stand Up, and War are among the finest songs he has ever written but the lesser known songs (Roots, Rat Race) hit no less harder than the better known tunes.The concept of a collection of Marley's political songs is a good one but I feel that they could have added about three to five more tunes on this CD to make this a more worthwhile purchase.Still, all of Bob Marley's albums deserve the five star rating because of his great music and great life.

good
I agree with the concept of a Marley cd with his more political tracks on it. It is a great way to focus in on one of Marley's overlooked facets of his songwriting.

While former Wailer Peter Tosh certainly was the better of the 2 in terms of topical songwriting, Marley's songs were no slouches, either, as the powerful "Slave Driver," perhaps Marley's greatest political song, shows. Marley's quiet demeanor in these tunes differs greatly from Tosh's over-the-top approach; still, Bob's songs are very effective in their own way.

A nice collection for the fan of topical songwriting.

many are called, but few are chosen...
Why am I recommending this album, amid all of Robert Nest Marley's other great albums? Because Rebel Music is such a powerful and consistent collection, interconnecting a strong set of some of Bob's heaviest hitting,non-mainstreamed songs.

The mood and meaning of each song transitionsbeautifully into the next one, beginning in descriptive-of-life songs,deepening into reflection, and culminating in the messianic call-to-actionof "Ride Natty Ride", "Chase the Baldheads" and"Getup Standup".

Asin: B000003QIR
Sales Rank: 330067
Subjects:  1. Contemporary Reggae    2. Pop    3. Reggae    4. Roots Reggae   

Reviews (1)

Reviews (3)

albert griffiths y gladiators
Este fue el disco, junto con el Back to roots tb de gladiators, q me introdujo al reggae. Ya han pasado anos y sigo escuchandolo en cada ocacion en q se pueda, con las mismas ganas y emocion q hace tiempo.
Ya tanto tiempo despues de escucharlo, y habiendo conocido um monton de bandas y cantantes de reggae(roots), no tengo dudas en referirme a este disco como uno de los mejores jamas hechos en el genero.
Sin duda, Albert Griffiths y Gladiators( q dicho sea de paso es el grupo de reggaeq mas me gusta) consiguieron con este album igualar a los grandes maestros del reggae, como Israel Vibration, Burning Spear, Misty in roots y porsupuesto (aunque siempre, claro esta, un poco mas abajo) al grande Bob MARLEY, inigualable.

Highest of reggae
This album holds the standard to which I judge all other reggae.Nothing, other than Bob Marley himself, makes me sing and dance like this.A must have for all who appritiate what roots reggae is all about.The perfection of it's sound

Reviews (1)

splendid
Formed while together in prison and united by the fact that all 3 members survived the polio edidemic of the 1950's, Israel Vibration worked with Inner Circle, opened for the Wailers, and Dennis Brown, and then put out this stunning debut lp.

As could be undertsood based on their near death experiences as youth, Israel Vibration's music focused almost totally on spiritual matters, and they successfully get their points across on the moving tracks "Weep and Mourn," the title track, and the positive affirmations of "Why Worry," and "I'll Go through."

Features

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Reviews (6)

Soulful Reggae Minimalism
Max Romeo's less-is-more ethos is evident with spare arrangements that perfectly showcase his soulful, Heptone-esque voice.

Like an artist who uses empty canvas to good effect, Romeo uses the silence between notes to evoke both outer-space alienation and the warm ambiance (think "Us and Them" by Pink Floyd or "Another Green World" by Brian Eno). It's no easy trick.

If you haven't heard of Max Romeo before, you may be surprised to find how close he comes to achieving transcendant greatness on a couple of tracks. On "Warning Warning" he goes into a zone, while "Every Man ought to Know" has unforgettably great backing vocals.

On the minus side of the ledger, the lyrics are cartoonishly Marxist (smiting Babylon with hammers, sickles, and whatnot), but Romeo comes across as more of an earnest naif than as a danger to an island economy.

This wildly underappreciated album belongs in any reggae collection that goes beyond 10 CDs. Even if you don't agree that it is great, it can't be argued that this doesn't stand up well to repeated listens. I must have listened to this disc twenty times in recent months, which outside of, say, Blackmarket Clash just doesn't happen on my CD player.

Top Ranking Romeo!!!
This is an absolutely stunning collection of deep, catchy, warm, political, deadly dread Reggae! Although Max Romeo is best known for his excellent album 'War Ina Babylon' (produced & co-written by the great Lee Perry) I think 'Open the Iron Gate' to be his best!(By the way, talking about Lee Perry: "Three Blind Mice" is an Upsetter track from 1974 and the corrosive "Fire Fe De Vatican" was recorded at the Black Ark).
In fact 'Open The Iron Gate' is made up of Max's 1975 'Revelation Time' album as well as various tracks from the period.
All the tracks are heavy killers and the booklet contains a good text on Max Romeo and some very nice pictures!
I think you really need this album, there's no way out!!!

Reviews (5)

Good CD, good price!
In case you don't already know it, Toots and the Maytals are one of the best bands in the world. Their concerts are spiritual experiences and much of their recorded output is some of the most soulful and listenable music you'll ever hear. If you're new to Toot's music, this CD is a good place to begin. It has most of the essential Toot's songs (greatest hits). If you are a hardcore fan like me, it leaves you wanting a little more. I feel this disc would be nearly perfect if "Dreams To Remember" was left off and "Never You Change" and "True Love Is Hard To Find" were included. Aside from the early classics, the producers of this disc had the good taste to include "Freedom Train" from the "Toots In Memphis" album. Toot's version of this tune is so powerful and well-recorded. I definitely recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys cookin' soulful music.

Fun Album
Before I bought this album, I hardly knew anything about reggae music. I heard the song "Funky Kingston" performed on Saturday Night Live with Toots (and the Maytals), Roots, and Boots(as in Bootsy Collins). I wanted to know more about these guys, Toots and the Maytals.

When I popped this disc in my player, I immediately knew it was different from anything in my collection. I typically listen to artists like U2, R.E.M., and Coldplay. But this album is so funky, so lively, and so much fun. My favorites are the first two tracks, the aforementioned "Funky Kingston" and the reggae cover of John Denver, "Take Me Home, Country Roads." Get this album and open yourself up to another world of music.

Reviews (4)

Lo-Fi reggae soundscape heaven
This is a fantastic CD for the student of reggae.Augustus Pablo creates low-key but intense reggae instrumentals.He combines the tough street sound of early reggae with his own mystically-oriented jams and the weird sonorities of the melodica to create something that is distinctly his.Not many people in any field of music can say that.

The recording does suffer from the circumstances in which it was recorded.They didn't have the best recording equipment, and occasionally Pablo's melodica is a hair out of tune.There is also something of a sameness to this CD, with too many songs in the same key following one after another.It could have benefited from more careful remastering and perhaps a resequencing of the songs.

But this shouldn't stop you from buying the CD. Pablo's music still has the power to lure you into listening to it over and over again, because as sparse as the music seems sometimes, there are actually many subtle things going on here that deserve a careful listening.And the arrangements and performances are top-notch in spite of the slightly dodgy recordings, with the best reggae musicians of the era featured to great effect.

Overall, I would recommend this for both serious students of reggae and for those who want to mellow out with something that's musically respectable yet easy on the ear.

too many praises to print
One of the best records I've ever owned.Hands down Augustus' best.Different than King Tubby meets the Rockers, this is not a dub album.These are beautiful instrumentals.The rythms are solid, some of the best reggae rythms I've ever heard.The bass is thick and heavy, pulsing through the tracks like a gorilla through the jungle.The drumming is tight, with the snare hitting the offbeats of the offbeats of the offbeats.The guitars chicka with that sound only found in jamaica 1972.But thats not even the beginning of the album.Augustus Pablo's playing is incredible.These simple lines just float over the rhythms, sometimes copied or played off of on the piano or organ.The arranging is great too, these are perfectly crafted songs, simple, yet never boring.This music is cheerful, moody, spiritual, and down to earth, all at once.How does he do it?I have no idea.

a most auspicious debut lp
The late Augustus Pablo's innovativeness can not be stated too strongly.Whether by his use of melodica as a lead and respectable instrument, or byhis adaptations of Dub music into his own unique and instantly recognizablesound, Pablo was always cutting edge.

This lp, with "King TubbyMeets Rockers Uptown," are excellent primers into the world of dubmusic, and are essential listening for any newcomer right up to the mostardent of reggae fans.

Reviews (11)

Ultra-tuff reggae
This album, along with Sinsemilla and Red, is one of the best of the Michael-Duckie-Puma glory years....the first four songs in particular are wonderful, they set a mood that gets you outta whatever lame one you were in prior....soulful vocals augmented by Sly and Robbie's great riddims!Fans of real reggae must have!

The best of all Black Uhuru!
I have owned this album for a decade now and I don't ever see myself parting with it. This is my kind of reggae! This album has thick and heavy bass lines with mystic grooves, righteous lyrics and beautiful vocals! It isn't your typical reggae. It is original and creative. The best thing to happen to reggae since Bob Marley. If you like reggae but are tired of all that cheesy reggae music that sounds the same then look no further! Buy this album! And get ready for one heavenly journey!

Ok I give up...Who's coming to dinner?
Here's an example of really good reggae release. I would give it 5 stars except I have to rate it against my own opinions about reggae. I can listen to this cd all day and I love it. Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a great song as are the other 6 songs on the cd. Why only 3 stars? Easy...it is not MY favorite. I think that a roots reggae novice would probably shy away from this release because the only thing by which to measure reggae might be Bob Marley. Bob is undeniably more on the mainstream in the world of reggae and a bit easier to listen to if you don't have an ear for reggae roots. With that said Black Uhuru will add flavor to your tastes in roots reggae and this release will make you happy you added the extra spice. I would recommend that you start with the ULTIMATE COLLECTION if you are just beginning to venture past Bob.

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Reviews (1)

Editorial Review