Heart of the Congos
Artist: The Congos

Lee Perry is generally acknowledged as a production genius, but on occasion that genius can be destructive, and while there's no disputing his talent, sometimes the results can be less than aurally satisfying. This is especially true when it comes to albums, where Perry's efforts were often erratic. On Heart of the Congos he was brilliant, and... Read More

Live at Maritime Hall
Artist: Lee "Scratch" Perry

This wonderful concert album was recorded during Lee Perry's 1997 U.S. tour. Backed by the rock-solid Robotiks band (whose live sound was dubbed up and weirded out during the tour by Mad Professor), Scratch confirms all the rumors that have circulated about him for decades: yes, he is a madman, yes, he is here to heap condemnation upon the heads... Read More

Technomajikal
Artist: Lee "Scratch" Perry

Lee "Scratch" Perry's 1997 release Technomajikal is a collaboration with Dieter Meier of Yello. It can be described as electronic reggae, but the music's organic sound and feeling has certainly not diminished. The story behind how this unlikely collaboration came to pass is interesting. Perry had been living in Switzerland, and since Meier lives... Read More

Curly Locks: The Best of Junior Byles
Artist: Junior Byles

Not the complete recordings of Junior Byles by a long shot, but the best collection of his solo material currently on the market. All of the solo hits are here as well as a good amount of previously unreleased material and outtakes. The revelatory tracks include "A Place Called Africa" and "Informer Man" both of which show off the richness of... Read More

Chant Down Babylon: The Island Anthology
Artist: Burning Spear

Major label rivalry makes it unlikely that Burning Spear will ever receive a proper career retrospective set. Burning Spear signed to Island Records in 1976, debuting with the legendary Marcus Garvey album, accompanied by its dub companion Garvey's Ghost. Four new albums followed before Spear departing Island for the U.K. EMI label in 1980. A... Read More

Primo!: The Best of Bloodfire Posse
Artist: Bloodfire Posse
Community Score: 3.50
All Over the World
Artist: Wailing Souls

Having signed to the Columbia subsidiary Chaos, the Wailing Souls were now ready to conquer America, and launch themselves all over the world. However, the title track, which opens the album, was guaranteed to send their old roots fans running for cover. A funky disco monster, it's hard to believe this is the same group that gave us "Bredda... Read More

Gun in a Baggy
Artist: Little Lenny

Little Lenny scored the biggest (and one of the most controversial) reggae hits of 1989 with the title track, a superb safe sex ditty that critics mistook for just another slack number rather than a graphic and prophetic commentary on a critical subject. Indeed, anyone taking a simplistic view of Little Lenny's CD would miss some sharp,... Read More

Forever
Artist: Israel Vibration

After two albums together, it was obvious that a vibrant musical relationship had developed between Israel Vibration and the trio's backing band, the Roots Radics. The Radics' blend of powerful beats with an easygoing, swaying style provided perfect backdrops for the Vibes' vocals, adding strength to the more forceful numbers, while giving the... Read More

Love Is Overdue
Artist: Gregory Isaacs

This is the second of the Heartbeat label's releases featuring Gregory Isaacs' mid- to late-'70s work with producer Alvin Ranglin (the other three are My Number One, The Best of Gregory Isaacs, Vol. 1, and The Best of Gregory Isaacs, Vol. 2, with the latter pair since repackaged as a single disc). It's been unnecessarily remixed from the... Read More

Harder Than the Best
Artist: Burning Spear

After gaining exposure with producer Clement Dodd between 1969-1975, Burning Spear (aka Winston Rodney) and singing partners Rupert Willington and Delroy Hinds cut a handful of stunning albums for Island over the next three years. The first two releases, Garvey's Ghost and Man in the Hills, were produced by Jack Ruby and introduced Jamaicans and... Read More

Live
Artist: Burning Spear

After recording two exceptional albums under Clement Dodd at Studio One (Presenting and Rocking Time), Winston Rodney (aka Burning Spear) signed to Island Records. The albums that followed (Marcus Garvey and Man in the Hills) quickly established him as one of the finest, most impassioned practitioners of the flowering roots style. Live, this... Read More

Chapter 2 of "Words"
Artist: Lee "Scratch" Perry

The 22 tracks on Chapter 2 of "Words" all date from 1972-1973, a period when Lee "Scratch" Perry was a sort of nomad, recording tracks at various studios and mixing them at King Tubby's. The music reflects this, varying widely in sound and feel, from the traditional to the far-out, from the heartfelt to the downright goofy. This lack of cohesion... Read More