Reggaenomics!
A few days ago I got the best work assignment ever... to research the top 100 reggae albums. Seeing as how I usually write exclusively about music here, I'm going to incorporate this assignment into the blog. To further justify this decision, I went ahead and made up a cute name for it. It's called: Reggaenomics!
Reggae music seems to have the singular ability to lift the spirits of even the gloomiest bastards out there. It's simple, it's soulful, and it's even easy for white people to dance to... so, if you've been watching too much MSNBC lately, and the state of things has got you down, come join us for some Reggaenomics!
Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston (1973)
Toots Hibbert and The Maytals were arguably the tightest band in the golden age of reggae. They're celebrated for their legendary live shows, but what really puts the band apart from reggae masses is Toots' delivery. With a voice that would have been just as comfortable on a classic Stax album, Toots' vocals had the unique ability to convey joy, pain, defiance, and hope all at once. He brought the southern soul aesthetic to Jamaican music. Or maybe it went the other way around... either way, it's pretty amazing.
Toots & The Maytals - Time Tough
Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston
Toots & The Maytals - Pomp And Pride
Funky Kingston is now available as a reissue on 180 gram vinyl from Universal's Back To Black vinyl reissue series.
Reggae music seems to have the singular ability to lift the spirits of even the gloomiest bastards out there. It's simple, it's soulful, and it's even easy for white people to dance to... so, if you've been watching too much MSNBC lately, and the state of things has got you down, come join us for some Reggaenomics!
Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston (1973)
Toots Hibbert and The Maytals were arguably the tightest band in the golden age of reggae. They're celebrated for their legendary live shows, but what really puts the band apart from reggae masses is Toots' delivery. With a voice that would have been just as comfortable on a classic Stax album, Toots' vocals had the unique ability to convey joy, pain, defiance, and hope all at once. He brought the southern soul aesthetic to Jamaican music. Or maybe it went the other way around... either way, it's pretty amazing.
Toots & The Maytals - Time Tough
Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston
Toots & The Maytals - Pomp And Pride
Funky Kingston is now available as a reissue on 180 gram vinyl from Universal's Back To Black vinyl reissue series.
