Revisiting The Heart of the Congos
Sean MurphyGreat art knows no seasons. Nevertheless, some music is made for—or at least can be fully appreciated during—specific times of the year. Reggae music, which many people still believe means…
Gregory Isaacs, Cool Ruler R.I.P.
A fond adieu to one of reggae music's silken voices. Certainly not as known or celebrated as many of his peers, Isaacs has always been a reggae-lover's reggae icon. Those…
Summertime is Reggae Time (Revisited)– Part Four: ‘The Same Song’ by Israel Vibration
The cardinal rule for any serious appraisal of art involves a necessity to separate all discussion of the artist from the artifact. Mostly this is essential because so many unsavory…
Summertime is Reggae Time (Revisited)– Part Three: ‘Right Time’ by The Mighty Diamonds
Big misconception about reggae music: it’s all happy, at the beach, drinking music. Biggest misconception about reggae music: it all sounds the same. Even Bob Marley (and it is both…
Summertime is Reggae Time (Revisited)– Part Two: Culture’s ‘International Herb’
Culture is immortal for their 1977 tour de force, Two Sevens Clash, one of a handful of albums that can justifiably be uttered in the same sentence as Heart of…
Summertime is Reggae Time (Revisited)– Part One: HalleluJAH: Heart of the Congos
Great art knows no seasons. Nevertheless, some music is made for—or at least can be fully appreciated during—specific times of the year. Reggae music, which many people still believe means…
Sound & Vision: Featuring Mikey Dread
A little over a year ago I paid tribute to the late, great Mikey Dread. Writing about his masterpiece, Beyond World War III, I don't believe I should --or can-- make…
Sound & Vision: Featuring Jacob Miller
First of all, after Bob, somebody who I felt could have been a big star was Jacob Miller. Bob basically became a rock star in Jamaican music, and Jacob, I…
Upfull Living Or, A Tale of Two Album Covers
Part One: Pharoah Sanders Maybe you have to be a Jazz aficionado to get excited by an album cover, but come on: How can you not love this? How can…