Monday, October 24 2011
Bio Ritmo: La Verdad
La Verdad captures the power and punch and authentic spontaneity of a live performance without sacrificing any studio polish.
Monday, October 10 2011
Extra Classic: Your Light Like White Lightning, Your Light Like a Laser Beam
Extra Classic pays homage, and shows its own vitality, when they build off of Jamaican music, but the band should find subject material a bit closer to home.
Monday, September 19 2011
Manu Chao: 5 September 2011 - New York
Labor Day at Terminal 5 with Manu Chao was as stirring as it was sweaty. That is, very.
Friday, July 8 2011
Bob Marley: The Untold Story
Bob Marley’s story is that of an archetype, which is why it continues to have such a powerful and ever-growing resonance: it embodies, among other themes, political repression, metaphysical and artistic insights, gangland warfare, and various periods in a mystical wilderness.
Wednesday, May 11 2011
“You Can’t Blame Those Who Have Tried”: An Interview with Cedella Marley
In this revealing and open interview, Cedella Marley discusses her father's legacy, the planned bootleg series ahead, and what's currently missing in the current state of reggae music ...
Wednesday, April 27 2011
Bob Marley and the Wailers: Live Forever
Whether you need to hear Marley's final concert depends on how devoted a disciple you are. He couldn't have sung it any better, though.
Tuesday, December 7 2010
Asmara All Stars: Eritrea’s Got Soul
Reminds me of Sally Nyolo's Studio Cameroon -- not the music itself, but the feel of the album, the impression that these people have been invited to perform with no particular mandate.
Friday, September 10 2010
Lee “Scratch” Perry and the Golden Age of Roots: ‘Heart of the Congos’
'Heart of the Congos' has seen many ups and downs, from the widespread acclaim of today to the creative ferment of late '70s Kingston and all the neglect, discovery, and possible theft that came in between. Through all that noise the album shines, a work of undeniable inspiration and enigmatic effect, and a lasting testament to Lee Perry and his studio.
Friday, September 3 2010
Lee “Scratch” Perry and the Golden Age of Roots: ‘Police and Thieves’
The international success of 'Police and Thieves' made it ubiquitous for fans of reggae and punk alike, but the album's roots are particular to the inner workings of vital, very-much-Jamaican studios like the Black Ark.
