Can reggae/dub still be relevent?

Taylor Livingston · #1 01-23-2008, 05:13 PM

I am a relatively young guy (21) and I have been into reggae and dub stuff since before I was a teenager. I mostly would put on my dad's old records, so I was very much into Marley, Tosh, Toots and the Maytals, Big Youth, Dave and Ansel Collins, King Tubby, and Lee Perry. In the past few years, though, my interest in this genre has waned because I haven't heard anything new that I thought was more than just frat boys ripping off the above greats. I definitely am no scholar on this subject, though, so I suspect that has more to do with my ignorance of more modern stuff (and also a preponderance of frat-reggae bands here in New Orleans).

So, please school me on some modern dub and reggae that is innovative and good. I fear that without it, I will disappear entirely into the soulless chasm of 20th century experimental classical music.

papajune · #2 01-23-2008, 05:20 PM

midnite is great check them out, fo sho.

Taylor Livingston · #3 01-23-2008, 05:36 PM

I looked them up on Youtube. Cool, but not at all innovative (from the 4 or 5 songs I listened to, anyway). Surely there's some Schoenberg-meets-King Tubby music out there somewhere?

RiddimKing · #4 01-23-2008, 05:39 PM

Matisyahu's backing band...the name escapes me, but Google em...had a great Dub record a couple of years ago.

srh · #5 01-23-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiddimKing

Matisyahu's backing band...the name escapes me, but Google em...had a great Dub record a couple of years ago.

Roots Tonic?

JHBassman · #6 01-23-2008, 05:47 PM

I feel your pain man... You're talking to a reggae lover here, I try to play as much reggae as possible but it's hard without musicians who really care. Anyhow, here is some examples of some new stuff that I think is pretty cool. Unfortunately, it seems like the best new stuff out there is electronic (dub-style) reggae. Not a bad thing, but a certain part of reggae is dying...

Newer stuff:
Damian Marley
Stephen Marley
Steel Pulse- African Holocaust (their newest album)
Matisyahu
Slightly Stoopid (think Sublime)

Something different:
Gondwana- Reggae Chileno

Old but new:
John Brown's Body

New Dub (more electronic):
Easy Star All-Stars- Dub Side of the Moon (great Dub remake of Floyd's classic album)
Bombay Dub Orchestra

Sounbwoy · #7 01-23-2008, 09:19 PM

Depends on what you're listening for in reggae, IMHO. I think the musicianship in Lovers Rock has increased significantly. There's some thought actually being paid to composition and production nowadays. Here are two artists I recommend :
(Lovers Rock category)
Chamaine (she's on my MySpace and I've worked with her, so I'm somewhat biased here, but I really think she can do well).
Benjy Myaz- VERY talented and he also plays bass. (Also on MySpace)

stealyourface · #8 01-23-2008, 09:36 PM

check out Dub is a Weapon

i saw them back up lee scratch perry and they tore it up

JamesM · #9 01-24-2008, 12:14 AM

Katchafire is pretty good NZ reggae band, very much inspired by Marley, as u can probably tell from their name (i think they used to be a Bob cover band)...but they play good solid reggae!!!

jollygiantchris · #10 01-24-2008, 02:10 AM

Considering this is a musician's forum...IF YOU AREN'T SATISFIED WHY DON'T YOU MAKE A BAND AND MAKE IT RELEVANT?

But I wasn't aware matisyahu's backing band had an album those guys are ridiculously tight on live at stubb's.

floopy · #11 01-24-2008, 05:25 AM

You're right, for the last 20 years or so, most of the creative energy has gone into dancehall, rather than roots/dub.

Here's a pointer to some radio shows, you might find some of the new stuff that you like:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/dancehall/

Larry99 · #12 01-24-2008, 08:16 AM

Check out King Django. I think he may get down south every now and then.

http://www.kingdjango.com/bio.php

Also check out Victor Rice, a fellow bassist. He recently put an octet together and played around the NYC area. More of a ska feel but the band was great!

Sizzla Kolanji is another reggae artist to check out.

Anyway, I hope it's still relevant since, at almost 40, I'm playing the stuff now. I agree re the band Midnite. We opened for them last Sept and they are the real deal, live anyway. We're all part timers/weekend warriors but we try to stay true to the genre...

http://www.wareikahill.net

jomahu · #13 01-24-2008, 01:25 PM

i like classic reggae and dub, but as far as recent stuff, i am more into the mixing of genres with dub/dancehall/reggae....but not in a cheezy way (see: wyclef jean)

i really like dr. israel. and club d'elf. check out some live clips of queen ifrica, she's awesome.
and since i've been on a meshell ndegeocello kick these past few weeks, 'comfort woman' just drips with groove.

MakiSupaStar · #14 01-24-2008, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srh

Roots Tonic?

Yep that record was produced by Bill Laswell.

Dub Syndicate with Lincoln "Style" Scott and Erroll "Flabba" Holt. They are the Roots Radics when they've got a singer or toaster in front of them. Gregory Isaacs recorded Night Nurse and a few other albums with these guys.

Don Carlos and Gold - They have a DJ that approaches scratching like precusionist

Dry and Heavy - This is a Japanese rhythm section. They're good and push it into a different direction.

Dub Trio - A blend of thrash, punk, and dub reggae

Thievery Incorporated - Good stuff
Fat Freddy's Drop - They are kind of a blend of dub, jam, funk, and soul. Hard to describe but good stuff.

Burning Spear - I'm always impressed with what they put out. Even though they're an old band they're still great.

Easy Star All Stars - Radiodread, and Dub Side of the Moon. Enough said.

That's just off the top of my head.

It's funny that you started this thread because I'm going the opposite direction. Dub reggae is my main focus right now.

MakiSupaStar · #15 01-24-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jomahu

i like classic reggae and dub, but as far as recent stuff, i am more into the mixing of genres with dub/dancehall/reggae....but not in a cheezy way (see: wyclef jean)

i really like dr. israel. and club d'elf. check out some live clips of queen ifrica, she's awesome.
and since i've been on a meshell ndegeocello kick these past few weeks, 'comfort woman' just drips with groove.

Hey those are some names I haven't heard off. I'm going to check them out. Wyclef is great.

RiddimKing · #16 01-24-2008, 05:38 PM

SRH,

Yeah, Roots Tonic. I think I played nothing but that CD in my truck for the 3 months after it came out. I need to get back to it.

CHILDISHGAMBINO · #17 01-25-2008, 01:49 PM

Dub Trio

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y7TfisCzetE

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GdNuKWA4OHw

Mitchell Royce · #18 01-26-2008, 03:14 AM

Another fairly recent band is HiM. No, not the swedish glam rock band, the side project of Doug Scharin of June of 44. Very cool and less traditional.

experimento · #19 01-29-2008, 09:29 AM

Aswad's bassist is very good
Sly n' Robbie
Groundation is root's reggae but is awesome

some brazilian reggae band: (they sing in portuguese but... reggae have no language :>)
Planta e Raiz, Ponto de Equilibrio, Raizes Rasta, Experimento Reggae (www.bandasdegaragem.com.br/experimentoreggae)...
check those out! Peace!