From: United Reggae
By Angus Taylor
The top 20 reggae albums of 2010.
Last year Angus Taylor’s top ten was arranged in numerical descent. But to quote one of the featured artists below “Music is a mission, not a competition” so this year, Angus has simply selected his twenty favourite albums of the year, in no particular order. Feel free to suggest your favourites from the list below or any he has missed out.
—————————————————————————————————————
Taj Weekes & Adowa – A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen
Bearing one of the year’s strangest titles, the third record from the New York based St Lucian tightened up his classic soul rebel music and poetic lyrics. Less bleak than 2008’s Deidem yet still emotionally-charged through and through.
Romain Virgo – Romain Virgo
2010 was amazing for long-playing debuts. Like Tarrus Riley, you really have to see this man live to truly “get” what makes him such a prodigious talent. Still, this album was a solid entertainer from a potential superstar.
Maikal X – Genesis
Another strong debut, this time from a soulful voiced singer out of the Netherlands. The calibre of guests like Luciano and Peter Morgan says it all.
Natty King – Born To Be Free
This crowd-pleasing serving of cultural and herbal topics, produced by Austria’s hardworking and capable House Of Riddim, was well-received on both sides of the Atlantic.
Toussaint – Black Gold
The US has been home to some of the most unusual yet brilliant releases this year. This album was compared to classic soul and Steel Pulse, but whether you agree or not, it definitely had its own thing going on. Jahdan Blakkamore – Babylon Nightmare
A sprawling citadel of musical and vocal styles from the man of many voices – on more of a reggae foundation than previous album Buzzrock Warrior. An East Coast meets West Coast project lovingly put together by Lustre Kings.
Red Earth Collective Meets Soothsayers – Red Earth Dub
The flipside to the boys and girls’ amazing One More Reason from last year. Nuff said.
Chezidek – Judgement Time
A little front-heavy compared to previous effort I Grade. But the opening vocals (Ganja Tree and Live & Learn) are two of the best Chezidek songs ever recorded, while the later tracks maintain a good standard from there on in.
Apple Gabriel – Teach Them Right
Apple’s illness and homelessness meant everyone was hoping JahSolidRock and Not Easy At All’s followup to Judgement Time would succeed. A more unified album than Chezidek’s, including one of few reggae songs to criticize violence against gays.
Earl Zero – And God Said To Man
Unabashed time-traveller Roberto Sanchez put a less raw but still atmospheric West Kingston veteran in a backward-stepping showcase setting. Includes a revisit to Earl’s composition made famous by Johnny Clarke, None Shall Escape the Judgement.
Annette Brissett – Lift Your Head Up
Once again this list is way too male dominated (perhaps we’re not on the right mailing lists!). Sadly Etana’s hotly anticipated album was put back until 2011 but veteran drummer-turned-singer Annette Brisset dropped this mature and soulful record, which she wrote and played almost entirely herself.
Skatroniks Jamaica – Skalsa # 1
In the popular imagination Ska has been left to the tweed-wearing Two Tone or baggy shorts punk crowd. Bigga Morrison and his supergroup reminded us that it’s a Jamaican invention, mixing in salsa, steppers and nyabinghi drums along the way.
Tippa Irie & The Far East Band – Stick To My Roots
Tippa Irie warned us this would be his best work, and it was certainly one of the best of 2010. From deep roots to contemporary dancehall, Tippa and the Far East band proved they could put their minds to anything and thrive.
Junior Kelly – Red Pond
This year heard the return of gruff roots veterans. After five years without an album Junior Kelly reminded us why he is so well regarded. The rhythms of the Fire House crew are slick but Kelly’s vocals, including a remarkable third verse on Stumbling Blocks, are sublime.
Nas & Damian Marley – Distant Relatives
This meeting of hip hop, reggae and African music breached and bewitched a mainstream eager to criticise such a high minded concept. Along with John Legend and the Roots’ Wake Up!, this album shook up and cheered up the world in 2010.
Clinton Fearon – Mi Deh Yah
This year the ex-Gladiator took his sterling work with Boogie Brown Band up a notch, playing bass himself and fine-tuning the production beyond anything he’d crafted before. The difference shows, in his best solo album yet.
Lloyd Brown – Cornerstone
Lloyd is a cert for this list every year. You don’t even hear a straight one-drop until the fourth track but then come Bob Marley samples, Joe Higgs covers and Duke Reid rocksteady. More daring than last year’s For Your Consideration but every bit as strong.
Busy Signal – DOB
You’ve heard from various tastemakers and veterans that there’s nothing good coming out of Jamaica, but even the naysayers have a soft spot for the increasingly eclectic Busy. While his singing voice suffers without pitch correction on stage, the studio yields a fearless, totally different sounding album every time.
Gappy Ranks – Put The Stereo On
Another artist bucking the trends is London’s Gappy Ranks. By dropping modern vocals over Peckings rhythms, his debut brought the forward thinking and the luddite tendencies in reggae fans together as one. The Union Jack colours on the cover sent a clear message. A modern classic in every sense.
Capleton – I-Ternal Fire
This album divided critics in embracing the soft balladeer style of modern one-drop, and contained many previously released singles. Capleton’s strained singing is an acquired taste, but the way he adapted to the rhythms of Shane Brown and Flava McGregor seals his place as one of the all time greats.