473. Signing Off

Signing Off
UB40
1980

Tracks
1. Tyler 
2. King 
3. Twelve Bar 
4. Burden Of Shame 
5. Adella 
6. I Think It's Going To Rain Again 
7. 25% 
8. Food For Thought 
9. Little By Little 
10. Signing Off 
11. Madame Medusa 
12. Strange Fruit 
13. Reefer Madness

I am not sure there is anyone who actually likes reggae and if there is I am not sure I want to meet them.  I suppose this inclusion on the List has some merit, as the album probably has some notable influence.  Still, doesn't mean that I have to enjoy it.

I even felt a little creepy listening to this one, as though it was something that a sleazy guy would put on in hopes of tempting a woman to have sex with him.  I had it on in the background while I wrote, and it wasn't quite as grating as I expected it to be.  I guess that's a positive although if the nicest thing I can say about an album is that it wasn't quite as obnoxious as I imagined, it's not that great of music.

So a rather steep dip in quality from Tom Waits the other day.  Hopefully, The Teardrop Explodes has more to offer.

RATING: 2/5

372. Exodus

Exodus
Bob Marley and the Wailers
1977

Tracks
1. Natural Mystic 
2. So Much Things To Say
3. Guiltiness 
4. Heathen 
5. Exodus 
6. Jammin' 
7. Waiting In Vain 
8. Turn Your Lights Down Low 
9. Three Little Birds 
10. One Love/People Get Ready

I am devoting this entire day to my blogs, since I have been far behind on all of them.  This project usually ends up being the neglected middle child in my blog family since it has the least amount of readers, but this time I am writing this review before I work on my movie blog.  The scrap of attention that I am throwing it will ensure years of therapy as it tries to work out if I may have loved it after all.

Most of these songs are recognizable, particularly "Three Little Birds".  The most beautiful song on this album was by far "One Love/People Get Ready".  I was really blown away by the vocals, which is something I really don't expect with a Marley album.

This is such an improvement from previous Marley albums and I am trying to figure out why.  The political messages are still there, but I felt like they flowed a lot better with the melodies.  It really felt like art; not propaganda.

An absolutely beautiful, must-hear album.

RATING: 4/5

One Love/People Get Ready:

366. Legalize It

Legalize It
Peter Tosh
1976

Tracks
1. Legalize It
2. Burial
3. What'cha Gonna Do?
4. No Sympathy
5. Why Must I Cry
6. Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)
7. Ketchy Shuby
8. Till Your Well Runs Dry
9. Brand New Second Hand

I have often remarked that some of this albums may be more pleasing if you were in a somewhat altered state of mind.  Yesterday I adapted myself to this alternate reality (for medicinal purposes of course; I am still recovering from my surgery and it hurts like hell). I still hated this album so perhaps I am not cut out to wear Bob Marley t-shirts and be apathetic about important things.

The title track of this album is not catchy and doesn't really say anything original.  Yes, marijuana should be legal; that's not exactly an insightful new idea, even in 1976.  I can see a sixteen year old stoner penning the same lyrics.

Entirely unremarkable and I have no idea why it would even make it on The List.

RATING: 2/5

334. Burning Spear

Burning Spear
Marcus Garvey
1975

Tracks
1. Marcus Garvey
2. Slavery Days
3. Invasion
4. Live Good
5. Give Me
6. Old Marcus Garvey
7. Tradition
8. Jordan River
9. Red Gold And Green
10. Resting Place

Well, that wasn't very impressive.  Don't get me wrong, it was a decent reggae album.  But after listening to Bob Marley, this kind of feels like a poor imitation.  Even his name sounds like a rip off of Marvin Gaye.  I was distinctly reminded of the band The Monkees that just were never quite as good as the Beatles.

Of course, I am not that much of reggae fan so delving deeper into the genre isn't really my idea of a good time.  Still, it wasn't all bad.  The lyrics of "Slavery Days" are deeply moving while "Old Marcus Garvey" had a nice melody.  Still, lyric wise and talent wise, Garvey is no Marley.  It is probably a bit unfair to compare him to the best, but it was hard not to when the style was so similar.

Overall, it didn't blow me away but it wasn't a complete waste of time.

RATING: 2/5

324. Natty Dread

Natty Dread
Bob Marley and the Wailers
1974

Tracks
1. Lively Up Yourself 
2. No Woman No Cry
3. Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)
4. Rebel Music (3 O'clock Roadblock) 
5. So Jah Seh 
6. Natty Dread 
7. Bend Down Low 
8. Talkin' Blues
9. Revolution

I am not trying to discount the male species' musical tastes, but I found that most guys' in high school favorite band was either Bob Marley And The Wailers or Pink Floyd.  Though I am sure this isn't true with every guy in high school, this certainly seemed to be the depth of their musical understanding of the guys I knew.  When I was in high school, I used this fact to weasel my way into many guy groups.  Of course, I didn't get go out on a date at all in high school so my data isn't exactly reliable.

But I will save stories about my high school experience for my therapist.  For now, we are talking about Natty Dread.

I do like Bob Marley but I was initially hesitant about this album because I heard that it was his angriest work.  I figured the music would just be a means to get a message across which is never really that enjoyable.

However, this album was just beautiful. First, we have the song "No Woman No Cry" which I think everyone has heard at least once.  The song conveys such powerful emotions that I, baby that I am, began to tear up when he started to sing "Everything's gonna be all right."  My favorite lyric, though, would have to be "my fear is my only courage."  Just beautiful.

Like I said, I had heard this album was very angry but to me, it seemed to convey more sadness and disappointment than anger (except when he started advocating bombing churches; there he sounded pretty pissed).  "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" is a new favorite of mine.

In his message for freedom and equality, he never forgets that music should, first and foremost, be enjoyable and catchy.  A new favorite.

RATING: 5/5

275. Catch a Fire

Catch a Fire
Bob Marley and The Wailers
1973

Tracks
1. Concrete Jungle 
2. Slave Driver 
3. 400 Years 
4. Stop That Train 
5. Baby We've Got A Date (Rock It Baby)
6. Stir It Up 
7. Kinky Reggae 
8. No More Trouble 
9. Midnight Ravers

As I rapidly lose followers in all my blogs, I suppose the normal thing to do would be to strive harder for uniqueness and creativity.  However, the point of this blog is to do discuss music.  I will ask my few followers (you guys are really troopers) to comment more on the different albums to encourage discussion.  There, that's my effort.  Now to Bob Marley.

I think it is a rule that all high school boys like Bob Marley.  I actually think it would impossible for me to enter a high school and not see a Bob Marley tee-shirt.  I am pleased to announce that I already have three Marley songs on my iPod.  I think all the Shania Twain I have, though, kind of cancels that out.

Anyway, I would recommend this as a great conversation starter with men.  Actually, this is an untested theory, but I would imagine it would work well.  Anyway, this album is a lot of fun.  Bob Marley manages to have interesting political messages and be catchy.  Not an easy feat.

RATING: 5/5