Customer Reviews

Handsworth Revolution

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a must-have for any roots reggae fan. Along with the four albums Steel Pulse released following this one (Tribute to the Martyrs, Caught You, True Democracy, & Earth Crisis), this is essential roots reggae. The stand-out tracks are "Soldiers", "Sound Check", and "Prodigal Son". The songs of this album contain socially conscious and politically- and racially-charged lyrics. David Hinds' vocals (with call-and-response backing vocals by the band) are incredibly soulful, and the rhythms are tight.

A truly great album (reggae or otherwise). The rythms are relentless, the harmonies inspirational and the lyrics full of power and meaning.

This album is perfectly executed and stirs up the same passion and feeling as Catch A Fire and 1865 (96 degrees in the shade).

Listen to this album and you feel as if Steel Pulse are there playing live, such is the feel of the production. Something that some of their more recent releases are missing.

Reggae purists will not be disappointed.

Being very familiar with most of the output from this seminal reggae band, I initially thought "Earth Crisis" and, subsequently, "True Democracy" was the band's best output. But repeated listening over the past decade has definitively established this album as, indeed, the most enduring of them all. It has the same "leanness" as "True Democracy" but , perhaps, owing to it's earlier release date, is closer to the ideals characteristic of all the true reggae masterworks.

No true reggae collection is complete without this album. If "Prediction" (the highlight of the album) doesn't hard-wire you to your seat and simultaneously exercise complete control over your sense of rhythm, examine your professed love for this music we call reggae....or have your soul examined.

IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE A TRUE "ROOT ROCK MUSIC" REGGAE FUN, THEN THIS IS AN ALBUM IN YOUR MANY STEEL PULSE COLLECTION. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF MANY MEANING HITS TO COME. STEEL PULSE MADE THEIR MARKS RIGHT FROM THE START. HANDSWORTH REVOLUTION LYRICS WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU WHAT TRUE ROOT MUSIC IS ALL ABOUT. PERFECT START.

Being very familiar with most of the output from this seminal reggae band, I initially thought "Earth Crisis" and, subsequently, "True Democracy" was the band's best output. But repeated listening over the past decade has definitively established this album as, indeed, the most enduring of them all. It has the same "leanness" as "True Democracy" but , perhaps, owing to it's earlier release date, is closer to the ideals characteristic of all the true reggae masterworks.
No true reggae collection is complete without this album. If "Prediction" (the highlight of the album) doesn't hard-wire you to your seat and simultaneously exercise complete control over your sense of rhythm, examine your professed love for this music we call reggae....or have your soul examined.

Seminal U.K. reggae - undoubtable one of the greatest reggae albums ever. Besides tremendous musicianship, David Hinds shows a great lyrical flair. Raw reggae - long before slackness & dancehall. The gentleman from Ky. - besides being clueless to great music - served no purpose other than lowering mean rating on a 5 star classic

The debut of one of the best reggae groups of the century. Great music, great voice, great chorus, great songs....what else do you expect from a reggae group? Another must have!!!

If you do not have this record, get it. It is on of my favorites, a must for anybody who is into reggae.

THIS ALBUM WILL GO DOWN IN THE ANNALS OF HISTORY AS A CLASSIC. A MASTERPIECE THAT HAS BEEN CREATED BY STEEL PULSE. HEAR DAVID HINDS COMMANDING VOCALS SURROUNDING BY LUSH HARMONIES AND SUPERB LYRICS. ITS JUST A SHAME ALBUMS LIKE THESE DON'T APPEAR MORE OFTEN. YOU WILL WANT TO LISTEN TO THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. CHECK OUT DAVID HINDS VOCALS ON -BADMAN-. THIS ALBUM WILL LEAVE YOU SPELLBOUND.

sadly, i missed the group when they performed in new york city in the summer,2002. i picked up smash hits, a fellow album of the group, during my first year of college. that was four years ago. i recently purchased hansdworth revolution and noticed how different it is from smash hits. for one, the songs on h. revolution are much more low tempo than the songs on s. hits. however, this difference does not take away anything significant from either albums. it, the difference between the two albums, simply shows the awesome artistic skills of the band. handsworth is a perfect album to relax too and at the same time allow yourself to be taken to another place. i enjoy listening to all the tracks. my favorites are bad man, soldier(this is a wicked tune), and ku klux klan(a classic by itself). make this album part of your collection and enjoy it.