Customer Reviews

Reggae Around the World

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Putumayo again does a superb job digging up world music gems, in this case bringing us reggae from around the world. For the uninitiated who often think that all reggae sounds the same, you'll be glad you purchased this CD. Great reggae from places far from Jamaica. Highlights include a wonderful instrumental version of "Stop That Train" by the great reggae session guitarist, Ernest Ranglin and a truly unique and moving acoustic version of "No Woman No Cry" by bluegrass maverick and devoted reggae fan, Peter Rowan.

We dropped this CD in a player deep in the jungles of Belize in Central America and we danced through the night in a pouring rainstorm....Sonnya and I were soaked by the rain and kept warm by the music and coffee laced with rum....this is the perfect CD if you like your reggae sensual and moving....check it out and bring along someone to dance close with....

Putumayo does it again with an incredible collection of tunes from reggae artists around the world. South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Sudan, Mali, Nigeria, France, Ghana, USA, and of course Jamaica are all represented in this collaborative album. My personal favorite was Peter Rowan, the former guitarist and vocalist for bluegrass legend Bill Monroe, doing his Americanized rendition of the Bob Marley classic "No Woman No Cry" backed by bluegrass legends like Mark O'Connor and Jerry Douglas. The low point of the album was jazz/reggae fusion guitarist Ernest Ranglin's instrumental "Stop That Train" where a few notes are less than stellar. Still, the concept of an instrumental approach to reggae is an interesting one and lends further credence to the notion that reggae is a state of mind. The attached booklet gives you a good introduction to the artists and the songs to help broaden your horizons on this musical genre. Highly recommended.

If you like reggae you'll love this CD. It's a great international mix with top stars from Africa, Brazil, and the Islands. I have sent it to both of my adult kids as a gift for introducing me to reggae and Bob Marley 10 years ago.

Don't miss the song "In Ghana", it's a real rocker

Sensual, deep and moving...fun and intoxicating....great for a party, but better one on one. Will revive your relationship. It is that good!

With due respect to Bob Marley, who wrote the song and to Wylcef Jean and the countless others who covered it, the version of "No Woman No Cry" found here on track 11 is the best remix of this song ever made, by anyone. It's emotional, almost spiritual, and everyone who appreciates good music should listen to it and consider themself honored. Oh yeah, the rest of the CD isn't too bad, but it ain't too good either.

Reggae compilations without Bob Marley find themselves in a rather tight bind, but this one redeems itself handily, thanks to the round-the-world motif. Standouts include Rasha's "Salib Saudi" and the interesting "Roots Ragga" by Kreyol Syndikat. But be prepared to yank the CD early - the last track, a way-too-tepid, way-too-long version of "No Woman No Cry" ends the disc on a very dull note. As a non-reggae-fanatic, I can recommend this disc to all other non-reggae-fanatics out there - reggae-fanatics are on their own.