Customer Reviews

Reggae Injection

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

 

 

When I read the Reggae Injection press release, I was a bit sceptical. How many times do you read some thing about a new release, that is supposed to bring you back to what some regard as the golden years of reggae? And how many times did you found out that what bands call "old skool" in fact is not? I know I have come across this. What many people seem to forget, that it is not only the music that makes a release sound "old skool", but the way it was produced is at least as much important as the music itself. How can you make ancient sounds with new technology? Much better it is to use the real thing. Spring Reverbs and Tape Delays instead of new computerized effects. But you can never reach there in this time.

Strange thing, this (Reggae) Injection that the (Rhythm) Doctors gave me. It makes me kinda philosophical after listening to 12 Shots of, what I really must call, Authentic Reggae and Ska. Although it does not sound 100% like the real thing only because the recording is simply too good still, I must say that this CD comes very close. And although the press release mentions the sound of Lee Perry's BLACK ARK STUDIO, there is hardly a phaser used on the CD and on those tracks where it is used, it's not done in the Lee Perry style. No, most of the music style pre-dates Black Ark for real. The Doctors play a very energetic kind of music, sometimes reggae and sometimes ska. Every track is instrumental, but many titles open up with some crazy vocals, which gives you the feeling that you're listening to movie soundtracks. One track uses a melody line from a gospel song ("I Love You Lord"), revealing the faith of (some) band members.

As I said earlier, the Doctors play a kind of reggae and ska as it was played in the late 1960's to the early 1970's. Not all tracks are like that, though. As the CD progresses you'll find some tracks using the Steppers Drum (basdrum beat on every count) and there's even three real Dubs present. And three real nice Dubs they are for real! I hear many vintage effects like Spring Reverb.

When you like Sure Dread's instrumental tracks, or the Stubborn All Stars, I think you will also love the Rhythm Doctors. But if absence of vocals (or Dub) bothers you, then this one is not for you. But they sure make real what they write in the press release: "Reggae Injection is for everyone that'd given up on listening to new Reggae or SKA Bands." If you don't believe me, take into consideration, that they have backed up for Prince Buster recently (september 2000).

This is one of the best instrumental albums I've heard in a long, long time...Loved the whole album especially Jesse's Song and the bass lines in Marks Mood...The whole album is great and I recommend it to everyone no matter what taste in music you may have...

Different members of los angeles reggae scene that bacame after bands as aggrolites , after hours...
that really cool music.
not easy to find that record, but everyone who love that sound should have it.

Three members of L.A. dirty reggae band, The Aggrolites, were formally in the Rhythm Doctors. Reggae Injection features that same sound, minus the vocals. A great album, which definitely shaped what The Aggrolites would become.

ONCE AGAIN TKO RECORDS DO NOT DISSAPOINT WITH THIS TOP QUALITY (& TOP PRODUCTION) FROM THE Rhythm Doctors,the last time i heard anything like this was at an ice skating rink many years ago where a man would belt out a tune on a great stage at the side of the ice... the structure of the ice rink would make this one man sound like a full ensemble &...boy would i like to see the Rhythm Doctors at the ice rink now. mainly organ led this falls between soul reggae & ska (& not the annoying stuff that passes its self as ska nowadays) every tune is an uplifting affair and its the mark of a great band that (an instrumental band) can keep your attention for the whole of the cd..the only instrumental band to do that to me since the great compositions of SOUNDS INSTRUMENTAL way back when.. i reccomend this if you are already fans of the allstonians,mobtown usuals etc

It is so great to see somebody with the guts to do this style of reggae! In a time when people watch too many talk shows, and think "skinhead reggae" is an oxymoron, The Rhythm Doctors bring back the sound after thirty years with a vengenance. All the tributes to skinhead reggae are here: the hammond organ sound, the plucky riffs, thumping bass, and cheesy skits. Very traditionaly, yet highly original! "66-40" is my favorite song.

This all instrumental reggae album by california's Rhythm Doctors is simply one of the best things to come out of the late 90s ska-rocksteady-reggae scene. Song after song of smooth instrumentals make for a wonderful listen. I only have had this album for a day, and have already listened to it three or four times all the way through. I recomend this to evreyone, especially fans of traditional ska and early reggae.