Rule Dem

Garnett Silk | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 23, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B000F8OIKA
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #470,883 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Bless Our Soul

2. Marley Medley

3. Fight Back

4. Philistines on the Land

5. Pressure

6. Respect Jaro

7. Evacuate

8. Jaro Ruling

9. Green Light

10. Poor and Needy

11. You Still Care for Me

12. The Hard Way

13. Rule Dem

14. Blessing

15. One Blood

16. Rub a Dub Soldier

17. Jump Up, A We Rule

18. Dancehall Business

19. Complain

20. One of a Kind

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Rule Dem showcases some of Garnet Silk’s finest recordings from two different era’s in his life. There are some of his earliest cuts produced by the great Bunny Lee as well as some mesmerising dubplate recordings from his days toasting with the Jamaican sound system Killimangaro. These dubplates also feature a Who’s Who of guest appearances from the likes of Capleton, Dennis Brown, Richie Stephens and Lukie D. Rule Dem shows us that although Garnet Silk is gone he’ll never be forgotten. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars KINGLY CHARACTER, August 17, 2006

By 

Locks Lion (Blue Mountain Peak) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rule Dem (Audio CD)

RULE DEM: By the time Garnet Silk recorded these exclusive sides for the Kilimanjaro sound system, he was essentially the last great hope of the roots reggae movement. Following the digital takeover of the mid-late eighties, the good vibes of seventies roots reggae were all but drowned out in the clamour of guns, girls and gangsters that dominated dancehalls and reflected a more aggressive, less hopeful mood in general. Sure, veteran performers like Culture, Mighty Diamonds and Cocoa Tea were still around, and still recording, but their popularity was increasingly eclipsed by upstart bad men like Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks. Enter Garnet Silk, the Silky One, initially recording as a deejay under the name Bimbo or Little Bimbo, but soon to be recognised as a concious singer of almost peerless pedigree, and a natural successor to the people's crown prince, Dennis Brown. Blessed with an extraordinary voice at once authoritative and uncommonly well-trained, Garnet Silk began to make real waves in the early nineties, not only in the studio, but as this latest Trojan retrospective reveals, also in the dancehall. The rough and ready sound quality here sounds absolutely fantastic with Silk's smooth vocals soaring above, and although there's the usual compliment of sound-boy killer lyrics (which, it has to be said, he handles quite nicely), it's the awesome roots rockers that really hit the spot, including the popular BLESS OUR SOUL, as well as the nice Bob MARLEY MEDLEY. There's also a sampling of combination cuts, featuring some of the conscious artists who would carry the torch following Silk's untimely demise in 1994, including Capleton on the wicked COMPLAIN, and roots hero Luciano on the title track.

Overall, this is a fantastic release from Trojan, with informative liner notes detailing the history of the Kilimanjaro outfit, and nice photos as well. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that Garnet Silk laid the foundations for conscious artists like Sizzla, Luciano and Capleton, as well as making it possible for one-time gun slingers like Buju Banton to relaunch their careers as upright rastamen. Now, twelve years after Silk's passing, roots reggae is enjoying a remarkable revival, and the spirit of the Silky One - as well as Dennis Brown and Bob Marley - burns brightly once again, with up-and-coming artists like Gyptian (MY NAME IS GYPTIAN, soon come from VP) and Nanko, and the amazing Jah Cure leading the way.