The number of great recordings referenced is already outstripping my ability to keep up on Spotify with them all. Aug 08, Ali Miremadi rated it really liked it.
Very good cultural history of ska-rocksteady-reggae-digitalJamaicanstuffuptothenineties. Wonderfully positive ethos - the artists Bradley admires get plenty of room; the ones he despises just get a brief mention or are omitted. Would much rather read someone who has committed views like Bradley than a fence-sitter.
May 21, Juanchu Chu added it. The best music book I've ever read, it's a extremely well written story of Jamaica's musical and sociopolitical history since right before independence up to the end of last century. At no point the book gets boring thanks to the narration and the eloquent interviewees.
If I was forced to point something I didn't like: In the last chapters, dissing gansta rap as 'art' with quotation marks struck me as a bit narrow-minded, and also I missed having a bit more of closure on the current status of th The best music book I've ever read, it's a extremely well written story of Jamaica's musical and sociopolitical history since right before independence up to the end of last century.
If I was forced to point something I didn't like: In the last chapters, dissing gansta rap as 'art' with quotation marks struck me as a bit narrow-minded, and also I missed having a bit more of closure on the current status of the key players from the 70s for example, King Tubby's murder isn't even mentioned.
But all and all, I can't recommend this book enough. May 28, Ryan rated it it was amazing. Very detailed history of the development of reggae from the early soundsystem days in the s to Ska, rocksteady, roots reggae and dancehall.
Also, excellent on the social history of Jamaica, Rastafari, the black diaspora and the development of the UK reggae scene. Particularly enjoyed how links were made with the political and social context and its direct influence on the music.
I'm left with so many ideas of amazing music to check out. Essential resource for all music heads! Mar 29, Mickey McIntosh rated it it was amazing. This is an outstanding book. The most in depth look on Reggae music. From its roots in Jamaica to its conquest of the UK and the USA, this tells the story about the whole genre and it's impact on society and culture.
Music fans will want to read this. Apr 13, Grant McDougall rated it really liked it. Superb book that brilliantly articulates the history and significance of the music. Many insightful and revealing interviews throughout. Would've liked a recommended discography at the end, but apart from that, this book is a great overview on reggae. Feb 06, Henry rated it it was amazing.
The essential history of reggae! Sep 01, Richard rated it it was amazing Shelves: non-fiction , music. Comprehensive, insightful, educational history of a unique art form. May 15, Piers Haslam rated it really liked it Shelves: caribbean. One must give this book the greatest respect for being the most passionate, inclusive, and comprehensive history of reggae music there is. Bradley traces Jamaican popular music from the early soundsystems of the s to the conscious dancehall movement in the mid s.
Not only this, he also weaves in an excellent political narrative — keeping in theme with the largely socio-political content of roots reggae music. His analysis is particularly strong in relation to the changing sound of Jamaican music. Before I start my criticism, I want to make it very clear that this book is beautifully written, and that my criticism does not detract from its value as a work of narrative cultural history with plenty of oral history too.
I think there are a few dangers in the very sense of comprehensiveness that this book presents. Firstly, Bradley places the early development of popular music in Jamaica in something of vacuum from Trini calypso and its local offshoot mento. I feel as though a greater influence was felt from this than this book would suggest, though I may be wrong. Secondly — as I have mentioned already — Bradley spends a lot of time discussing the effects of Jamaican music on the UK, and the home-grown scene there particularly in London.
All of this is understandable given that Bradley grew up in Britain, but it just has to be noted that this book is slightly UK-centred. Really, the music that takes centre-stage in his story is roots music. Music that reflects the social, economic, and political problems of the time.
Though of course this is completely relevant to much reggae, it leaves the more purely party orientated music under-appreciated. In sum, this is an excellent and readable book, and essential for anyone seriously interested in reggae and its sisters. Much recommended!
Mar 10, Ray rated it it was amazing. This is by far the best history of Jamaican music I've read. Personally, I prefer music histories that reference the concurrent cultural and political events of the time and this book delivers. I particularly liked the astute contributions by three of my favorite reggae artists, Prince Buster, Derrick Harriott and Dennis Bovell.
If you are a casual fan of ska, rock steady and roots reggae, there may be too much information here. I enjoyed reading about how the music business interacted with Jama This is by far the best history of Jamaican music I've read. I enjoyed reading about how the music business interacted with Jamaican music. There's great stories about a U.
This is the first book about reggae I've read that outlines the gradual development of Jamaican music from the late 50's forward in the UK, U. I really enjoyed the authors well written assessment of what made Bob Marley a great star. As other reviewers pointed out, the author is not as enthusiastic about the dancehall style and beyond but I expected that. There should be a book about dancehall that includes its development in Jamaica, UK and West Indian populations in the U.
Jul 13, kevin rated it really liked it Recommends it for: dj's, reggae fans, people with an interest in recent jamaican history. Shelves: non-fiction. Astonishingly comprehensive history of Jamaican popular music from the early s through the end of the century. Strong analysis makes connections between Jamaica's tumultuous post-colonial development and the emergence of a remarkably unique cultural economy.
Best of all, the text is littered with specific references to tracks, artists, and labels for the curious record collector, DJ, or music fanatic to use in a mad reggae scavenger hunt.
Coverage of later developments in dancehall digital, Astonishingly comprehensive history of Jamaican popular music from the early s through the end of the century. Coverage of later developments in dancehall digital, ragga, and bashment is light and generally less balanced than that of earlier periods. Published in before the international impact of Sean Paul and reggaeton, it may have been too soon to give proper historical treatment.
Additionally, I hoped for deeper discussion of the homophobia that has tarnished dancehall's reputation in recent years. Highly recommended. Sep 28, Tim rated it it was ok Shelves: abandoned. Very disappointed. There's clearly plenty of space for at least one book like this: a comprehensive history of reggae and its antecedents in Jamaican music. And it gets positive blurb; but of course all books do. I am a more or less casual reggae fan: I know a bit more of it and a bit more about it than my mum, or possibly even a bit more than that, but not a lot, and I like much of what little I do know quite a lot, and I enjoy informative and lively books about music, so I was very much in the Very disappointed.
I am a more or less casual reggae fan: I know a bit more of it and a bit more about it than my mum, or possibly even a bit more than that, but not a lot, and I like much of what little I do know quite a lot, and I enjoy informative and lively books about music, so I was very much in the market for this. But I found it dragged, sprawled, lacked momentum and direction and lacked style, flair, vivacity. In short, it bored me, despite my receptiveness.
I read over pages before reluctantly concluding that I was never going to start getting drawn in. So, life being short, I abandoned it. Aug 18, Will Lashley rated it it was amazing. This is as cogent an explanation as I have ever seen of how Black Nationalist Rastafarian convictions snuggled up to love songs and some hip shakin' riddims and for a brief period became the most emancipatory music in the world. Bradley's prose satisfies and elucidates on so many levels that I began re- reading it the moment I finished the last chapter, and hied to Spotify to try to fill in the holes in my deepened listening.
This should be in every music lover's library, especially if you have any appreciation of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, DJ-ING, dancehall, ragga or any of the other variants of authentic Jamaican music. Dec 05, Ian Pattinson rated it really liked it. The only problem with this book is that it was published in , so I'm at a loss over what's happened in the last fifteen years.
This is a fascinating wander through the roots of reggae, from the yard parties and sound systems most often playing blues and blues inspired local sounds, to the international reggae breakout of the seventies, and beyond. It moves faster, and covers more ground per chapter, the nearer to then contemporary sounds it gets.
The impression is that the author wasn't impr The only problem with this book is that it was published in , so I'm at a loss over what's happened in the last fifteen years. The impression is that the author wasn't impressed by the dancehall and ragga that were the dominant forms in the late nineties, and only grudgingly gave them any coverage.
His tone lightens in the last chapter, as he detects a return to old-school values over sample driven pap. Dec 23, Laura rated it really liked it Shelves: biography , music. Loved it. Not just a history of reggae, but of the social and political context which informed it. Nice to be able to realise the connections between artists I've only ever known about from their records.
However the author obviously doesn't care for dancehall and that comes through loud and clear in the final chapter, which ends the book on a bit of a pessimistic note without the energy and attention to detail he's given earlier chapters. Oct 02, Matthew Owen rated it really liked it. Fascinating read this If you are curious as to what sound system culture is, how the Rasta movement began, or to know what 'toasting' is then this is recommended.
Apr 07, Barrett rated it it was amazing. At first this book might seem too detailed but give it time. This is a crucial text for anyone interested in the history of Jamaican music. As a fan, I've gleaned a fair amount of history over the years but this book brought the story together and provided many new discoveries, especially the history of reggae in England.
Dec 12, Andrew rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Anyone interested in reggae. Shelves: non-fiction , music. Certainly not perfect; Bradley loses interest around the rise of dancehall, but as a history of the pre-digital Jamaican music scene it's superb.
He simply wanted reggae-and Jamaican culture-to speak with its own eloquent voice. By doing so, he raises to its rightful, vibrant place in the world of music. Post a comment Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. All rights reserved. Reset your password Click the eye to show your password. Contact Me Follow Me. Home » Articles » Book Review Advertise.
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