Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Best Song: Food For Thought. I liked like slight reverb, and how the guitar and saxophone played off one another. Worst Song: Madam Medusa. Thirteen minutes of just the slowest jam session. Overall: I'm just not a reggae guy, let alone a UK reggae guy.
Not always into reggae/dub, but this was pretty strong.
Buen reggae
Lil jaxzy i loveeeee
I didn’t listen to this fully need to revisit
Kind of boring for a reggae album. That being said, not terrible.
this was fun! it’s not the type of music i typically gravitate towards and the other reggae-adjacent music on this list has been white people ska which is really horrendous, but this is a whole different thing and very good. Fav tracks: Adella
3.5. Super solid
Meh like the Specials more but there are some interesting moments. Rating: 2.2
Good
Didn't even listened till the end.
Great reggae sound.
All sounded the same after a couple songs. Fun enough but isn’t really better than a 3
Kinda whatever British guys
Starts off enjoyable. Music continues to be decent. Absolutely nothing wrong with the reggae groves & instrumentals whatsoever. But my god it gets tedious in the second half. A bit of variety wouldn't go amiss here - each song starts to blend into the other and as a result the album loses so much of its appeal or intriuge. It ultimately begins to feel like background instrumental.
This album was just okay
Chill reggae from England. Fat bass, guitar and saxophone. Political messages. Somewhat receptive but good background music especially the instrumentals. They are a lot better than Red Red Wine.
Perhaps it's a bit situational but it's good. Maybe, it doesn't stand out as I would hope, but it's deserving of a positive score.
i really liked these vibes
UB40 was once a socially-conscious bent reggae group before they were doing reggae covers of classic pop songs. I, contrary to hipster opinion, enjoy both eras of the band, and often forget how much I enjoy their stuff. It's not nearly as cornbread as a lot of "whiteboy reggae" tends to be- you can tell they came up in the new wave scene and they're not trying to sound "black" like many try to. This record is so early 80s, but the songs are all extremely easy to enjoy- "chilled out" would be an understatement- while still feeling politically-pronounced.
yay reagge and politics everyones favorite i was like okay if the musics always gonna be bum tara bum ta lets check the lyrics, for my surprise just as monotone, two songs in they already butchered lean on me, one positive thing about this are the basslines
I do not like UB40
One of those albums that is important to research on this project before you listen, as streamers will offer you versions with added songs (Madame Medusa, Strange Fruit, Reefer Madness) which were on a separate EP included within the album package but - for me - definitely to be absorbed separately. The album itself is tight (which Madame Medusa definitely isn't!) with great self-written songs, tunes and incisive subject matter (but still just enjoyable). As I'm sure is stated in more enlightened reviews elsewhere - this UB40 is a totally different beast to the later Labour of Love cover version band they sadly became with huge commercial success. At the time of Signing Off (& it's successor Present Arms) this band and others like Steel Pulse (even early Specials / The Beat / Selector / Aswad/ Matumbi) represented a vital wave of resistance within late 70s Britain where cultures chose to come together and find ways to survive the grey hostility in Thatchers wastelands. And as my daughter said whilst we listen to it loud on original vinyl - it's a vibe!
Really good- not every song was a hit but this was super chill and I had a nice time
why does white reggae feel so illegal when white people didn't invent ANY genre
Non sono sicuro rientri tra i 1000 migliori album di sempre
Reminded me of high school when I was kind of sort of into reggae.
Not my vibe at all
Deer ankle
Regge soundeja mutta on se pitkäpiimäistä
Tame waiting room reggae - meh. If you want a suggestion, try 10 Ft Ganja Plant for some contrast. I listened to them instead and had a blast
Wasn't expecting a reggae album when I saw the cover today but I dig it. I don't think I have much to say but that the vibe was solid and there were some bops. I'm not itching to put it on again though. 3-4 stars, unsure how I'll feel when it comes time to actually rate it tomorrow.
Honestly I like reggae albums so maybe I just enjoyed it more. Was it the best album? No. Did I like it in the background while driving around all day? Definitely.
Disappointing
not great at all. later music is much better. dare say not good
Not the biggest reggae fan, but this is a pretty nice, laid back (though politically charged) album. Put me at ease, maybe a 3.5
Number: 81 Date: 03/24/2026 Artist: UB40 Album: Signing Off Year: Signing Off Genre: Dub Reggae Rating: 3 Notes: Before: ======= Of course I know of UB40 and have heard some of their music but nothing really jumps out at me as a memorable track. I do like Reggae a little but find it to be a pretty limiting style of music in and of itself. During: ======= I like that it has some interesting jazzy bits and other effects so that is isn't just straight reggae. 3 Tyler 3 King 3 12 Bar 4 Burden Of Shame 3 Adella 3 I Think It's Going To Rain Today 3 25% 3 Food For Thought 3 Little By Little 3 Signing Off 3 Madam Medusa 3 Strange Fruit 3 Reefer Madness ----------------------------------------------------- 3.10 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= It's nice as background music. 3 my personal rating 3 suitability for this list 3 impact ----------------------------------------------- 3 composite rating
It's ok. Lyrically strong, but otherwise, a generic reggae/dub album. There weren't any memorable songs for me, but it was a pleasant experience. Still, it would've been better if it were 15 minutes shorter. 3/5
I think what I learned about UB40 was that the UB stood for Unemployment Benefit. That was way more interesting than the album. I did like some of the songs but nothing drew me in.
recht lahm - brauche ich nicht
Some decent reggae. I'd have it on in the background, but no real desire to seek it out.
The album cover alone makes a political statement(in other words, their distaste of Margaret Thatcher), and due to this alone, this album is going to get a boost from me. I never knew there was a such thing as British Reggae, but it goes quite well on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. The problem with the album(which was the same problem with my album yesterday), is once you hear about one minute of each track, you know how the rest of the track will go. The entire album has the same reggae beat, drums, and saxophone. There isn't much diversity. Anyway, I've now listened to three hours, and twenty-five minutes of music from this generator for this weekend, so I'm signing off for the night. Favorite Track: "King".
After this they got pretty bland, pretty quickly, but on Signing Off they have a lot going for them. Often capturing a genuine vibe that could be straight out of Studio One, Kingston, the reggae and dub influenced sounds are the result of meticulous and relentless rehearsal followed by an extremely primitive and makeshift recording process that nevertheless captures the perfect atmosphere. Thatcher’s Britain in the Midlands is the backdrop for a politically charged album that has no option but to hit hard. And yet, the album can be enjoyed as a turn-off-and-chill-out experience too; close your eyes and fire up a bifter, and you can picture yourself in sunny Jamaica despite being recorded in Birmingham during the wettest summer in memory. The rhythm tracks are heavy, lending a credible gravitas and authenticity to the mood, but a keen ear for melody offers an immediacy and accessibility that served them well with live audiences and on the radio. Their success took away the circumstances that were the foundation of this album and while they strived to maintain their authentic dedication to their source influences, a lightness quickly took over from the emotional heft embedded in the solid grooves of Signing Off.
A reminder that many bands are way better than that one hit everybody knows.
I’ll admit I’ve never really taken them seriously but I tried as hard as I could on this listen and I definitely have more respect, but was still pretty bored.
The most fucking godawful shite in the history of music. I’d rather listen to apemen clubbing rocks for an hour.
I haven’t heard this one before. I’ve heard UB40 before, but only the radio hits of uninspired cover songs in the late 80s and early 90s. It’s nice to hear some of their original music finally. This is definitely better than their radio songs but it all seems very run of the mill; all of this had been done before and done better by reggae and dub artists in the seventies and while they have their own spin on it, they don’t bring anything new to the genre and only a few of the songs really stand out. Part of this is I’m not a huge dub fan, so I’m sure someone knowledgeable about the history of dub could sort me out. Unlike their radio hits, I wouldn’t call any of this uninspired but it’s definitely uninspiring.
The Good: If we don’t like it, we know they will be gone, as they are… The Bad: What if we don’t want them to sign off? The Ugly: The value of Unemployment Benefit #40… If you like reaggea, then you probably like this record. If you like songs that drag on and on, then you will like this record. If you like UB40, you will like this album. My tally for the above is naught out of three. Guess I am UB03… And then comes that one song that just makes the album A-Oh-Kay! Food For Thought is, by far, one of the greatest songs of the ‘80s. So, UB40, I will shoot this one straight down the middle. 3*
a slog to get through
cool!! probably the most sonically interesting reggae music ive listened to. listened to this while studying and gen made me lock in. can see why this would get boring if i dedicated my full attention though.
This was alright, mostly sounded a lot the same from track to track, it was good beat and I liked the saxaphone. I'm overall a 3 here
It's good reggae/dub but I think I want reggae to be looser than this. Not sloppy, just loose. This is too 80s-pop pristine in its production, too. 3 stars
Shrug. I didn’t make it halfway through.
Definitely better than I thought it would be, but otherwise meh.
Too long, but overall pleasant.
I enjoy reggae and overall like their sound a lot, but this was mid for me. None of the songs stood out and it sort of just faded into the background overall. But not unenjoyable by any means.
Life’s too short to listen to dub influenced British reggae while sober.
Don't really have anything to say so I'm gonna let this slide. Signing off
I like reggae and dub music a LOT ... england is funny man. this album was good but it was a bit too clean and polished for me... i wanted a bit more stank on it
Some fantastic bass lines
This is perfectly fine. Don’t tend to love the reggae persuasion but there’s enough substance here to keep the listening interesting
The British really had quite the dalliance with reggae and ska in the late 70s and 80s. I'm here for the Randy Newman cover. Also here for portraying Mrs. Thatcher as Madam Medusa. Somewhere between a 2.5 and a 3, there's not a ton to hate but we aren't really reaching the mountaintop either.
I'm not a big reggae listener, but I really enjoyed bopping along to this spacey album. Fuck Margaret Thatcher
I don‘t get Reggae, almost fell asleep.
Not good, not terrible. No highlights.
Surprisingly interesting dub, with cool moments like the unexpected saxophone, or some 70s rock-like guitar licks. The fake accent is a bit off-putting. Always good to have Thatcher criticism, so that's another plus!
Chill.
Sick with a fever. UB40 definitely hasn't helped.
pretty awesome reggae
Just not for me at all.
1/3. Reggae just isn't my thing I guess, or at least this album isn't. Such a snoozefest, literally felt like a full hour of the same song being played over and over. I know reggae is defined by the beat, but this was just so samey all the way through; I was so close to finishing but halfway through Reefer Madness I had to tap out. Supposedly the lyrics are good, but unfortunately I didn't catch any.
I didn’t know this album existed and thought this band did only terrible covers. (Although “Sing Our Own Song” is an amazing track that isn’t on this album.) The band sounds incredible on this album and hey—no terrible covers.
Like most people, I'd imagine, I knew exactly two UB40 songs before this album. I was expecting more like those two songs (which I like) and was still pleasantly surprised by how much I like this album! My previous exposure to the band was minimal, passing, superficial, and from the perspective of a younger, more naive, and less aware man. Musically and lyrically solid, socially conscious, and globally aware album. Without question, one of my favorite finds on this list so far. Immediately added to my library. I'm halfway through listening, and they'd have to SERIOUSLY fuck up at this point to get anything less than 4 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Good solid mid 80’s music
Good easy to listen to reggae. 4/5
I like reggae and I love protest songs. To no surprise, I was happy with UB40's debut album, Signing Off. "Burden of Shame" grabbed me in particular, because you don't hear enough how a citizen can be so ashamed of their country of origin, even though we're supposed to be proud to the bone. And while I'm American, I always love when a conservative politician is dragged in music, even if they weren't my politician (Margaret Thatcher in "Madam Medusa"). The frequently repeated line in "Tyler" is so chilling, and we need to hear it and be uncomfortable. Reggae is an interesting genre as it is, since it tends to be socially conscious while having a chill beat--which completely fools the listener. UB40 did it well. A bit of a long album, sure, but their instrumental sections are gripping! The time seems to fly by during their instrumentals, and I think their sound may have even veered into progressive reggae territory, which UB40 may as well have invented for all I know. Anyway, I'm just going by vibes and I enjoyed it. 3.5, rounding up.
Is there such a thing as "progressive reggae"? Because this album definitely felt like that at times. Ultimately, it seems like those nuances are provided by the "dub" aspect of this album. Ultimately, I didn't really feel that into this album. I don't pretend to be a reggae expert, but this project has had a few reggae albums, and this one left me a bit underwhelmed compared to others. I'd probably put this at about a 2.5, but not really any desire to round up.
I like chill reggae vibes, but on the long run all songs seems similar to me. Nothing stands out here.
Pretty enjoyable to listen to, nothing fancy.
Эклектика, реггей, саксофон.
A nice reggae sound but a bit forgettable
I only knew their popular (not quite my thing) songs. This record was a nice surprise, since it felt authentic and with a voice of its own.
Starts strong. Tyler is repetitive, but has a good flow. The rest is a bit variable, Many of the tracks are a bit too simple, but they enjoyable for what they are.
Might be a reggae guy now. Disc 1 was phenomenal. Fizzled by disc 2
As far as repetitive reggae albums where all the tracks sound the same go, not the worst. But still...a repetitive reggae album.
some nice laid back reggae. I don't know why this would be called essential as they assumingly have better records? Otherwise whateva
Good reggae, but with that, comes the caveat of samey tracks. Still a groovy time, though, so Solid 4 Stars.
I’m at a 5 if we’re talking about just the first 10 tracks. I’m at a 4.5 bumped down to a 4 if we’re including the final 3 tracks, which were originally included as a bonus EP. I’ll split the difference and say it’s a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. Yeah, that’s confusing, but it feels like the most fair way to split it; out of the first 10 tracks here, I really enjoyed all of them, with the exception of “25%” as a slightly dull instrumental. I think the socio-political lyricism fits really well, the integration of all the synths & effects do a good job of keeping the progression of each track up, and they’re all engaging tracks that both say what they want to say & have a really smooth reggae groove to them. If we’re going by just the first 10 tracks, it’s a really tight 44 minutes that shows why UB40 got on the map really quickly. It’s a genuinely great album. If we’re throwing in those last 3 tracks though… yeah, I just didn’t vibe with them as much. “Madam Medusa” is fine, but it doesn’t need to be 13 minutes, with the entire back half of the song spinning more wheels than Pat Sajak ever did. It just doesn’t go anywhere meaningful after it’s said what it wants to say, so it feels like a bit of a drag. The “Strange Fruit” cover is fine, but I just wasn’t pulled into it or as captivated by it as I was hoping to be, and while it tries to match a lot of the Billie Holiday’s version vocal style, the instrumental choices take away a lot of that atmosphere. “Reefer Madness” is good, but the sense of progression there just isn’t as strong as the other instrumental tracks on the main album. Overall, it’s a solid enough EP, but if we’re including them as part of the main tracklist, it does pull the album down for me. So, with that split in mind, I think a 4.5 bumped up to a 5 is the safest call here. The floor, at the very least, is a 3. These guys aren’t necessarily Bob Marley or anything, but this is probably the best non-Marley Reggae album we’ve gotten on the list, and they’ve captured the spirit of the genre well. At the very least, it’s a marked improvement over “Maverick A Strike”, my goodness. I’m glad this wasn’t just “Red Red Wine” 13 times over – it’s a really fun cover, don’t get me wrong, but it’s very cheap reggae. I’m happy it’s on the list, and I think it’s a very safe bump up to a 5.
OK, this surprised me for a couple of reasons: I am only aware of their greatest hits like "Red Red Wine" or "Kingston Town" so it was surprising to their offering on this list is debut album without any of these tracks. Secondly, after fully listening to the album and now re-listening I am presently surprised by these instrumental dub tracks, really dig them. Rated 3.5/5.0 on RYM so it's good, could go either 3 or 4 stars here.
Its a vibe!
Absolute groove bomb. I continued letting reggae auto-play for another 45 minutes.
Album #1,058 Wait a minute, this is what UB40 stood for this whole time and I never knew it?! This is jazzy reggae. Repetitive, but still somewhat enjoyable.
I've seen this album cover while flicking around the site, though I've never stopped to take a look at what the cover depicts. Kinda funny that they just straight up put a welfare slip on the cover, though I've no clue what purpose that serves. Anyways, I'm stalling to avoid saying that I have no idea what unemployment music sounds like. I'm going to hedge my bets on new wave. Reggae. Oh, God. This really is unemployment music. That isn't me complaining, however - this was pretty alright. The last few reggae albums I've rolled have been a bit vacuous, but this one had a bit of meat on its bones. I like the synths. They're pretty unique for an album such as this, and I dig the sound. There's a fuzziness, yet also a warmth present on them, which goes a long way in making the synths interesting to listen to. Much of the remaining instrumentation is ubiquitous when it comes to reggae, but I liked what I heard. The bass line is especially decent. I like the trumpeting and reverb/effects as well. My major gripe with this album is that it's long as fuck, but I was content to lay back and let this one wash over me. Book time. "...the world's greatest reggae cover band." Quickly breached top 10 on the UK charts and charted for over a year. The band have found sporadic success overseas with their subsequent releases. Wikipedia says the lyrics of this album are shitlibby and immersed in the politics of the time, but I think I can be forgiven for not intently listening to the lyrics of a reggae album. Well-received by critics, too. Sure. This seems like a decent pick. I cosign this inclusion.
Definitely enjoyed this more than I expected I would. Solid reggae and dub.
So, I hate reggae. This record really doesn’t change that at all. I love Red Red Wine (which might be the exception that proves the rule that I hate the loathsome sounds of the Caribbean). But that song isn’t in this record. The real reggae fan reviews I’ve read of this record seem very positive, but it’s just a style I don’t enjoy. For me, this record kinda sucks. But I can understand why folks that like the style would like this record. That’s really the best I can say about it. 4/10
I can get with reggae, but this just sounds too polished. Too fancy. It's like some West-enders did their makeup and put on their tight jeans while their Jamaican roadies loaded all their shit into the venue. I want to hear the roadies!
Started strong but then was all the same. Not a Reggae album I think I should hear before I die
Not as bad as I expected, I guess
It grew on me. I wasn't loving this album at first, but it got better or maybe I got more into the mood. It's very solid.
It kind of just came in a background music.
4- Stars (10/15)
Oh, I dreaded this one, forced to agonize through a post-traumatic encounter with the ubiquitous sorority house and inebriated cougar mama theme song, "Red, Red Wine." By the time I came across UB40 they were already joyfully sold out and gregariously gentrified. Oh, my regret now I never heard this earlier album before, aptly aligned in some classic reggae with horns and a little dub... genuinely, tokably tolerable.
I vacillated between finding this pretty chill and kinda cheesy, the latter mostly during the vocal parts with their fake patois. I guess the politics tips the scale to the former.
Honestly, I enjoyed a song or two but I think this is really mood music.
Ugh. Really repetitive for my tastes. An hour was way too long. Food for Thought was the highlight along with the saxophone playing just didn’t enjoy each song sounding so similar :(
The first reggae album I ever bought. Played it loads at the time, but haven't listened to it in over 30 years! I'd credit UB40 and the 2-Tone bands for introducing me to Jamaican music, for which I'm forever grateful. But if I want to listen to reggae now, I don't go to UB40, I'll slap on a Trojan compilation or a Lee Scratch Perry album. These artists, along with punk bands such as The Clash, taught me to be a kind, empathetic person towards people who were different to me, because I sure as heck wasn't taught that at school or by 1970s/early 80s popular culture. Memories of growing up on a British council estate at a time of massive social upheaval then. Thatcher was just beginning to dismantle the post-war consensus. All of our current problems stem from the Tory government of that time who influenced Reagan, who in turn inspired successive right-wing governments worldwide to crack down on the workers whilst syphoning off the world's wealth for themselves. Bastards, the lot of them. Thanks to UB40 and their contemporaries for showing us there's another way away from the Daily Mail worldview. Eternally grateful for that. However, there's far better reggae out there. And by the way, the last three tracks on Spotify weren't on the original album, so you don't have to listen to them!
Immediate nostalgia vibes to summer and high school when I used to listen to a lot of reggae. I have only really listened to red red wine by UB40 so this is cool. 4 songs in so far and my impression is this is good background music but nothing that really hits or stands out. Would be a nice hanging out on the beach playlist. Ok I started getting really tired listening to this by the last 4 or so songs. It’s pretty much all the same after a while. Songs are quite long and repetitive. 2.5/5
While the style feels a little antiquated nowadays, this sound was very influential to the nz reggae sound, a staple at garage party’s and carry’s massive nostalgia factor. The social commentary I fuck with and this debut really set the tone for their style going forward. Wouldn’t have this on rotation but it was a nice listen to understand the history. 3.8
UB40 are ass
BEST SONGS: - Tyler - 25% - Little By Little
A fun one. Will deffo listen again.
It was ok 2
Good early reggae album. Much better than I expected. Had a great flow to it.
I know a little bit of UB40. Before listening to this album I had 7 songs "liked" by them on Spotify - but it looks like none are from this album. So, I'm very curious to hear this. Thoughts while listening ... This is a great vibe. As I was listening the first time - I was "yep, that's a great song - cool sound, interesting lyrics". And then the next song comes on and same thing. And repeat. I also really like the instrumentals and extended jams (such as on "Madam Medusa"). I dig how they use the saxophone. It's not blaring on top of everything else, but blends in to the overall sound. Was pleasantly surprised to see a cover of "Strange Fruit" - the classic song made famous by Billie Holliday. Didn't even have to listen to this more than once to "like" every song. One of the great things about this "1001 Albums" thing is that it sometimes gets me to go deeper on a band I am only slightly aware of and find some really good nuggets. I could listen to this over and over, and will be excited to hear these songs pop up on my automated playlists. Liked songs on Spotify: 13/13 (Perfect Album) Rating: 5/5
Egész jó volt!
very good i just dont find myself wanting to listen for very long
Now this is good British music!
Not their strongest album but still very good. 3.5 stars
I've always wondered why UB40 are so popular, given that Red Red wine is their main hit when it's a dreadful song. This album is further proof that UB40 is a band I just do not get. Awfully annoying whiny vocals, the music sounds the same on every song and a lot of the lyrics come across as nauseating and preachy. I couldn't wait for it to end after one song. UB1/5
I mean ya, smooth and out there reggae tone l don't know how to spell but added it to the chill work list, 4
Okay, not the biggest reggae fan, this was solid if uninspiring. Wild cover of Strange Fruit was ah . . . Interesting.
UB40 is one of those reggae bands I've heard of heavily, I'm sure they've toured near me sometime in the last 15 years, but I never got around to searching the music. Had I not done the research today, I could've been fooled this was a straight up Jamaican ensemble, the level of production is up there on the top tier I expect from the reggae capital. Sometimes this is the type of reggae album we want. It blends into itself really well, it's got that bass heavy sound with an ear for details. It's great for zoning out and zooming back into the sound at random moments. It's great background reggae. As someone who appreciates the genre, I'm perfectly aware there's a world of more elaborate sound, of music that begs to be heard or displayed at the forefront of your activity, Dennis Brown comes to mind. This is not that, inclining more towards the meditative dub roots. I can appreciate it, but it's not love. It's a strong 3 for me, and a real easy purchase if I ever see it when I'm crate-digging. 3.4/5
Sort of a blend of reggae and trip hop? Didn’t particularly care for this but it was fine in the background. I guess the fusion is the reason it’s in the list but it feels like that British bias again because we’ve had much better reggae.
Good example of how Ska filled a gap between punk and reggae. A lot of political messages here starting with the unemployment form that gsve the band it's name.
Way more political than I expected given that I only know their covers of other songs! Even the covers here were political. Good Reggae. I knew one song sounded like "Moondance" and see that they wound up giving Van Morrison songwriting credit.
É mais um bom álbum para pôr de fundo numa festa ou assim. Ou de fundo enquanto estou numa praia ou piscina a apanhar sol e a beber algo. Portanto, certamente, não será um álbum que voltarei visitar regularmente. Não deixa de ser um álbum interessante!
Chill and seemless quite impressive
This was quite a surprise to me. I remember mid- to late-eighties UB40 with pretty cheesy pop reggae, and I wasn't a fan. But this is basically a dub album, and it's actually really good.
chill
Um-chica, um-chica, sax solo, sing, um-chica, um-chica, sing, sax - repeat, then change some of the tempos - BORING!
It just felt so long. I feel like you have to be in a certain mood for this
8/10… reggae / 2-tone / *1980
This sounds like the music they would constantly play in Harvest Thyme.
I had forgotten UB40 could be this good. After this they were still good, just a good covers band. This is awesome.
I wasn't prepared for a full album of reggae. There were good songs but damn, is it a one-trick pony. The songs just sound too similar to listen a full album. Hence forewards, reggae = single songs only.
pretty good not as good as rat in the kitchen but a few songs on it were liked by me
bob Marley vibes
I have very little exposure to Reggae, I didnt hate this but it sort of feels like someone took all of the parts of jazz that a lot of people dislike, and that (in my opinion) make jazz interesting). It is in many ways *super* palpable, But its also really boring. Proof that ideological agreement (I hate Margaret Thatcher too) != enjoyment 2/5
Hard to REALLY dislike such chill music. There are very interesting sounds and moments… but it feels more like vibes than songs.
Bit slow and boring
UB40 is not bad. Easily one of the most accessible reggae bands around. Don't really break ground, but they are a decent listen.
Das ist einfach nicht so mein Ding. Ich mag den grundsätzlichen Sound schon ganz gern, aber ich finde es einfach zu öde. Die Songs sind zu lang, es gibt mir zu wenig Ideen. Da muss man wohl einfach in der richtigen Stimmung für sein.
Loved it! I've only heard the singles up until this point so it was great to listen to more of their work and I'm glad I have.
pleasant but quite boring album, i liked the mellodies etc. but honestly it all felt like one long song. "tyler" was more distinctive to me plus i really liked "adella". if i wasn't studying when listening to it, i would probably have high chances of falling asleep at times! nevertheless, i think it's a good record but not really influential
Decent album - bit too much instrumental for me, but enjoyed overall
Feels very long. All sounds the same
I don't really know how to rate this. I mean it's not terrible, but I don't want to listen to it. It's reggae, which I don't like in general. It's 80s music, which I do like in general. It's British, which I do like in general. It's the reggae that makes it something I don't want to listen to. I wish I could formulate better thoughts about this album, but I don't want to think about it anymore.
First two songs have some good musical ideas. Even touching. I hesitate a bit with this style, but First two tracks work really well. With track 3 we are left only with the reggae instrumental. It is played well, but not has enough content. Not existing. Track 4 has interesting lyric, but not so interesting music. I can tell this early on that it's going to be too long. Worried. Some changes in groove here. That's positive. Not getting better... The Randy Newman rendition does absolutely nothing. (I think it's one the most touching songs ever, and to make it so boring is a shame). I guess I like my reggae rough and more natural. The prestige sound makes it much less personal, and not interesting. And I'm not even halfway through. 8 is maybe the best since the first two tracks. Has a nice flow. 9 fine aswell.10 meh Now a 12 minute track. Why... Strange Fruit version Dull as well. Such a great timeless song, such disappointing execution. I'm really glad it's the last song This is pretty bad. 66 minutes of little highlights. The first two songs are nice, but even if that quality would have remained for the rest of the runtime it wouldn't save the project for being mideocare at best. That's why it's a 1.9. So sorry for that.
Quand même cool
bas interesantno, super ono koncept i poruka i vajb je dobar samo me smaraju reggae beatovi bas
This is pretty solid reggae, despite being obviously British. The only thing I knew from UB40 before hearing this was Red Red Wine, so this was a pleasant surprise.
This was a nice listen. Hard to say how essential this is without a thorough knowledge of this style of music. I have heard this style done in a more experimental way which I find much more engaging. This album comes across a bit too nice and safe but there are just enough interesting sections to keep it interesting enough and the heavy subject matter does give it a bit of an edge. Good to finally hear an album by this band and to finally not think of them as a one hit wonder for that one really popular song that came later.
6 - AVERAGE
Phat dub and reggae grooves
Idk, it's ok. Pretty fun reverb, but when that's legit the entire album there are diminishing returns.
Tyler - 2.5/5 King - 2/5 12 Bar - 2/5 Burden Of Shame - 3/5 Adella - 2/5 I Think It's Going To Rain Today - 2.5/5 25% - 2/5 Food For Thought - 2/5 Little By Little 2/5 Signing Off - 2/5 Madam Medusa - 1/5 Strange Fruit - 2.5/5 Reefer Madness - 2.5
I won't ever gripe against some good ass reggae. My current taste is late 70's Jamaican dancehall and dub reggae for sure. But I dabbled in 3rd and 4th wave white boy reggae for a long period. So I won't rag on UB40 all that hard. They conveniently walked the pop and reggae line well enough to have pop success but cater new blood into an old sound. Despite its british origin, this is a solid reggae album. Gains a massive plus for the context of its release (late Thatcher era England) and that Lady Day cover of Strange Fruit. 4 stars all around. Pass the dutchie!
Love the production and sound but the lack of arrangement variety and length start to dilute the entire product
Very very easy to listen to, not much to take from it Best Song: Burdon of Shame Rating: 5.5/10 Stars: 3
Kinda same-y. Not for me.
не мій жанр, та досить приємний альбом, розслаблюючий.
I’m ashamed to say I knew nothing of UB40 besides “Red Red Wine” before this. Solid dub and reggae with top notch socially conscious lyricism.
Brings back great memories
Another one that shouldn’t be on the list. It’s boring.
Interesting. I like the concept and what it represents. The music itself is fine for the background but not something I’d actively listen to again.
😐
This was a pretty large dose of guitar chaka-ing for a snowy Saturday morning. It didn’t really resonate with me on the first pass, but I think it was on shuffle and that might have disrupted the flow. The second listen proved a little more fruitful for me. To my surprise, this is a pretty good record that I wouldn’t have otherwise ever bothered with. Certainly relieved that “Red Red Wine” isn’t on here, and pleased that there were several tracks without any vocals at all. Maybe UB40 is an alright band after all. “25%” stood out to me both times through.
I like reggae, and I appreciate UB40's politics. Largely uninterested in this album but still not a terrible listen.
Island vibes. Chilled reggae for the summer
Album is pretty solid, early reggae on reggae. Didn’t know anything about the album going in but it was enjoyable.
The whole album is based on the same reggae beat. Too easy listening, too predictable... too boring. It's reggae for someone who doesn't like reggae. It's so weak, that it can turn the breeze of a joint into a smelly smoke of a cigarette.
This was terrible. At first I thought maybe it just wasn't my genre of music, and maybe I just needed to be more open-minded. Nope. It sucked.
tightightightightightightight
redd reeeddd wiiiiine. oh wow they have other songs TYLER, well damn i do not like the vocals. limp and unincorporated. Their sound is serviceable reggae but it’s a little clean for me. I wish it had more reverb, a bit more grit. It’s a nice listen nonetheless.
Really bomb loved this
Blancos que hacen reggae
Cute ma Michael buble ha fatto un mini plagio con Fever e burden of shame??
top 3 - Food For Thought, Little By Little, Reefer Madness
The kind of message-driven music that I didn't know UB40 was capable of, but it is rather lethargic.
Me gustó más de lo que esperaba. fave: burden of shame
Extremely boring and repetitive
To be completely honest with myself, I really wasn't in the headspace for this album. I can usually enjoy a good Reggae album, but this one was way too slow and roomy for my liking. And I'm all for solid chill-out music, and I think certain songs like '12 Bar' andthe title-track. scratch that itch. And there were some great standalone tracks - 'Tyler' drew me in right from the start, and 'Food For Thought' was an incredibly dark but effective album centerpiece. But given this album's length and at times painfully consistent sonic palette, I found myself growing uninterested about halfway through. So I just ended up lying in bed and listening to this through my earpods and not thinking about it too hard, just letting the music soothe me - that helped. I do still think it's way too slow for my liking, but it's also one of those albums where there is a wrong and right way to listen to it, for me at least.
Unremarkable but not unenjoyable.
Another album where no song stood out
4 albums to go. Reggae. By British People. This is not my day. Hoping for a massive surprise! EDIT: You know it was actually OK in parts. -1 for reggae, +1 for socially conscious themes
I quite like reggae (don’t love it), but this was too long
I get the Windrush influence brought reggae and ska to Birmingham and the like but it's weird to me that this feels so white like.
This is a decent reggae album, but all of the songs started to sound the same after a while. Would be good for chill background music. (3)
I only care for Red Red Wine by UB40 unfortunately.
yeah idk man its aight
Have we all been so skewed by the great Bob Marley that all other reggae just sounds meh? Or is the reggae we’ve heard so far that wasn’t him, really just meh objectively? This was boring and repetitive. There was only one song on there that I liked and I can’t even remember which one it was. Yawn.
UB40 is the band the DJ plays at an island-themed corporate function to go with the employee’s Hawaiian shirts. UB40 is the band Claire plays in her G-Wagon after picking her 2.5 kids up from school to show them how diverse and inclusive she is. Don’t misunderstand me. Their music isn’t bad. It’s average reggae if I’m being honest with deep bass riffs, static drum beats and a great vocal tone for the songs. It’s just suburbia reggae at best. There’s nothing special about it other than everyone’s mom danced to Red, Red Wine in the 80’s when it hit MTV. Good change of speed for this project but it’s just average music for me.
Fine, uninspiring British Reggae. Too chill for its own good. Like a sedative with a backbeat.
Reggae is only enjoyable when performed by Bob Marley, or when at the beach with a tropical cocktail in your hand. It all just sounds the same to me and I'm yet to hear anything that will change my opinion. I like UB40 well enough, saxophone was a nice addition. Couple exceptions, but for the most part songs were too long and boring.
nope
i was only familiar with their two biggest hits, both covers I might add, and neither on this album. However, seeing they did a Randy Newman song, I gave it an honest listen. I would’ve probably breezed through it as background, as it’s very chill. Solid. Probably a 3.7
Even as a reggae fan, I didn’t want to give these guys a chance. In my ignorance, all I knew is that they were white, English , and had an overplayed hit called “Red Red Wine”. This record caught me off guard with how legitimately good it was. The band definitely knew their roots, and this album proves it. If I find out these guys are considered the Sublime of English Reggae/Ska, I’m gonna be so mad that I liked this album 😂.
Not gonna lie, my heart sank a bit when I saw that it was another British reggae band after having to listen to that Police album a week ago, but, I must say I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The opening track, Tyler, has some nice music to it, and it doesn’t really try to be anything it’s not. It fully embraces the style, and imo, does it well! King is not really my style, but I didn’t hate it. The beats were good and, if I’m hearing correctly, is that a harpsichord in there? Either way, a cool sound. Burden of shame was a chill track (for the first 3/4 anyway) which I really enjoyed. I’m finding this is a very nice album to have on in the background. I had the same thoughts listening through Adella. I really liked the use of horns in food for thought and Little by Little. The title track itself was an awesome listen. The instrumental tracks really shine on this album! Madam Medusa, for lack of a better term, was a bit weird. I didn’t dislike it, but it was too long for what it was. The echo effect on the vocals threw me off a bit. I liked Strange fruit. To close, Reefer Madness was pretty good. It uses those horns and beats I liked earlier in the album to good effect. As I said before, the instrumental tracks are the best part of this album and this one is no different. This album is going to get a 3.5/5 ⭐️. I enjoyed it, but it’s not something I can ever see myself coming back to. It did redeem the British reggae genre in my mind though. Favourites: Tyler, Burden of Shame, Reefer Madness 12/1089
Yeah… I don’t know. Not really my jam
though i do like other ska acts of this era (Madness, The Beat, The Specials), this felt a little too slow and meandering for my liking.
This is unexpectedly good. Like others here I mainly know them from Red Red Wine. There’s some really good musicianship on display here and some biting lyrics. They fell off a cliff a bit, didn’t they?
7/10 UB40 should never have released Red Red Wine. Pretty great Sunday evening listen
Fantastic reggae/dub album.
Songs are nice, kinda sound the same, kinda boring, but the horn section gets it to three for me.
liked it a lot!
The songs are too "same-ish" for me.
I liked it!
So boring.
Great instrumentals and overall vibe. I liked this so much more than I thought I would. Not a Red Red Wine in sight - whew!
This felt like elevator reggae. Didn't really catch me in the groove.
Legitimately extremely good, so many great songs with no filler, great politically conscious lyrics, aged really well, for some reason people think this band is corny because everyone only knows Red Red Wine but this is really worth your time, this fucking rocks
Boring. Hard to get past the third song.
chill man
Very surprised to not absolutely hate this, some nice background music
Reggae, 1980 -> 3
Relaxing and beachy, but god instrumental reggae is boring.
It's listenable and although I love UB40 I prefer them as a live band to an album group
3.5/5
Counterfeit product
ThisB40minutestoolong
UB40? More like UB-boring
the vibes are there but my gen z attention span can’t handle it lol, draaaags on and just not my thing
Not bad for reggae -- which equates to two stars.
Great band with lots of nostalgia
Not as terrible as I expected. However,(controversial opinion maybe) reggae music in general is just boring and one dimensional
Actually a lot better than I was expecting.
т.к. гитарная работа на альбоме тривиальная, больше часа слушать это устаешь пиздец
Inoffensive reggae beats with a moody trip through time.
4.6
A relaxed listen which will give more for me on repeat listens as the lyrics come through. High 3
Solid reggae and dub album. Early UB40 is decent. Strong 3
No need to qualify this as 'white reggae'. It's a really good reggae and dub album in the political tradition.
I’m sure there is a time, a place, a setting where I could get more out of this. It sounds like winding down music at a big party which I wish I’d already made my way home from. It’s nice, not particularly hateable but very chilled and drawn out for something which didn’t grab me.
Enjoyed this more than expected, esp the smoother vocals
1. tyler - 1.5 2. king - 1 3. bar - 1.5 4. zhame - 1.5 5. adella - 1.5 6. rain - 1.5 7. 25 - 2 8. food - 2 9. little - 1.5 10. off - 1 11. meduza - 1.5 12. fruit - 1 13. reefer - 1.5
I learned something. I thought that UB40 was strictly a cover band. All of their hits are covers. Boy this album is all originals and it's so much better! Why didn't they stick with originals?
Trivelig
It's reggae, and it doesn't feel like essential reggae. It's not bad, just not what I want to spend my time listening to.
Worthy, but rather dreary - there are many more vital reggae albums that have not appeared on the list yet - Dr Alimantado : Born For A Purpose, Culture : Two Sevens Clash, Augustus Pablo : King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown to name but three.
Okay, I've heard the name before, probably listened to some, but I did not expect reggae music to be what I would hear. This wasn't bad, and was actually pretty good. It's one band I will have to come back to and see what else they have done.
Harmless, but not exactly notable. I don't feel this record pushes the boundaries it could've. Everything seems very middle of the road and not particularly exciting. Best Tracks: - Food For Thought Worst Tracks: - Strange Fruit Rating: 3/10
3 out of 5. Reefer Madness was a fun tune, but I wish this album had a little faster beat. It is good to relax to at least.
A good debut for a great UK Reggae band. Some experimental moments on a very atmospheric album make for a fun listen for Raggae fans.
Thais really is not my bag and I can’t finish it.
3.9 / 5 I didn't expect a reggae album on this list, even less one that's bri*ish and counter-Thatcher. Always liked the genre and the cultures surrounding it. This album apparently reached #2 of the UK album charts when it came out and I'm not surprised, listening to the sheer creativity and vibe. Would've been even more interesting if they touched on bri*ish colonialism in the Caribbean, but you can't have everything. Anyway, this is an easy 4 stars, 3.9 / 5 to be exact, but it also lacks that final oomph to hit above its' weight. "Signing Off" definitely lands in my personal Top1001 list.
Relaxing
I really wanted to live this album. I listened to it for a few days before taking a break and the saddest part is that I found the whole album to be shockingly forgettable. There were highlights, I enjoyed food for thought, as well as 12 bar, and burden of shame. But there wasn’t quiet enough variety of sounds and the whole album just kinda blended together. A very homogenous album but almost to a fault. I’m still waiting to hear a reggae album from this list that blows me away. I guess I’ll go drink some red red wiiiinnneeee.
I was sceptical at first. My only UB40 knowledge was of Red Red Wine, a fine cover, but if I had a pound for every time I'd heard it... Opening track Tyler told me I was in for a different experience. I loved the instrumentals throughout the album but the songwriting stood out as a particular strength, best example being on political anthem Burden of Shame. Other highlights included King and the expertly reworked cover of I Think It's Going To Rain Today.
Pleasant. Not what I was expecting, but certainly not bad.
Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5
I've never listened to this album (72). It's really reggae. Not much else.
Pleasantly surprised here, even though the style wasn't really for me.
I don’t think I finished this album. It’s not that it’s bad or that I dislike the band, I just think it’s such a distinctive sound that hearing one song feels like you’ve heard them all.
Love this! Can just put this on and you've got a groovy reggae beat and soulful tunes that just glide across the air. Good suggestion!
Good songs but terribly uninteresting. 2/5
Hate the Tories Fave track: Tyler
Good vibes. 3/5
The first 20-30 minutes were groovy. I enjoyed reggae as a change of pace from a lot of other records on the list. But after that, it all just kind of blended together and faded into the background. And after another 15-20 minutes I was starting to hope the record was ending soon. 65 minutes is far too long of a run time for this type of record. Overall not bad, and pretty good as background music. The production is excellent, and the record sounds very crisp. But, in my opinion, not something I would say you have to hear before you die.
If there’s one thing I hate more than reggae, it’s white people doing reggae.
To było bardzo słabe. Raggae białych ludzi dla białych ludzi. Ten dwunastominutowy kawałek mnie prawie pokonał. Niewiele dobrego mogę powiedzieć, nie bujało i nawet nie niosło ze sobą tej radości, która kojarzy mi się z reggae. 4/10
not bad, not good
Easy to listen to, better than their later efforts, not as commercial
Great album
Love the reggae-like sound.
English reggae just ain’t my bag.
- jahman meininki maistuu kyllä, mutta tää on vähän tämmöstä taustamusiikkia tämä levy - jos istuisin kesäpäivää puistossa ni hyvin maistuis tämä levy
Maybe I need to be somewhere warm to be in the mood for this, or maybe I just want UB40 classic hits. Either way, this was so-so.
2.5
It's alright, well done, good commentary for the times. Doesn't blow me away. Probably worth being on the list. Album is long. Strong 2 weak 3.
A fine listen, better than expected. Reggae can be a bit repetitive, this had a couple of moments when it tried something new. Those moments worked for me. Even the saxophone worked.
Not for me.
This feels a strange album to pick to represent British reggae. Steel Pulse are arguably a better band, and UB40, arguably, have better albums. But it's still a decent listen. The rhythm section kicks hard, although the lyrics are repetitive and the occasional bontempi keyboards are unwise: it feels more like a dub plate than a regular reggae album in some respects, especially with several instrumentals thrown in. For all the sultry pleasures, however, nothing really stands out from the crowd as particularly enjoyable.
Familiar with the band in name and for their hit Red Red Wine, but never explored much further. Sincerely enjoyed the musical style and listen in addition to digging into the politically charged lyrics and band’s history a bit more.
Not for me
I don't love Regge but I do like UB40. 3.5
This was ok. Nothing more. Nothing less. Would I listen to it again? No.
literally faded into the background. I guess a 2.8-3.0 maybe I'll go back.
Some solid dubs but it's no Bob
Dull, repetitive, an absolute slog to get through, I could go on but you get the point. Did not enjoy this in the slightest. It’s not the worst album I’ve had on here by any means but it’s up there with the dullest.
This is gunna be a no for me dawg
I thought this was going to be shit. It wasn't at all, but it didn't do anything much for me. As cheesy as it is, I'd rather have had the nostalgia of hearing their cover of Red Red Wine.
A tad long maybe, but incredibly groovy and listenable reggae.
I think they're talented musicians and the scene was pretty cool. It's not my type of music and some of the instrumentals just get tiresome. 2.5 but I'll round up.
This album gives me the weirdest kind of nostalgia. It does a great job of evoking just how fucking bleak Britain was in the early 80s, but I was a kid at the time so as well as the bleakness I remember all the good kid stuff to go with it, riding bikes, climbing trees, etc. One of my older brothers was a big UB40 fan, so this echoes around my memory loudly. It does make me wonder where all the good protest music is for today.
I like Reggae, but I don't see what warrants this album to be on the list...
I came into this one today in a shitty mood & I’ll be damned if I didn’t come out in a good one. Really connected with the instrumental tracks & the song King which is like my favorite reggae song?? I liked those songs enough to get it real close to a four & the album cover is one my favorites so far.
I’m officially signing off from reggae. I know it’s the backbone to ska but I don’t care, it all sucks - except Ras Trent
I've been a longtime fan of UB40, primarily with Labour of Love and Promises And Lies. Happy to have had this one come up on my project though, as I had never listened to their inaugural record. This one has more clearly-defined dub and roots reggae influences. Really solid sequencing and the engineering is very well done so all layers of each track sound crisp and clear. This is a nice one.
Good. Not overly produced, but not my favorite of UB40.
Una interesante sorpresa de álbum. Cuando el reggae sale de Jamaica y se instala en Europa, más concretamente en el Reino Unido, es inevitable que el género se manifieste de una manera distinta y que incorpore elementos melódicos del pop aunque se aferre al ritmo caribeño con uñas y dientes. Hay un hecho distintivo, que es la voz blanca de Ali Campbell y el sonido destacado del saxofón y los teclados. Sin olvidar el carácter marcadamente social de sus letras, que daban buena cuenta de su oposición al thatcherismo y su apuesta por la denuncia de la injusticias. Chapeau a todo.
I saw them be really boring this summer - this was also really boring!
There's a straight line from this record coming out to Roe v. Wade getting overturned.
Needs more Neil Diamond.
UB40 classic style, moody reggae/ska if that's fair to say. None of the big hits on this album. Nice sound, but no standout tracks really... Reefer Madness is more like 2-tone ska, a la Specials Listening again to my picks for best track I get quite a great run of tracks, so there is good stuff in amongst the 1hr record. Best track - Food for Thought, Signing Off, Madam Medusa, Reefer Madness 3 stars, pushing 4 in all honesty
Album review 006 Signing Off by UB40 (1980) Rating 3/5 It’s the first time I’ve listened to this album and reading the tracklist beforehand, was glad to see that Signing Off was free of any of the cod reggae covers I mostly know UB40 for. The message the album brings is unfortunately becoming relevant again as, in late 2025 when I write this, we’re seeing an increase in everything UB40 are voicing against; discrimination, division in society, and lack of opportunity. Mostly enjoyed Signing Off and feel I owe another listen for me to fully appreciate it, although if I wasn’t making an effort to listen closely I expect it’d be the type of album that would just blend into the background.
The white bread of reggae.
As a resident of Birmingham, I've a long-standing hatred of UB40s pop output. This is better, though. I'm not going to pretend that it's great or life changing, but it's better. I appreciate the message throughout and it doesn't have the cheesy sheen on it which their big singles had. That said, I'm not likely to be going back to this at any point soon.
Sounds like 80s UK reggae. More dubby than I probably expected, though not sure why. I know they're not Two Tone or ska, and I didn't suppose this was going to be as glossy as the chart stuff, all I'd heard before. Clearly excellent, not my jam though.
I love red red wine, I was not expecting to be bored, but I was bored.