Reviews (page 5 of 7)
Alright reggae. Not my style but no complaints
Nice reggae 7/10
Beau, senti et apaisant, malgré la teneur politique que je ne suis pas équipée pour capter à 100%, mais que je ressens
This is probably a great reggae album. I am a little close-minded/don't listen to any reggae so this sounds just like all the other reggae I've ever heard. Enjoyable but sort of blends into each other. Sitting at a 3 right now, I'm gonna try to listen to it again and see if I change my mind.
Good reggae album.
beautiful vibes throughout the album, i found this very very nice to study with :) not a single bad track on this lovely reggae album. hearing that there is a Jamaican version however makes me wanna listen to that version too.
An ordinary reggae album, it seriously almost all sounds the same. Though I appreciate reggae so it was a nice listen.
I nice surprise …. But after a short time they all sounded the same ….
Nice roots reggae. Wouldn’t call it mind blowing but I’m not an expert at the genre. Willing to assume notability for three stars.
I’ve never really listened to a reggae album but this one was very powerful and a great listen. I enjoyed it! Favorite track - Marcus Garvey 7/10
Great
Enjoyable album, not many remarkable songs.
5/10
I dig it.
Bien! Se acordaron que existen otros géneros aparte del rock, y otros países además de UK y USA! No es mi género pero lo encontré sólido y conciso. Nota: 3.1
I have not heard much of ragae in my life up to this point (haven’t even listened to a single album by Bob Marley, for example) and I tend to listen to new genres by putting them as background music while I do something else (as a first, second listen, afterwards I pay my full attention to the albums). I still listen to it and its songs but can also put my attention elsewhere. I’ve done this to many albums which I now love and have done this with Marcus Garvey as well. Because of this I have not payed attention to the lyrics too much and most likely misted many ideas. I really liked the title track and it got me excited to listen to the rest. I feel like if I am in the mood for ragae that this would be an album I would definitely come back to. Nonetheless, for my first listen, I was glad that it was about 30 minutes, as I would’ve found 40 or more to be fatiguing.
Det är reggae 101. Det saknas väl dock nån hit tycker jag. Eller flera. Det är ju skönt gung. Men det "händer" inget mer. Behagligt men inte mer.
I do enjoy a good reggae album, and this IS a good reggae album. Not an outstandingly great one, but good. A solud 3.5 star one.
Rating: 6/10 Enjoyable reggae album with some nice rhythms, mostly forgettable though.
3/5 started off as a 4 then got a bit samey, I have no outright hate for it though
Awright wots this then Reggae! Oh this is not my wheelhouse let's see what happens. Yeah this was decent? I can tell it's good reggae probably but idk anything about reggae I don't have much to say
4/23/25. Solid reggae right here, it's a reminder on how much I don't know about the genre. This album may inspire me to explore more; enjoyed that this wasn't the stereotypical "up-strum" reggae that's engrained in my head.
Didn't hate it, didn't like it
I would like to say, my tastes can be pretty eclectic, but I have to be completely honest, I do not listen to Reggae. I understand the cultural significance of the genre, and the political and historical messages, but it has never really been my thing. Maybe it has to do with when I hear that constant 4/4 time signature in every song, I begin to tune out. The end of the album was the best part for me as we get a little more variety with songs like Tradition, Jordan River, and Red Gold and Green.
Good reggae
Unknown band for me. I like reggae so I liked this album. If it was Bob Marley, I would of said I loved it!
Wow, a reggae album that I didnt hate 😂 Although Im not a huge rootsy guy (and im not the target audience if there was one), Im a sucker for spacey grooves and fun textures and there are a ton here. The album features some horns, flutes and soft voices that dont bore me. Its got what I want for this genre. And somehow, I got through this twice without feeling like I need to bounce onto something else. Favorites: Live Good Tradition (loved the weird sounds on this)
Pretty solid reggae album!
Cool vibe. Different to what I’d usually listen to. New perspective. Smooth vocals and funky instrumentals. Upbeat, with powerful lyrics.
...
When I finally go on my reggae/dub discovery, I'll make sure to add this album to the list. But as it stands, it's one of the better reggae albums I've heard, but don't know enough to tell you if it's good or bad.
Reggae-ish
Reggae feel
preparazione oatmeal approved
I love when reggae musicians really get into the political and social injustices that are still going on in this world in 2025 let alone 50 years earlier in 1975 and even well before that. So for the social message, this album gets a 4.5/5, for the music sice, this album gets a 2.25/5, and mainly because there's nothing really special with the music, it's just the same jamming guitar riff over and over with similar lyrics. So putting the 2 together, we have 6.75/10, which roughly translates to 3/5 stars on this scale. Good album, just not one I ever need to hear again on a monthly basis. Maybe once a year?
I really need to listen to more reggae that isn't just Bob Marley.. Favorite track: Tradition 3.5/5
01) Marcus Garvey - 7,0 02) Slavery Days - 7,0 03) The Invasion - 6,5 04) Live Good - 7,0 05) Give Me - 6,5 06) Old Marcus Garvey - 7,0 07) Tradition - 6,5 08) Jordan River - 6,5 09) Red, Gold & Green - 6,5 10) Resting Place - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,70 (67/100) Current ranking: 347/502
marcus garvey- 6 slavery days- 5 the invasion- 5 live good- 5 give me- 5 old marcus garvey- 5 tradition- 5 jordan river- 5 red gold and green- 5 resting place- 5
Raw roots reggae with awareness. It’s politically, socially, historically, and spiritually conscious. It maintains a laid back feel while speaking these truths with a contained anger and sadness, but also a forward hopefulness. It’s not a good album for the background; its value is in processing the words, feeing the emotion, and catching the rhythm and clever deviations. Some powerful songs but those that are less engaging lose my attention and then things start to blur and blend together.
Første var en banger men så ble det litt kjedelig. Satser på at det vokser på meg så legger til litt godvilje
Kul plate dette. Men ikke dreven nok i reggae til å vite om dette er en 2 eller 5. Så solid 3 fra meg.
I don't love any single song but I like the overall mood of the whole record. Cool.
Thoughts before listening: Reggae artist that often gets cited as one of the best of the genre. I admittedly don't know much about reggae outside of Bob Marley, but I do enjoy the genre. I am excited to have a reason to listen to this album. Review: This is an undeniably great sound. Reggae tends to get a little same sounding and this is no different. Its a darker album than what I am used to hearing from reggae artists, and there aren't a lot of sunny vibes that you would expect. I found that nothing really overly stood out to me, but its certainly not a bad album. 3-stars
Reggae music
Nothing special, and I don’t remember the days of slavery.
Reggae is reggae
Overall: 6/10 This reggae album started off incredibly strong for me. I was really loving the political nature of the lyrics and the (obviously) chilled out atmosphere. Then the songs started to blend together and I admittedly got a little bored. Still, it was nice listening to some reggae not made by Bob Marley. Fav Song: Marcus Garvey Least Fav Song: Red, Gold and Green
3.5/5. This was just fine, in a good way. Some decent reggae that I have not heard before.
Not a bad way to spend 40 minutes, but I don’t think I need to do it again. I realize that Reggae is really just like two chords of MUSIC. It's really about the message. The grooves are solid, the voice is commanding, the message is serious. It’s militant, but smooth. I respect it, but it didn’t grab me. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Marcus Garvey - Tradition
Definitely misread the artist/album thinking Marcus Garvey was the name of the artist only then to google that he was a famous political activist in Jamaica. Oof... felt like I should've known that lol Anyway, I usually enjoy listening to reggae. This album seems to draw on a lot of Jamaican culture and history. All in all this was a good, not great album. It felt like the songs all carried the same vibe and theme, so nothing really stood out to me. Good listen though. 3 stars.
This is some very bright and often great reggae. Openers Marcus Garvey and Slavery Days do a great job of setting the atmosphere. The former has some tasty organ and guitar work. Give Me is a standout for me with the slick guitar work. Also really enjoy Tradition. I found this to be a really fine album. Not the *best* reggae I've ever heard, but the elements all click nicely. Strong 3 in my book.
This album is reggae. That's my whole takeaway.
Pretty standard Reggae. This is as 3 of an album as possilbe
Classic reggae album. Nothing spectacular or very different with it for me but good listening.
Pleasant tunes helping me relax on train :)
It’s difficult to remember Marcus Garvey when you’ve never erd of im. Listened to this album and the dub version Garvey’s Ghost (which I liked better, instrumental versions an improvement over lyrical ones in most cases.) Listen to both versions of Red, Gold And Green (best song) and you’ll hear what I mean. The albums are too brass heavy for me, but all good. (3.2*s)
Running out of ways to say "eh, this was fine."
Heavy, heavy stuff on here. Overall I really enjoy this, I'm not the biggest Reggae fan but this is superb Best Song: Marcus Garvey Rating: 7.0/10 3 Stars
This was pretty good, I can only compare to Bob Marley with my limited raggae listening but it was overall pretty good, I'd go with a 3 I think.
Fun reggae. Did not know about Burning Spear before this. Definitely worth another listen, great background music for working.
Not a big reggae person but this album was a great history lesson and I love the political and social undertones
I love the political side of reggae and feel it oft gets overlooked for it's easier to digest vibes-ier brother. No holding back, shout out to Mr. Garvey, this album says so much for its time of release and is filled with passion
I find it funny that reggae is listed as one of my favorite genres on the 1001 right now. It's definitely not, but the whopping THREE reggae albums I've reviewed I liked (two Bob Marley + one Peter Tosh). The one thing that surprised me about Bob Marley (and less so Peter Tosh) was the surprising variety of styles, even if everything was based on the same reggae beat (particularly Marley's Exodus, which blew me away). I like this one, but it suffers from the problem I expected from reggae albums - same same throughout. I like the same same - it's nice and chill, and the musicianship is excellent. But I think if I'm going to want a reggae fix I'm going to stick to Bob Marley.
It was good, wasn't too long.
Bit of a marmite record this - I liked bits of it but overall left me feeling a bit alienated
Was alright
Not bad for reggae.
This album is cool, but I'm also not very good at distinguishing between different reggae albums in terms of their influence on the genre. That makes it tough for me to say much about it, but it's an enjoyable listen overall 3/5
Good, solid, classic Reggae.
3.5/5
Decent, nothing too bad nothing too good. 3 stars
This is pretty good reggae, but.....it's reggae. 🤷♂️
This was quite pleasant, but not ground-breaking in any shape or form. I can imagine playing this while sitting around a campfire, cracking open a beer and smoking a joint or three. It's not an album I would seek out to replay though, so it gets three stars from me.
give me a beer and a sunny day
Sounded like summertime. Would listen again for sure.
I enjoyed this. Great catchy songs. Would listen again
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey Really smooth and groovy reggae music to listen! Most of the songs here are consistent in terms of quality, and considering that it's quite short in terms of time (33 minutes), it's enjoyable all throughout. Overall, this album is good! 1.- Marcus Garvey = 9/10 2.- Slavery Days = 8/10 3.- The Invasion = 7/10 4.- Live Good = 8/10 5.- Give Me = 8/10 6.- Old Marcus Garvey = 7/10 7.- Tradition = 7/10 8.- Jordan River = 8/10 9.- Red, Gold & Green = 9/10 10.- Resting Place = 8/10 FINAL SCORE: 7.9/10
Rather cool album, but as with most reggae, most of the songs blend into each other. It’s not an advantage for the album that it’s winter, dark, cold and lots of snow
6.5/10. It's a decent reggae album. It's not my vibe, but it's cool! :)
very chill vibes, think it is a good summer listen, kind of made me feel sleepy/syrup-y
Album 646 of 1001 Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey (1975) Rating : 3.5 / 5 More good reggae I wasn't familiar with. Good listen. Lyrics probably need another going over.
Enjoyed the
I vibed to this
I think I like reggae influenced music more than pure reggae (though I can't think of any examples offhand). I feel kind of bad for giving Bob Marley's Exodus a 2. It certainly belongs on the list, but I didn't love it. (It's so hard to rate things when you don't like them but can recognize why they're great.) That's the only reggae album I have to compare this to, and I have to say I liked this a bit more. I even listened a second time to see if it would grow on me, but I still feel mostly lukewarm. I'm going with a light 3.
First track is cool. Not something I’d listen to or even come across if not for this. Tradition sounds like they had fun performing. Good, laid back sound. Nothing standing out as a track I might go back to, outside of the title track, Marcus Garvey.
A decent listen, wasn't blown away by it either
A good album for a sleepy Sunday morning. 3 stars or C+.
islands raining down
It worked for stereotypical reggae background music
I was keen to receive the social justice messages but after the first few tracks, I couldn’t sustain my interest and the remaining songs were relegated to background music.
Quite political record to say the least. Still groovey though! 'Marcus Gravey' was a very catchy song that stood out, but the rest feels a bit like quite staple Reggae? Or it is just me who has mostly heard Reggae from '75 who thinks it's a bit ordinary? Nothing wrong with that, just an observation. Anyway, I enjoy myself some good reggae from time to time so this was a nice session! Nothing that to me that really warrants any higher rating than strong 3.
I think I need to return to this sometime. I liked it but it was not at all what I was expecting. I’ve never been that big of a fan of reggae but this hit different. 3.5/5
Good stuff! Maybe not great stuff but really good. Over the last year or so I’ve really come around on reggae, and this is a prime example of good reggae, though I tend to prefer the dubbier echoey stuff.
It’s been awhile since I’ve had to listen to one on YouTube. I’m glad I listened to this. I really liked the song Tradition and the album peaked for me right around there. I also like the horns throughout. It didn’t all add up to more than a 3, but that’s OK. I’d probably even snag this if I ever saw it in a record store. For the vibes.
not really my thing but pretty good as it goes
Pretty decent classic reggae - not a band I've heard much of before, but I'll probably come back to this?
A good, straightforward reggae album. Nothing mind blowing, but a nice chill album to listen to.
Sure, kinda Bob Marley vibes. I can dig it.
At some point the songs are the same track with a different lyric, but it could be just me that I don't appreciate the genre
I wish I knew more about Jamaica, because I think that would help flesh out the album for me. But, its a good listen!
Enjoyed it a lot particularly the title track
Generally not a genre I love but this feels like a strong showing.
Starts off phenomenally, then cools down about halfway through. Would love to love this record but the songs are much too samey to enjoy throughout the short album. Not bad though
An interesting slice of history, both Rasta and Marcus Garvey. Enjoyable music accompanies the social commentary.
My favorite non Marley Reggae album that I have ever listened to. Some very cool tracks and overall solid "take a hit of this man" vibe. Tackles concepts of Jamaica and reeks of Kingston
There are some stand out grooves on this for sure. Solid album and a nice listen. Like most reggae, I generally appreciate it more in smaller blocks splashed into a mix vs full albums. 3.5/5
I’d always known about Burning Spear, but never really experienced the music outside of a few tracks here and there. This is a solid album that deserves to be in the same conversation with Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, etc.
Really enjoyed this. But if I’m being honest, for me it’s pretty indistinguishable from most non-Marley reggae. True rasta boyz will prob hate that comment.
Man, I didn’t realize reggae is a whole genre…I just thought it was how we described Bob Marley’s music. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I kid…I kid…yeah, this was a chill listen.
Always fun to discover another solid reggae album. Enjoyed this one and plan to dig into his catalog a bit more. Doesn’t wise to 4* level but close. 3.5/5
Solid reggae album. No songs really stuck out to me in particular but still enjoyable enough.
An interesting reggae album with punchy and important topics covered
Eh, I think it got to sound a little bit samey? That could just be me though.
I don’t really like or get reggae and this was surprisingly good for reggae insofar as I actually listened to it. It’s fine
Solid reggae album. No complaints. Standouts: Marcus Garvey, Tradition, and Jordan River.
I'm not super keen on reggae in general, but this was pretty decent. I liked the front half of the album more than the latter half, but maybe that's because I can only take so much reggae in one go. Maybe I'll have a listen to the dub version of the album at some point.
As this began, it was decent music (I do like me some Reggae). Then it got into me later, until Johnny B Goode came on and I realized Alexa moved on to Peter Tosh. Lesson: I dig Tosh much more than Burning Spear.
Really good actually. Reggae is not one of my more explored genres, but this was nice.
One of the things I like about this project is hearing protest and political music from artists I've never heard of. It's a really cool look into history. I'm not really into reggae, but this was decent.
Interesting protest album. A quote from the wikipedia page was interesting to me as well "...made a deal to release it internationally, but believed the original Jamaican mix of the album to be too threatening, or at least too commercially unviable, for white audiences and therefore remixed it into what they considered a more palatable form, outraging him."
Don't like reggae but this was alright
Reggae really isn't my "thing" but quite enjoyed a lot of this, easy to listen to not I always find it a bit samey though...
Insidiously insipid
I had mixed feelings towards this album. The style was quite good and songs were ok. But the tracks get monotonous towards the end. I've never heard of Burning Spear before. Another interesting listening experience. I'll give "Marcus Garvey" 3 stars.
Good but I tend to get bored with reggae. Sometimes it’s too repetitive and I stop paying attention.
it was good - kind of repetitive
great! sad it got remixed to be more 'palatable' though 3-3.5/5
Hiába van rasztahajam, azért ez nem az én világom. Viszont kellemes volt, simán el tudtam hallgatni, és meglepődve konstatáltam, hogy zeneileg egy kicsit magasabb szintűbb reggae a szokásosnál. Szóval összességében: noice.
korrekt album volt, a slavery days meg a jordan river ment is a listámba, de olyan nagyon nem mozgatott meg.
Thought I could go back and rate the others, guess not. Anyways I can’t really remember this one but I remember enjoying it. Gotta be 3/5, right?
Not as good as UB40 😬
low 3- objectively good, not what I’d choose
Didn't know what to expect (seems to be a running theme...) Quite good Would listen again
Somehow wasn't familiar with this brand. Titular track is a belter. Rest of the album a little weaker but enjoyable none the less.
One of the better Reggae albums we have listened to on this list so far. Enjoyed it quite a bit. 3.5/5
A catchy, fun reggae tune to jam to while cruising around the city, and since I'm white, I can't even relate to Slavery Days. Favorite Song: "Slavery Days".
I'm not averse to a bit of reggie if done well, and this was. Yes it contains a message but it wasn't overpowering. And the tracker stand alone. Yes I would consider buying it to complete a multi buy offer, but I probably wouldn't go looking for it specifically. But still worth a 3.
Bouncy fun roots.
This just makes you feel good. Brings you back up
This is not my genre. I did not actively dislike it. So that's a compliment and a sign for it's quality.
I don't really have enough knowledge of reggae to compare this to anything. Sounds like reggae to me?
Usually don’t listen to reggae to it’s hard to rate since I don’t have anything to compare to, but I can definitely see myself listening to this again!
We finally got a reggae album! This was new to me and I enjoyed it. I thought the instrumentals were good and the atmosphere was interesting at times. The vocals aren't my favorite but that's really my only major criticism. The album is politically charged but is contrasted by the tame instrumentals.
Not super familiar with reggae, but I thought this album was great. The chill, smooth instrumentals let the political messaging of his lyrics take center stage.
Smooth, groovy reggae with a politically charged spirit. It’s a pleasant listen all around
Slow brooding, slowed down Bob Marley like delivery. It’s calming background music. Choice Cut: Jordan River
Blame it on my ignorance, but I'm having a hard time to differentiate good reggae from bad reggae. I think it was good, probably a classic because it's so politically charged.
I'm really not a fan of reggae, but it's a really well made album.
Not too bad, some interesting music.
Yep. Reggae. Anyway.
Something different. Good!
This was the first reggae album to appear on here for me and I can never say no to some good reggae. It was very listenable, well-produced and respectful of my time. It also carried some important and heartfelt messages which I appreciate. I can see why some people may find it repetitive or samey, but honestly its <40 minutes so I'd say its worthy of one's time.
Very pleasant to listen to. The juxtaposition of the song titles and the vibes is quite dissonant. I'm not the most lyrics-first guy, and I feel like that probably limits my true appreciation for this album. It sounds very good. If I were a better person I might read the lyrics and true to understand the message of this album more.
So I liked this album more on the 2nd time through. The songwriting was OK but not up to my favorite Reggae. I felt as if there was a lot of similar sounding stuff but less so as I listened more which is a sign of a good album. The production was smooth and tight with the backing vocals and horns all driven by a dominant bass. I really liked the use of the flute. The lyrics are powerful as much as I heard.
Good album. Had not heard much Burning Spear, but will definitely seek out more.
For a genre that so often loses me because the music and instrumentation is exactly the same for an entire album, this was pleasantly surprising and varied.
The overview for this album says that the record company really watered down the sound to make it more "palatable" to the listening audience, which makes me really want to hear what the original versions sounded like. Although I did enjoy this so maybe I'm the watered-down listening audience.
3.5
There isn't a single bad track, but there aren't any particular standouts either. It's just a happy, groovy time without much musical substance. Most of the meat seems to be in the lyrics, but even those are executed a bit clumsily. I'm not a fan of the vocals - the enunciation is hard to make out at times, and it's almost too reggae-ish - but it could definitely be worse. The guitars and percussion are fun and catchy. I think the positives of this album were articulated best by another reviewer. It's clear that Burning Spear's message is very specific those who were raised on Jamaican culture and politics, and I doubt I'll ever be able to fully appreciate the ideas laid out here. There are definitely those who get a lot more out of the content of the lyrics than I ever could. The lyrics do have a haunting quality to them (though I feel they could be more elegant), and there's a certain melancholy present. Maybe if I dug a little deeper, I'd uncover the full darkness and beauty of this album. For now though, Marcus Garvey is just another average reggae album. Feelgood, lighthearted, bluesy, with some political undertones. But nothing particularly revolutionary. 3/5 Key tracks: Marcus Garvey, Slavery Days, Tradition
Actually thought this was pretty good. Honestly very different to what I was expecting from the cover - and I got the album title and band name mixed up lol Would love to hear the dub version of this.
Typical reggae sounds. Reminds me of my Childhood - my mom was huge into reggae (still is I think) so I recommended this to her too. It’s very relaxing but reggae is rarely my go-to - still, i found the music enjoyable and weirdly nostalgic despite never hearing it before.
Would I listen to it again: yes Is it a no-skip album: yes Do I like it: yes
Enjoyable
A rich sound that sounds great in my car! Great voice and clearly important issues addressed. Not sure I will listen again - but I loved the feeling in this music.
Du bon reggae. j'ai trouvé que ça partait en force mais à la longue ça devenait un peu redondant. Un bon album qui s'écoute du début à la fin, mais rien d'incroyable. 6.5/10
I'm not too much of a reggae person, but if I were going to listen to it, this would be a fantastic option. It is interesting to hear reggae music and associate it so easily with beaches and chilling out and relaxation, and yet, the lyrics found here are anything but relaxing and light-hearted. Taking some time to read about Marcus Garvey, who the album is named after, tells you all you need to know about what kind of album this is, despite how "beachy" it might sound. An informative and significant inclusion, even if it isn't exactly in my wheelhouse!
Ok luv burning spear
I enjoyed, old marcus garvey was 5/5 absolute banger
Not a Reggae fan, but this was an easy listen. 3/5
Timeless militant reggae. I had never heard of Marcus Garvey and his work with UNIA. So it was a good listen and a history lesson.
It was fine.
First reggae album to hit on the list so far? Enjoyed listening to it outside on the hot day we had yesterday.
Yes! At last some reggae. (I mean that isn't Bob Marley) Really enjoyable rootsy reggae with a polished sound.
Havent listened to a lot of reggae but this is very good
Loves: Marcus Garvey Old Marcus Garvey Jordan River Red, Gold and Green Notes: The historical recollections through storytelling are what made this album for me. Some songs really hit, but I haven’t smoked enough of this bowl to completely get into all of them. I did end up looking up Marcus Garvey and learning some stuff, which I think may have been the intension. Oh, and I’m able to feel his emotions through his vocals on Jordan River.
I feel like I should enjoy this more than I do but it just washes over me.
A solid listen, no real ear worms tbh. I guess I’m more of a Toots and the Maytals enthusiast.
Good, upbeat, fun.
Very fine music with a great Rasta attitude.
It was good.
Listened to this while playing Black Sonata. I won! This was a weird album to listen to while playing a game about Shakespeare. I remember visiting Hawaii as a child and riding in the car with my parents as they drove around the island. We listened to a reggae station on the radio, and I thought to my self after a while that "all these songs sound the same!" I know now as an adult that this is not true. While this still wasn't my favorite album, I definitely enjoyed it!
Some good quality reggae
Early in the Reggae days.... 3.5
You can hear the roots that will become reggae music.
Reggae music just won't ever mean that much to me.
Very cool
2.5.
most of the songs sounded a little same-y, but it was an enjoyable listen nonetheless 3.5
I don't listen to much reggae. This was alright, the lyrics helped the music being pretty repetitive.
nothing like some good old fashioned reggae to get the blood pumping.
pretty good
Wow, back to back reggae. This is the second day in a row where I got a reggae album, and this one has some seriously big shoes to fill coming off of a Bob Marley album. I feel like I gotta preface this again by saying I'm still extremely new to reggae as a genre. My only experience to reggae is the occasional Bob Marley song in popular media. My thoughts on the album are simple: It's pretty good. The lyrics have some serious emotion behind them and the instrumental is smooth. The problem is I just felt like there weren't many stand out tracks, not to say any were bad. 6/10 Would I listen again? Eh maybe if I'm in a serious reggae mood.
Pretty good reggae with terrible out of tune horns
"Marcus Garvey" by Burning Spear is a seminal reggae album that embodies the spirit of Rastafarianism and African pride. Released in 1975, the album features powerful vocals from Winston Rodney, aka Burning Spear, backed by tight rhythms and uplifting melodies. The title track, "Marcus Garvey," is a standout, paying tribute to the Jamaican political leader and Pan-Africanist. Other tracks like "Slavery Days" and "The Invasion" carry potent messages of liberation and resistance. While "Marcus Garvey" is celebrated for its cultural significance and musical quality, some listeners may find its repetitive rhythms and vocal delivery to be somewhat monotonous. Despite this, the album remains a cornerstone of roots reggae and a testament to Burning Spear's enduring influence in the genre.
I always love a good reggae album, but on some of the more serious ones I always feel a little ignorant about what they’re always so mad about so this one was cool, but I feel like there was a lot going on that I don’t know about so.
Reggae from an artist I was not familiar with. Enjoyed this with a little more Ska influence
Of all days *today*, an acquaintance of mine told me about the time he had Burning Spears play a live show at the tail end of the nineties. The band had requested to eat McDonald's food. If they didn't have those burgers, they would simply refuse to play. I'm not quite sure what I can do with this information, to be honest. It sure sounds a bit ridiculous when you take this memory into account and then listen to the *real* topical issues this album from the seventies deals with. All in all, *Marcus Garvey* is still a good reggae record. But since I still don't know why this app claims reggae is one of my favourite genres (whereas I'm only a casual fan of it), I'm gonna be a little severe about the album. Guess giving 5 stars to Bob Marley's *exodus* played a part in this. But that shouldn't be so pivotal. So *now*,I just wanna know if the mentions of my supposed "favourite genres" change after today. 3/5 for the purposes of this list. 8/10 for more general purposes (5+3) Number of albums left to listen to: more than a half. Number of albums I'll keep in my own list: more than 300 Number of albums I *might* include : a quarter, approximately (including this one) Number of albums I won't include: more than a quarter.
Nice but not something I think I would listen to outside of this project.
Easy to listen to but not my typical genre
Sounds like reggae
vibves
Good album.
This started off ok, but after a while I had sort of grown weary of the sound. Not my favorite album from not my favorite genre.
Nice reggae record!
It was okay
Well I’m not a reggae person at all, and most of it is annoying as hell, but this album was not too bad for what it is. I can definitely see that it was probably ahead of its time.
not much of a reggae guy. easy listening for sure but didn't find it very interesting.
pretty mellow classic reggae music. super slow tempo tracks that'll have you close your eyes and just nod along to. plenty of good messages too... but it's just another album i've listened to and can't write home too much about.
Legal!
Bro of bob marley is cool
It leaves me a bit cold. Probably best listened to lying on a boat in the Caribbean not on a cold dark night in Scotland
Still not a reggae fan. But this was not as bad as I feared.
Great vibe, not a ton of songs I loved individually
Reggae. Fu. Un 3porque es corto.
It was pretty enjoyable. Didn’t blow me away. But fine.
Reggae has never been a genre that I’ve spent any meaningful time with - so it’s hard for me to rate, because I don’t have much reference point. But it was an enjoyable listen, and I hope there’s more reggae to come so I can start to learn more about the genre. This is a rating I may look back on and want to change, but such is the nature of this project.
Cool for reggae. Not for me. Not unpleasant
Reggae. Fu. Un 3porque es corto.
My understanding so far of the choices of albums that were selected for this list is that they were either influential in some genre or space, or they had some songs that became hits. But then there are some that don’t fit either bill. They just feel like they are being used to fill a gap of a genre that maybe isn’t represented very well on the list. Such is the case with this record. I will not claim to be a huge fan of reggae. Not one bit. It is a genre I truly never find myself listening to. But why waste a spot with an album like this, when you already have something like Exodus on here? It’s fucking Bob Marley. He represented reggae better than any other human who ever lived. I don’t hate this album. But let me put it out there that this is on here, and Discovery by Daft Punk isn’t. This represents the more chill side of reggae. And I just lost interest very quickly. All of the songs sound very similar. And although there is some underlying political messaging, this album doesn’t give me the desire to sit down and really dissect its meaning. This isn’t horrible. For a specific kind of person, like someone who enjoys reggae more than I do, this will probably hit in some way. Just not my thing.
pretty chill. kinda boring tho
I’m not sure I could tell the difference between good and bad reggae. It’s all kind of the same thing. The flute adds a nice touch, but mostly I find it hard to listen to the same exact thing with almost no variation for 3-4 minutes. Some of the lyrics seemed poignant, but I largely struggled to make out what was being said.
not usually my type of stuff but it was good music and easy to get lost in
I don't have a clue how to rate this. Marcus Garvey (the person) was only barely on my radar before this, but his Wikipedia page is quite a ride. I guess he was controversial (seems right from what I read), but is generally pretty universally loved in Jamaica. Somehow he also became a prophet for the Rastafarians? I don't quite get it, but here we are. The album lyrics are highly political thematically it's pretty clearly Jamaican. It's somewhat surprising to me that this became a thing in the US, but it seems like it at least kind of did. It's reggae through and through, and I am in no way qualified to rate the quality of this genre. It generally seemed fine to me, had a few songs that had pretty good beats, generally had a message that I could get behind, so it was fine. It is also only 34 minutes so it's quick. I'm giving the album a 3 and moving on, it was reasonably fine (though Marcus Garvey himself is another story). Favorite song: Marcus Garvey Other: Slavery Days, Live Good, Tradition 2/4/24
I like reggae, but am certainly not an aficionado. I do like this album, and have enjoyed getting to know it, but it's not one I'm too excited to revisit.
I don't listen to reggae, but this album seemed like a pretty typical one. Fine to listen to, though I don't think I'd seek it out.
I don't have much good or bad to say about this album. It's your classic reggae sound, which has its time and place.
Pretty standard fare reggae music
An ok album
Enjoyable but not remarkable.
This record has a lot to offer for reggae fans. And I’m a fan, but I have to admit I got pretty burnt out after the fourth track or so. Musically speaking, this isn’t revolutionary or life changing, but it’s solid jams for a good night of hanging out with a J and your favorite video game.
I appreciated the message of the album more so than I enjoyed the delivery of said message.
Very solid reggae record. Appreciate the social commentary but don’t know if I’d throw any of these in a playlist
it’s fine
Another new artist for me. Reggae isn’t my normal jam, but I can enjoy it. This had me thinking of a warm beach and in a chill mood. Appreciated the rhythm and melodies.
I don't enjoy Reggae, but this was a well done album for those who do.
Bob Marley is pretty much the only Reggae artist I ever listened to (actually that list includes Snoop Lion, lol, and Damian Marley - but I think this is where it ends.). This Album sounds more politically charged than Bob Marleys general wisdom about life. Reggae in itself is pleasing to hear - nice to just get in the vibe and nod your head back and forth. However, this album starts off strong and then kind of fizzles out in the end. The songs just don't have the same kind of "X-Factor" compared to Bob Marleys body of work.
Nice
3. The beginning of the album is beautiful but it's a shame that the later part of the album let's it down. If this album carried the momentum of the first couple of songs it would be an easy 4 or 5 for me but it unfortunately doesn't do that. Still decent
me gusto
More interesting than most reggae I've ever heard. Not my favorite genre, but this is a cool and historically important release.
Decent, no real standout tracks, but overall, an enjoyable listen. Opening song "Marcus Garvey" probably the best. Solid 3.
A good reaggae one
I am not a massive reggae afficionado, but found it quite enjoyable. Seemed to blend with other afro carib music.
first listen pretty forgettable
Slightly incongruous listening in the frozen wilderness of Finland but I liked what I heard
Love me some reggae. I liked learning more history on the genre and about Burning Spear as an influential artist. I realize most reggae artists have been hidden from my view behind Bob Marley, so it’s good to have some more exposure. 3.5 stars!
A cool reggae album but didn’t grip me.
Perfect album to listen to while mowing the lawn and pulling weeds out in the sun. Quick and easy fun, nice groove going on. Not sure how often I’ll put on again but still a good listen. Fave track: Slavery Days
Not for me I’m afraid. Reggae just isn’t my thing, and as I’m in this to find stuff I’ll return to, I’m afraid this ain’t it. It’s not that it’s bad, it’s just that it’s reggae.
Soft och skön reggae.
Righteous anger characterises this highly political roots reggae album. Apparently this is the somewhat watered down 'international' version, as the original Jamaican mix was considered by the record label to be too threatening for white audiences. I'd like to hear that original. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Marcus Garvey Date listened: 26/11/23
I enjoyed part of this album and i enjoy the concept but some of the songs just grated on me. Repeat: Marcus garvey, live good, Skips:slavery days, give me
Too cool for me
So good to hear this album. I knew Burning Spear and who they were but hadn’t given them any rotation. It’s a fantastic piece of work.
I can think of more iconic (politically and culturally) reggae albums but it’s still quite good
прекрасное рэгги на фон пока работаешь :) так оно меня успокаивает и расслабляет - только за это можно поставить хорошую оценку но в саму суть альбома я так и не вникла + если услышу - не узнаю
Favorite Tracks: Marcus Garvey The Invasion Slavery Days
Didn't really finish this album but it was chill
Classic
Me gusta este reggae, aunque no sé si escuché la versión sucia o la que el artista quiso originalmente.
Nu er jeg jo lidt en reggaeekspert (=jeg hørte altid reggaeradioen i GTA San Andreas) og kan egentlig godt lide det selvom det hele lyder ens 😭 den var god! kort nok til at den ikke blev for monoton
Sjovt med lidt rasta historie!
Blind album and artist. Very catchy intro song and a few others. The end of the album isn't very outstanding or catchy like the first half.
Nice to get more reggae. While I'm not yet at the point of seeking it out on my own, I'm enjoying reggae more and more.
To me old school reggae often sounds quite similar, but this one doesn’t disappoint
Ok
A few good songs but not much
I am sorry to say my useless white ears don't really get reggae. This was an enjoyable listen though. 7/10 Fave track: the invasion
Reggae. Fu. Un 3porque es corto.
Really decent reggae album. Great voice, great music Gonna go for a 3/5
A good listen.
This list needs more reggae
listened to a bit - it was ok
Good background sounds. All the titles are the chorus of the song, including a catchy beat.
Not really my style of music, but I can appreciate the meaning behind it and its importance to reggae as a whole. Not bad but I wouldn't revisit.
Pretty good reggae stuff. Best song-Slavery times
Exemplary of roots reggae, it's dark and highly political. Pretty repetitive formula, with the same drum roll to kick off each song and a groove hardly distinguishable from others. There are a few filler tracks, and the repetition gets tiresome, but there are a few surprises later in the record, especially the unconventional instruments like the flute and percussions. Individually, the tracks do sound great, clear and moody, just not as engaging as a collective piece.
Was ok
Nice reggae album for a heatwave. Hard to differentiate from a lot of other reggae I’ve heard.
Decent enough, but I found it really boring. It could not keep my attention. Some positive messages, but very simple lyrically and structurally, with repetitive songs that go on too long and have little to know dynamic interest. Also heavily political. Didn't even know who Marcus Garvey was before this album (which not only is named after him but has TWO songs about him). Turns out he's some Jamaican political figure. Not surprised.
Reggae
Ihan leppoisaa reggaeta. Ehkä vähän itseään toistavaa. Ei onneksi liian pitkä
Perfectly listenable but it failed to move me really.
very pleasant reggae way 2 go Marcus 3.5/5
Reggae that isn’t Bob Marley. PRETTY NICE
Decent reggae album.
This album definitely carries a message, it’s beyond just the music. It’s a story. Pretty good for a genre I don’t typically listen to.
it was ok just couldnt really get into it
Don't know them.... seems relevant for the time. 3/5
It’s the kind of music you kind of forget is playing. I’ll put this in when I’m laying on the beach on vacation, which is unfortunately never. And no, I don’t remember the days of slavery. Please stop asking!
Again, with most reggae albums, I enjoyed it but for me it kinda has a ceiling given the repetition of the beats. 3/5
A very short album
Interesting listen
Pretty good
Pretty interesting album, especially for my first time extensively listening to reggae. Really strong jazz vibes throughout, and the balance of upbeat feeling music that really takes colonial nations to task is cool. Not sure how often I'll be revisiting, but it was an enjoyable listen. Favorite track: Jordan River
Listening to reggae is kinda like riding a jet ski, it’s hard to be in a bad mood listening to reggae. That being said, this album has some heavy themes but the tunes themselves put me in a chill place. Burning Spear was good. 3 stars
First impression was, I liked it a lot. But they couldn't keep my attention all the way to the end. Favorite song: slavery days
I want to like reggae so bad because the themes are lovely but I just don't
Pidin kyllä ja yhteiskunnallinen sanoma tulee läpi
This album had a nice beat, not my style really. Very similar to the album I had yesterday so I was kinda tired of it. But it will get the same rating. 3/5