End Of Year Report & Top 5 Reggae Albums Of The Year

For me this year has not seen the same great wealth of quality reggae releases as last year, although in truth that was always going to be a difficult task. This year has also seen the further demise in record sales. I myself posted on here and reported about this for United Reggae at the end of 2009 and now they have followed that up with the news that another prominent London based specialist reggae shop is about to close.
That said this year was not been completely barren and full of gloom and doom by any means. Veteran reggae stars Don Carlos (Changes) and BB Seaton (Ready for the World) released excellent new albums and stalwarts Luciano and Gyptian both had critically acclaimed albums out. New comers Toussaint, with his own brand of reggae soul on ‘Black Gold’ and Dutch born Maikal X’s ‘Genesis’, both show great promise for the future, also crowds at reggae based festivals appear to be up, with Rototom Festival in Spain attracting over 130 000 people.
The death of reggae maybe a bit premature, but for some of reggaes big names may find that they will have to evolve somewhat and maybe add different styles to their portfolios for if they want to progress and maybe even get reggae to flourish again. This will on doubt upset many traditional fans, but for reggae to get back to the position where it was in the late ‘70s and early ’80s it may have to fight its way to the forefront from within other musical genres.
The underground reggae scene appears to have a wealth of talented people out there, and a lot of hardcore support, in fact without the absolute dedication and passion of today’s underground reggae and dub artists from many nations Reggae, as we know it would possibly not exist. Reggae today is the underground; they hold onto and create what we remember from time.
Springline label has played its part with many releases this year from the likes of, The Manor, Steve Steppa & Samson plus a couple of well received compilations. Next year, it is hoped, will be no different with an alternative, off centre dub album from Denja entitled ‘Shamen's Trip’ due for release in February and a 2nd album from The Manor in the pipeline for early summer. Also as I’ve been speaking about diversifying Springline will also release its first non-reggae offering ‘Cheap Dress Full Of Stars’ by the David Powell Experience at the end of January

To find out more about these artists you can visit

http://www.manors-ark.com/
http://www.denjasounds.com/
http://www.davidpowellexperience.com/
http://www.upsteppa.com/

Finally, as is so often the case at the years end, here are Gibsy’s and mine top 5 reggae albums of the year. I have chosen mine on the basis that these are from artist that were either new or just ones that I had not heard of before and therefore gave me an unexpected surprise when listening to them.

Skarl's Top 5 for 2010

5. Kinyama Sounds Present Reggae Dishes
4. Babyhead - Heavy Weather
3. Naptali - Long Journey

2. The Bullets - Sweet Misery

1. Zema - Jubilee

Gibsy's Top 5 for 2010

5. Pato Ranking Meets Don Fe - Vol 1
4. Digikal Roots - Let There Be Version (EP)

3. Manor - Revelation Congo

2. Avatar - From River to Ocean

1. Pama Int’ Meets Mad Professor - Rewired