Island In The Sun

Shame Jamaica didn't qualify for the footy world cup this time around. To make up for that a wee bit, here's a rootsy six pack from the island, about the island. "C'mon and smile..."

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Smile Jamaica/Version
Culture - Down In Jamaica
Joe Gibbs & The Professionals - Down Jamaica Way
Jimmy Cliff - Miss Jamaica
The Gaylads - My Jamaican Girl
The Meditations - Running From Jamaica

To Babylonians Head

"It sipple out deh..." Presenting a red hot Babylonian ten pack for the weekend, dreader than dread. Go down & keep cool.

Max Romeo & The Upsetters - War Ina Babylon

The Prophets - Babylon A Fall

Junior Byles - Beat Down Babylon
The Meditations - Babylon Trap Them

Desmond Irie - Babylon You Must Go Down

Tappa Zukie - Don't Deal With Babylon

The Heptones/The Upsetters - Babylon Falling/Version

Ras Michael & The Sons Of Negus - Keep Cool Babylon
Brent Dowe - Down Here In Babylon
Zeddie Bailey - Dub To Babylonians Head

Conquering Dreads

"Without love you're like a ship that's lost its anchor, lost at sea in the swirling tides..." Presenting a conquering ten pack, inna strictly roots stylee of course. Cause you just can't conquer natty dreadlocks, seen?

Prince Alla - Only Love Can Conquer MP3

The Meditations - Rasta Shall Conquer MP3

Linval Thompson - Jah Jah The Conqueror MP3

Dennis Brown - Conqueror MP3

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Duppy Conqueror MP3

Dr. Alimantado - Can't Conquer Natty Dreadlocks MP3

Stranger & Gladdy - Conqueror MP3

Yabby You - Conquering Dub MP3

Cornell Campbell - The Conquering Gorgon MP3

Aggrovators - The Conqueror MP3

Wild Weekend Vol. 19

It´s a Wild Weekend yet again and I guess you all know what that means by now... Here´s another diverse bunch of goldies, with special thanks to the magic of the iPod shuffle. Hey ho.

We´re off to a rather furious start with bassless Detroit garage trio the Gories and their highly inflammable John Lee Hooker cover Let Your Daddy Ride. Production: that late Memphis man Alex Chilton of course. Lower down your chariot, baby, and buy their glorious I Know You Be Houserockin´ cd forthwith. Meanwhile in Jamaica, the golden-voiced Meditations face an obvious truth: Life Is Not Easy. But when Lee ´Scratch´ Perry gets behind his Black Ark mixing board he manages to skank their troubles away ever so smoothly.

The Gories - Let Your Daddy Ride MP3

The Meditations - Life Is Not Easy MP3

If you like the Harry Smith Anthology as much as I do, you´re bound to dig a little deeper in that musical vernacular. In that case, you should try Prayers From Hell: White Gospel & Sinner Blues 1927-1940, an excellent compilation of near-ancient folk, blues and country. The weary but optimistic Worried Man Blues by Rodgers & Nicholson is only one gem out of many. And here´s another duo: the peculiar combination of Neil Hagerty (vocals and guitar) and Jennifer Herrema (vocals and looks). Which means we´re talking Royal Trux, we´re talking experimental Stones junkie sleaze and blossoming blood flowers in the morning. From their much recommended, untitled third album (´92).

Rodgers & Nicholson - Worried Man Blues MP3

Royal Trux - Blood Flowers MP3

One HipHop cd I can never get enough of is the spooky Liquid Swords by Genius/GZA, he of the Wu-Tang conglomerate. The sparse Shadowboxin´ is a prime example of its perfect flow. Oh man! And for the last song in this week´s sixpack, we move to smoggy L.A. and a new band I´m much enamored of at the moment. Wounded Lion is the name of the game, all dressed up like a Pavement from hell. Their fuzzy debut is out now on the small and always classy In The Red label, which provides an excellent mail order service as well. So what are you waiting for?

Genius/GZA - Shadowboxin´ MP3

Wounded Lion - Creatures In The Cave MP3