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It is a far cry from the majority of artists on your list, and not that anyone on this site even listens to reggae besides a small handful of us, BUT....
Here's my Top 5 in the reggae genre for 2014
5) Purple Reggae by Radio Riddler
I was waiting for this release from the moment I heard they were doing it. Purple Rain by Prince has always been a pretty amazing album to me. Maybe in part to it being released when I was in an impressionable age, and part because Price is a pimp!
Radio Riddler has taken this classic album and reimagined it in reggae form. Fusing together elements of dancehall, dub, roots, with the funky RnB styling a of Prince, and then adding guest vocalists to each song. Ali Campbell of UB40 vocals on the title track are just amazing. Sinead O Connor also lends vocals on I Would Die 4 U along with other members of the reggae community.
4) Fly Rasta by Ziggy Marley
Had the opportunity to see Ziggy this past year. Probably about as close to seeing Bob as you can get. This is a typical Ziggy album with lots of good reggae/rock music on it. The song Lighthouse is not your average song from the genre. It is one of the standout songs to me as it's musically different from the rest of the cd.
3) Back2Sqare1 by Sun Dried Vibes
This band hails from North Carolina, and this is their sophomore release. This 3 piece have really honed in on the sound they create, which is a blend of reggae, rock, funk, alternative, and a little hip hop. They also use local musicians/vocalists on a few of their tracks. Standout tracks are Waiting For (which has a very funky breakdown in the middle), and the title track. If this cd had label recognition it could not only make some big radio hits, but also a much bigger fan base for these east coasters.
2) Representing by Tribal Seeds
This is the 3rd full length album from Tribal Seeds, which also has a few EPs to their credit. Definitely one of the bigger bands on the reggae circuit. This album is a good mix of reggae/rock, roots, and a little dancehall. It offers collaborations with Mykal Rose, Slightly Stoopid, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite, and reggae legend Don Carlos. Not one bad song on the cd, with standout tracks being Rock the Night Away, and Bloodclot.
1) A Miracle by Groundation
These guys have been around since '98 and are a 9 piece band with a horn section. This is a roots album with lots of heavy jazz influences. Musically it's off the charts, they do so many things well. Being a bassist I can sometimes be lost in the bass line and have to start the track over to catch the sheer beauty of the rest of the musicians contributions. One listen is just scratchin the surface, and you will hear more layers with more spins. This album is dedicated to the female spirit, and the miracle of birth. Standout tracks are Defender of Beauty featuring some amazing guest vocals from Marcia Griffiths of the legendary I -Threes, and also has a bass, and horn solo, and Riddim Hold Dem. but the whole cd is nothing short of magical.
Honorable mentions go to
Count Me In by Rebelution
Amid the Noise and Haste by SOJA
Steady by Giant Panda Guerrilla Dub Squad
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