LIST: Modern Roots 45s 2009 - a Top 50 by BMC

NOTE:

THIS IS NOT A DOWNLOAD, BUT A LIST OF OFFICIAL RELEASES. DO NOT REQUEST UPLOADS OF THESE: IT WONT HAPPEN!

Another year behind us and another year that again lead to numerous discussion on the current output of JA. Especially the dancehall side of things gets a lot of criticism for the direction where it is going with the non-JA influences of r&b, rap and techno. I also do not favor the route it is taking, but am not too worried about it to start 'dancehall is dead' kinda talk. There apparentely is an audience for it, artists have sold out shows all over the world, so I guess we're looking at JA-dancehall 2009 stylee. Hopefully 2010 brings back more of the pounding bass in the riddims. Personally I do rate some of the current output in the genre though, specifically Busy Signal and Mavado, but not even close to enough for an end-of-year list. That's different for modern roots 45s (yep, still buy vinyl in these times!) from 2009. There has been plenty lovely stuff out there again, though most of my preferred riddims and tunes this year come from the EU & UK. JA had some nice rootsy riddim, but I feel it's less than in previous years and a smaller percentage I rated enough to buy. Not gonna go into a 'oh-see-what-became-of-reggae'-blah, cause there's simply still nuff nuff good stuff out there and with the worldwide output combined I could easily come up with a top 50 modern roots 45s list again, just like last year.

The order is kinda momentarily, if I was to make the same list tomorrow, it'd probably differ at points, but that aside. Here's 50 tunes making 2009 nice enough for me again. This is obviously a personal preferences, add to it with your recommended tunes for the year to make it all more complete.

My wish for the new year musically is mainly more bass(lines), more positivity and more quality control instead of releasing every trial of a riddim or voicing : higher standards. All the best for 2010 for all reggae-massive worldwide!

Titles as: "Artist - Title (Label - Riddim)".

BMC's Top 50 Modern Roots 45s 2009:

01) Fu-Steps - Wicked Men (Vibes Creator)
02) Courtney John - Lucky Man (Peckings)
03) Don Carlos & Million Stylez - World Crisis (Ink A Link)
04) Jah Faith - No Bother Grumble (Jan-Disc)
05) Tarrus Riley & Alaine - Forever More (Don Corleon)
06) Busy Signal - Uniform Bad Bwoy (Maximum Sound - Praise Jahovia)
07) Lyrical Benjie - Sit N Wonda (Roots Tribe)
08) Prezident Brown - Rasta Rock (African Beat - Bubbler)
09) Anthony Cruz - Woman 24-7 (Shan Shan)
10) Alaine - Without You (Don Corleon - Changes)
11) Million Stylez & Joey Fever - Young Gunz (Necessary Mayhem - Come Down)
12) Tarrus Riley - Young Heart Reminiscing (Peckings)
13) Mykal Rose - Hypocrites Warning (Heartical - Tonight)
14) Lutan Fyah - Nuh Talk (Juke Boxx - Indiscretion)
15) Turbulence - Lovely Days (Roots Survival - Ras In)
16) Lutan Fyah - No Tribulation (Pow Pow - Respond)
17) Luciano - Invasion (Maximum Sound - I Know My Herbs)
18) Peter Spence - Thanks And Praises (Lockdown - Sweet Jamaica)
19) Stevie Face - Proverbs 6 (No Doubt - Sweet)
20) YT, Million Stylez, Tenor Fly, Blackout JA & Mr Williamz - Dubplate (Necessary Mayhem - Rumours)
21) Jah Cure - Never Find (Don Corleon - Changes)
22) Luciano & Freddie McGregor - Night After Night (Big Ship - New Chapter)
23) Sizzla - Revolution (Irie Ites - Strange Things)
24) Peetah Heritage - Jesse James (Maximum Sound - Vineyard Town)
25) I-Eye - What A Day (Shengen Clan)
26) Admiral Tibet - Never Stop Trying (Luv Messenger - The Whip)
27) Petah Morgan feat Busy Signal - Unfair (No Doubt - Ghetto)
28) Anthony B & Chezidek - Better Hafi Come (Maximum Sound - Matches Lane)
29) AmP & Echo Ranks - Mr Warmonger (AMP)
30) Solo Banton - Talk To Me (Maffi)
31) I Wayne - What Will They Do (Fresh Ear - Relationship)
32) Queen Omega - Jah Dawta (Bombist - Soprano)
33) Lutan Fyah - Real Rasta (Jam' Strong - Stronga)
34) Lukie D - Send Dem Come (Maximum Sound - Praise Jahovia)
35) Etana - Badmind (No Doubt - Rock Steady)
36) Kenny Knots - Unbreakable (Roots Garden - People)
37) Tarrus Riley - Cold Kisses (Don Corleon)
38) Gappy & Nerious - Soul Rebel (Peckings - Soul Rebel)
39) Chezidek - War Monger (Irie Ites - Only Solution)
40) Prince Theo - Chant Dem Down (High Fly Music - Spread Dat Love)
41) Ziggi - Joker Smoker (Smoke In The Air) (Necessary Mayhem - Joker Smoker)
42) Million Stylez - Born In The System (Bassrunner - Prison Break)
43) Jah Mali - Serious Question (Roots Survival - Ras In)
44) Turbulence - Live Good And Prosper (Redbud - Prosper)
45) Ras McBean & Queen Omega - No Time To Waste (Greatest Friends - Music)
46) Joey Fever - Back With A Blast (Fast Forward - Love My)
47) Tamlins - Send Them Come (Shengen Clan)
48) Fantan Mojah - Chalice (Fire Ball - Rocksteady)
49) Queen Omega - Good Canabis (Special Delivery - Je T'Aime)
50) Lutan Fyah - Mr Outlaw (Blenders Finest - Oooh)

Bless,
BMC

LIST: Modern Roots 45s 2008 - a top 50 by BMC

We're at the end of the year again, so I figured why not make a list like previous years of the best modern roots 45s I bought this year (both JA, UK and EU productions). Yeah, you read it well, I'm still one of those that buys 45s of the modern tunes instead of settling for the mp3's. The order is kinda momentarily, if I was to make the same list tomorrow, it'd probably differ, but that aside. Here's 50 tunes I've been enjoying a lot this year and hoping for another 50 like these for 2009! This is my personal preferences, so instead of arguing an opinion (as this is just that), better add to it with your recommended tunes for the year. Titles as: "Artist - Title (Label - Riddim)".


Top 50 modern roots 45s 2008:

01) Million Stylez - Police In Helicopter (Necessary Mayhem - Police In Helicopter)
02) Pressure ft Beres Hammond - Putting Up Resistance (Don Corleon)
03) Doniki - Life Of The People (Gully Bank)
04) Lutan Fyah - Give Thanks For Life (Unik - Dem A Run Away)
05) Chezidek - Call Pon Dem (Massive B - Kingdom)
06) Fustep - Mr Greedy (Conscious Sounds)
07) Morgan Heritage - Nothing To Smile About (No Doubt - Rub A Dub)
08) Sugar Minott - Righteous Tradition (Heartical - Ministerio Del Dub)
09) Capleton - Clean Meditation (Shore Jam - Ruff Life)
10) Tarrus Riley ft Chalice - Good To Be There (Cannon)
11) Anthony B - Clam Down De Gun (Fire Ball - Jah Jah See Dem A Come)
12) Jah Mason - Man To Man (Macro Beats - Early Morning)
13) Richie Spice - Di Plane Land (No Doubt - Rub A Dub)
14) Beres Hammond - I Feel Good (Penthouse - I Feel Good)
15) Million Stylez - Oh Jah Jah (Rootdown - I Love)
16) Natty King - The Truth (House Of Riddim - Conquerer)
17) Pressure - Your Love (Don Corleon)
18) Alaine - Love Of A Life Time (Don Corleon - Secrets)
19) Chezidek - I Won't Change (Charlie's - Back To Mount Zion)
20) Echo Ranks - Long Time (Scoops)
21) Million Stylez - Love We Deal With (Sound Quake)
22) Queen Ifrica - Keep It To Yourself (Don Corleon - Secrets)
23) Ras McBean - Dem A Run Away (Unik - Dem A Run Away)
24) Alborosie ft Etana - Blessing (Forward)
25) Zareb - Ghetto Youths (Heartical - Ministerio Del Dub)
26) Turbulence - I'm Home Alone (Kings Of Kings - Live Wire)
27) Anthony Cruz ft Marlene Johnson - Africa (House Of Riddim - Conquerer)
28) Konshens - How It Feel (Birchill - Politics)
29) Marcia Griffiths & Busy Signal - Automatic Remix (Penthouse - Automatic)
30) Nikesha Lindo - Pack The Memories (Jah Ruby - Can I Change My Mind)
31) Chaka Demus & Pliers - When King Tubby's Used To Play (Pull Up My Selecta - Duke Street)
32) Chezidek - Higher (G String - Love Line)
33) Perfect & Chezidek - Journey (Irievibrations - Hit Drop)
34) Frankie Paul - Draw Out (Total Satisfaction - Draw Out)
35) Prezident Brown - Leaders (Oneness - General Key)
36) Cocoa Tea - Barack Obama (Roaring Lion)
37) Lutan Fyah & Anthony John - Roots Woman (Rial Agony - Bless Ya)
38) Sizzla - One Love (Road Dog - Star)
39) Mr Vegas - Mus Come A Road (A Team)
40) Etana - Love Myself (Cannon - Jah Live)
41) John Holt & Queen Ifrica - Queen Of The Ghetto (Penthouse)
42) Gyptian - This Love (Itation - Show Love)
43) Bunny Brown - A Good Woman (Big Stars - Call On Me)
44) Pressure - More Justice And Truth (Fire Ball - Jah Jah See Dem A Come)
45) Lukie D - How Long (Pull Up My Selecta - Duke Street)
46) Mr Williamz - Babylon In Helicopter (Necessary Mayhem - Police In Helicopter)
47) Robert Lee - Red Out Deh (Own Mission - Red Out Deh)
48) Richie Spice - Serious Girl (Juke Boxx - Nylon)
49) Lutan Fyah & Etana - Gun (Tads)
50) Estelle feat Sean Paul - Come Over Remix (Black Chiney)

Bless,
BMC

LIST: BMC's 2007 Modern Roots 45s top 50

Another one of my older lists I found back on my harddrive: best 45s of 2007. Top 50 with the info as I wrote it in those days, just for fun. Check it out:


My personal 2007 45s top 50

The year is coming to an end, time to look back a bit. There haven’t been many dancehall / bashy riddims that did it for me in 2007, but I didn’t follow it very closely either (list anyone?). Some artists made important steps there this year though imo, especially Movado and Busy Signal. On the rootsy side of things for me numerous 45s with interesting riddims and tunes have been released, ranging from just nice to killers. Here’s a selection I made of 50 more rootsy tracks that I rate highly and still play regularly; roughly in order, but don’t take that too serious cause tomorrow it may differ again. Just my personal preference, no official thing or so, feel free to disagree and / or dislike.

1. Natty King – Real Herbalist (House Of Riddim)
2. Glen Washington – In The Distance (A-Lone – Dirty Dozen)
3. Ray Darwin – People’s Choice (Tad’s – officially released late december 2006 though)
4. Alborosie & Sizzla – Meditation (Forward)
5. Capleton – Prophet Rides Again (Ink A Link)
6. Pressure – Be Free (Don Corleon)
7. Tami Chynn – Over And Over Again (Fresh Ear – Guardian Angel)
8. Luciano – Every Where I Go (Broken Stick – Let Them Talk)
9. Natty King – Dem A Fight (Pleasure Beat – Majestic)
10. Alpheus – Ultimate (A-Lone – Dirty Dozen)
11. Richie Spice – The World Is A Cycle (Fresh Ear – Guardian Angel)
12. Capleton – No Fold Hand (Shall I – Meditation)
13. Burro Banton – Friday Dress (SWS – Crazy Night)
14. Shaggy – Move Hype (Big Yard – 007)
15. Million Stylez – More Life (Supersonic – Devil’s Angel)
16. Chezidek – Bad Out Deh (Irie Ites – Down In Jamaica)
17. Alborosie – Kingston Town (Forward)
18. Perfect – 30 Pieces (Irievibrations)
19. Taurus Riley – She Is Royal (Cannon)
20. I Wayne – More Herb (Yellow Moon – Dst)
21. Lutan Fyah – Hypocrits (Oneness – Oneness)
22. Da’Ville – Africa Is Calling (Pure Music – Serengeti)
23. Etana – Roots (Freemind)
24. Lutan Fyah – Red-Red (Al.Ta.Fa.An – Senior)
25. Lymie Murray – Fire Will Be Burning (Bay Rock – Bay Rock)
26. Glen Washington – Jah Jah Delivered Me (A-Lone – Family)
27. Taurus Riley – Back Biter (Don Corleon – Far Away)
28. Morgan Heritage – Too Much Blood A Run (Free The Children – Africa)
29. Natural Black – Free Your Mind (Total Satisfaction – Melody Life)
30. Burro Banton – MC Peggy Part 2 (One Love – Maria)
31. Da’Ville – In My Arms (Renaissance – Legal)
32. Jah Cure – Sticky (Danger Zone – Jamdown)
33. Maxie Priest & Richie Stephens – My Girl Dis (Joe Frasier – Full Attention)
34. Turbulence – Youths (Kickin – Rewind)
35. Alborosie & U-Roy – Precious (Forward)
36. Alaine – Sincerely (Don Corleon – Love Potion)
37. Cocoa Tea – Poverty (Minor 7 Flat 5 – Bodo)
38. Lukie D – Step Away (Badda)
39. Richie Spice – A No Me Dat (No Doubt – Eighty Three)
40. Sizzla – Sow More Love (Irie Ites – Rocking Time)
41. Pressure – Love & Affection (Don Corleon)
42. Jah Cure – To Your Arms Of Love (VP – Guardian Angel)
43. Edge Michael – Delilah (House Of Riddim)
44. Lutan Fyah – Can’t Stop The Fire (Bassrunner – Glorious)
45. Luciano – Strive (Mafia & Fluxy)
46. Pinchers – Slaughterer (Penthouse – M16)
47. Morgan Heritage & Busy Signal – Run Dem (Juke Boxx)
48. Frankie Paul – Love Somebody (Stone Love – Rocksteady)
49. Morgan Heritage – Guards Up (Maximum Sound – Black Board)
50. Doniki – Gully Bank (Gully Bank)

I didn’t get the chance yet to get Fat Eyes’ Midnight Hour or Joe Frasier’s Chi Chi Bud riddims released on 45 last week, so those tunes were not taken into account.

All in all even though I bought significantly less 45s this year, 2007 brought enough good reggae again to keep me entertained, just needed a bit more selectivity. For 2008 I hope for more bass and positivity and less autotune!