Ska music reviews

By the time the rest of the world tuned in to Jamaican music in the mid-70s, Justin was no longer in his prime. Arguably neither was the ambassador of Jamaican music himself, Bob Marley. But unlike Marley, Hinds had no real interest in marketing himself and thus never received due attention from audiences outside his own country.

After parting with Reid in 1972, Hinds released several singles under producer Jack Ruby, including his debut album "Jezebel" in 1976.

"Ska Uprising" includes 20 songs, all of which were released between 1963 and 1975. With the exception of I believe one tune, they were all recorded with Duke Reid. "Ska Uprising", which was released by Trojan Records in 1993, is the label's first of two Justin Hinds and the Dominoes compilations. The second, "Peace & Love", covers roughly the same time period and is equally as good. Anyone with an ear for early Jamaican music will want to rush out immediately after purchasing the one to get the other (just like I did.)

What you'll get is some of the best Jamaican ska and rocksteady ever recorded. Hinds' distinctive tenor is virtually unmatched in the world of music for sweetness and simplicity. More importantly, Hinds was, without a doubt, a songwriting genius. The consistency of this material is just amazing. The songs are just so comfortable to listen to. It's as if these songs have always been there. Every one speaks to the soul; every one is uplifting. As is true of most Jamaican artists, Justin Hinds is a very pious man and his lyrics reflect that. Don't get me wrong though - this is a very fun selection of tunes. These songs will make you want to dance, skank and rock steady like a natural born rudie.

One thing to keep in mind is that these songs weren't produced in a high gloss, state-of-the-art mega-studio. Consequently the sound is a little flat and grainy. It has nothing to do with a poor re-mastering job by Trojan- these songs have always sounded like this. I actually enjoy the lo-fi quality though - it's quaint and charming.

If you love Jamaican music, especially ska and rocksteady, you need "Ska Uprising" and "Peace & Love" - both are crucial. Seek them out. Trust me, if you're intrigued you will not be disappointed. Hope this helped!

if you like old ska and reggae, this album will not be disappointing.

1. Welcome to the new south- 9/10. This one really sticks in your head forever!
2. The ghosts of me and you- 10/10. Second best song on the album. Great guitar and trombones.
3. Look what happened- 8/10. A remix of the one on borders and boundaries.
4. The science of selling yourself short- 10/10. Best song. Great tune. Most ska song, with the most trombones.
5. Short fuse burning- 7/10. Not catchy but still good.
6. Motown never sounded so good- 8/10. Really ska. Sounds like #4.
7. The upwards war and the downturned cycle- 7/10. Slow but okay.
8. Escape from the a bomb house- 8/10. A sad song. Pretty good though.
9. Best wishes to your black lung- 9/10. Really fast song. I like it.
10. She's gonna break soon- 5/10. Bad song. I usually skip it.
11. That's why they call it a union- 8/10. Another sad song like #8.
12. Plastic cup politics- 10/10.Fun to sing along to. Great tune.
13. The brightest bulb has burned out/ screws fall out- 7/10. Slow but still okay.
14.Surrender- 9/10. Funny song, also a remake. Great chorus.

If you like this album, check out the album losing streak!

1. Welcome to the new south-9/10. This is a good song to sing along to. "Welcome back, Outcasts, I know...." Sorry. I'm singing it.
2. The ghosts of you and me-10/10. This is probably the slowest song and the second or third best on the album, but the trombones before the chorus are SO good!
3. Look what happened- 8/10. A remix of the one on Borders and Boundaries.
4. The science of selling yourself short- 10/10. Best song on the CD. This is a lot more ska than the other songs. Very, very catchy.
5. Short fuse burning- 8/10. The best part is the chorus, catchy.
6. Motown never sounded so good- 9/10. Sounds al lot like #4, but not quite as catchy.
7. The upwards war and the downturned cycle- 7/10. Not a great song, but still okay.
8. Escape from the A bomb house-7/10. Pretty slow and boring, I think.
9. Best wishes to your black lung- 9/10. Fast song. Really good.
10. She's gonna break soon- 6/10. How can this be the hit song???? It's the worst, least catchy song on the whole album!!!
11. That's why they call it a union- 8/10. Good song about a family that fights too much.
12. Plastic cup politics-10/10. Fun to sing along to. Stuck in my head. Best trombone part in album.
13. The brightest bulb has burned out/screws fall out- 7/10. Another slow song.
14. Surrender- 9/10. A remake. Really good chorus.

Hey, if you like Less than Jake, check out other ska bands like Big D and the kids table, and I think Home Grown used to be ska, but check em out anyway.

This is my fourth copy of this album (and NO you can't borrow it).