Right on the heals of thier new release, Why You Bad Soh, The Chris Murray Combo drops an awesome new video.  Love Flame features the Combo as puppets from the neck down and the effect is hilarious and adorable.

Click here to buy Why You Bad Soh from UnstrictlyRoots.com Link

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhA8MBP-vqY]

Comments (1) Aug 31 2008

Not brand new- but new enough.  This is one of the nicest looking videos I’ve ever seen come out of the scene- it features a heavy dose of Dr. Ring-Ding and a lot of motion controll camera work.  Check it:

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN9DcEEBc6Y]

Comments (1) Aug 21 2008

Earlier this year, I followed a link to an underdeveloped MySpace page that boasted some Specials covers by the retro-licous, Amy Winehouse.  These not-so-impressive tracks were obviously demos and weren’t worth repeated listenings- let alone an official release.  That’s why I wasn’t in too big of a hurry to check out what’s been described as her Ska EP, when I read about it here and here.

Man, was I wrong.  Winehouse’s versions of Monkey Man, Hey Little Rich Girl, You’re Wondering Now and Cupid are clean and polished- spic and span.  Cupid is done as an upbeat Reggae tune while the others are arranged a lot like the Specials’ versions, but Winhouse’s vocal flourishes save the tracks from feeling unnecesarry.

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gk3VI5f-SY]

But the tracks from iTunes from the Back to Black B-Sides Collection

Or if you want The Ska EP for Free.

Comments (3) Jul 07 2008

I can’t find any evidence that the future President of the US enjoys Reggae or Island music, but Jamaica is behind him anyways.  I can’t say that I really enjoy any of the songs for the various candidates- and I know they aren’t all meant to be enjoyed, some of them are jokes- but I’m impressed that Reggae hasn’t missed the train on the most socially conscious hopeful in decades.

Obama embodies many of the ideals espoused in Reggae Music. His calls for drastic reform, an end to the war, transparency in the government, and support and compassion for the least of us is decidedly anti-Babylon.

Here’s a big roundup of Obama themed music videos- some Reggae, one calypso tune from the legendary Mighty Sparrow, and one that has nothing to do Ska or Reggae but is simply irresistible.

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zxn9jhypHfo]

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fV2-l0UskA]

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=529VBEvnXu8]

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRlKGvUBHVE]

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntSalB09uzM]

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPLtotzqH0M]

Comments (0) May 28 2008

You’ve no doubt heard the rumors buzzing around the past few months regarding a full reunion of the Two Tone legends, The Specials.  I had always heard that any Specials reunion will never be complete due to longstanding personal feuds that go back nearly 30 years.  I’ve seen Golding fronted reunions dissolve into screaming matches with the crowd;  I’ve heard unimpressive live stuff from the Special Beat, in recent years; and who could forget the train wreck that was Today’s Specials- but a full member reunion might recapture that magic of ’79- maybe.

This video has given me a pinch of hope:

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2O5ytIxiSUE]

Comments (0) May 27 2008