The rather common train of thought is that if you want to hear lovers rock music in this day and age, you'd best be going over to England where they virtually STOCK solid lovers rock artists and fans for the music alike. And then, if you want old school sounding HEAVY Roots Reggae music, then may your travels lead you to the Virgin Islands where, for quite awhile now, they have been stockpiling talents in that arena; some of which you already know and some of which you're certain to know in the future. Thus, in order to shed a bit of light on both, I submit for your approval the best Reggae albums of The Virgin Islands.
{note 1: Only studio albums. No live (Sorry Reggae Bubblers) or compilation (sorry Bambu Station) releases}
{note 2: In compiling this list I realized that I had quite a few too many Midnite albums on the list, therefore I will be giving 'them' 'their' own list at some point in the future and there are no Midnite albums on this list. Although my choice for #1 was still my choice even with Midnite present}
{Honourable Mentions: Gracious Mama Afrika by Dezarie, Royaly Lionage by Ras Attitude, Utterance by Tuff Lion and A Different Age by NiyoRah}
#12. Sabbattical Ahdah - Heart Ah Joy [Iyah Ites Productions 2003, St. Croix]
THE ENIGMA: What the hell was this? Sabbattical Ahdah’s CLEARLY insane level of talent sparked Heart Ah Joy, his debut (and still ONLY, to my knowledge) album, to the equivalent of a Reggae ‘cult classic’ . From beginning to (not so far away) ending, Heart Ah Joy was a stirring introduction to an artist with a very very CURIOUS level of abilities, to say the least.
Best Tune - Meh Honor
#11. Batch - Who You Are [Sound V.I.Zion Records 2003, St. Croix]
THE GROWER: As we move further away from Batch’s own debut album, Who You Are, it does absolutely nothing but get stronger and stronger to my ears. This album was simply one of the most INTELLIGENT that I probably have ever heard and it combined elements of what is/was typically classifies as the stereotypical ‘VI Reggae sound’ and what his peers were doing in Jamaica; and it did it SEAMLESSLY.
Best Tune - Ah Rulah! “the flat backside and blonde hair won’t do!”
#10. Bambu Station - One Day [Mt. Nebo Records 2002, St. Thomas/St. Croix]
DEEP: While so many were busy “counting the hours of the day from Midnite” , another very powerful collection of artists had snuck up on the scene in Bambu Station. Probably even better known for their work as a backing band, producers and songwriters, Bambu Station, fronted by Jalani Horton remain largely overlooked for their own output. Well, if you overlooked the small HEAVY master piece that was One Day then. . . Well. . . You stupid.
Best Tune - Even Man Cry
#9. Ras Attitude - Trodding Home [Greensphere Records 2007, St. Croix]
THE MESSAGE: Much like the next album on this list, Ras Attitude’s Trodding Home album was one built largely on the strength of its title track. Unsurprisingly (because of its ranking here) that title track was HUGE and definitely one of the biggest of his career. Thankfully, the rest of the album kept it from being the sole hit on the album as tunes like Aya I, We Gonna Make It and ESPECIALLY Jah Lives (alongside Malika Madremana) rose Trodding Home the album, like Trodding Home the song, to the heights of Attitude’s career to date.
Best Tune - Trodding Home
#8. Pressure Buss Pipe - Love & Affection [Don Corleon 2007, St. Thomas]
THE CROSSOVER: Were this list strictly based on the merit of significance then Pressure’s second album may very well rank as number one (instead of what is number one, which he knows all about) as it has seemingly opened the doors to a flood of younger talents to follow in his (still young) footsteps and make it, not only in terms of the VI but to Jamaica as well. The title track bridged the gap both musically and literally as it signaled the beginning of Pressure’s involvement with DON Corleon, THE best all around Reggae producer in the world.
Best Tune - Love & Affection
#7. Danny I - Jah Fury [Iyah Ites 2001, St. Croix]
THE VANISHING: Buried right in the middle of this most OBSCURE of albums is simply one of the most BEAUTIFUL, DIVINE, HEAVENLY, AWE-INSPIRING and just BEST tunes I have EVER heard in my life. The song single-handedly exploded the woefully inactive Danny I, previously perhaps best known as a good friend and former collaborator of the well respected singer, Army, onto my radars. Lion As A Ruler is FOOD FOR YOUR SPIRIT and it brought the rest of the tunes (which are still very good, especially Ensureth I Crown, Mask Man, Mr. Government and Jah Fury (and I could really name the entire album)) up with it to a level that is not to missed but. . . good luck finding it.
Best Tune - LION AS A RULER!
#6. Batch - To The Root [Sound V.I.Zion 2006, St. Croix]
THE MASTER: Batch’s line of history in Reggae music matches anyone on the VI Reggae scene and most in Jamaica as well. Thus, when he’s at the height of his powers (or close to it) you need stop whatever it is that you’re doing and listen up. What I would suggest that you listen to first is DEFINITELY the To The Root album which was absolutely STUNNING at times. Having been ‘born and raised’ by Batch’s hands and his alone, I think it’s the greatest creation he’s ever made and even though he may be able to do a bit better, To The Root as a ceiling is definitely something special.
Best Tune - Hail The King
#5. Tuff Lion - Ten Strings [I Grade Records, 2007]
LESS IS MORE: Its interesting that not only has Tuff Lion placed himself on this list with an album of his very own but he, more so than ANYONE else on this list, is probably most present as he has probably been a player of instrument on who knows how many of these albums in one way or another. Ten Strings was so interesting because the Lion would convey such a strong bit of emotions and spirituality through it and even more than on his debut (the very nice in its own right), Utterance. This, despite never uttering a word and instead using his soon to be legendary guitar hands.
Best Tune - Ivahlasting
#4. Ikahba - Troddin To Zion [Afrikan Roots Lab, 2003]
THE SHOCK: I can remember the EXACT first time I listened through Ikahba’s Troddin On album as I remember doing it with a type of resignation (I don’t know why, I was probably in a bad mood or something), that it simply wouldn’t be very good. After what was an absolutely spectacular start of tunes I wasn’t surprised but I was kind of WAITING FOR IT TO FAIL. Well, all of these years later and I suppose that I’m still waiting for it. Although FAR less accomplished and even further less well known that many of his peers on this list, what Ikahba Stone issued with Troddin On was the message that he was AT LEAST on par with all of them from a skill aspect, even his producers: Midnite.
Best Tune - Wha Happen To Dem?
#3. Dezarie - Fya [I Grade Records 2001, St. Croix]
THE EMPRESS: If you build a kingdom, you must have a Queen. And while the Kingdom of Reggae music in the Virgin Islands has, and has had for quite while, a King in Vaughn Benjamin, when it rose its Queen, Dezarie, few would have suspected the success and the UNUSUAL level of popularity she would go to attain. Of course, a lot of that had to do with this album, Fya. It would go on to be so highly regarded and push Dezarie SO high that she could make a very strong claim to being THE most popular Reggae artist the VI has ever produced.
Best Tune - Iron Sharpen Iron
#2. NiyoRah - Purification Session [I Grade Records 2006, St. Thomas (via Dominica)]
COMPLETION: You simply couldn’t ask for more than what young NiyoRah gave you on Purification Session (and yet, you got it anyone on the number one album on this list). Eighteen tracks, all of them on point and with MEANING and with vibes of all different varieties for Reggae fans of all types and even those who don’t typically follow the music. All done in the name of His Majesty and not to mention the WICKED title of the album alone (definitely one of the best you’ll ever hear of). Purification Session was the masterpiece of the member of the famed Star Lion Family who has given us so much, haven’t they?. . .
Best Tune - African Chant featuring this guy >
#1. Pressure - The Pressure Is On [Tsuni Records 2005, St. Thomas]
THE PRINCE: As I mentioned earlier, Pressure’s other album, Love & Affection, might have a great claim to being the most significant album on this list, however, in retrospect, perhaps I misspoke. While that album can certainly boast of having bust Buss Pipe to an even larger album (and, by extension, the entire VI Reggae scene), his debut, the FLAWLESS The Pressure Is On album not only introduced young Delyno Brown of the Star Lion Family to the entire WORLD. And with him it introduced a talent potentially capable of capturing the minds and the attentions of Virgin Island youths. And of course he didn’t stop there.
Best Tune - The Entire Album. Beautiful from beginning to end (especially Zion Is Home) and the best Virgin Islands Reggae album I have ever heard.
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