Modern Roots fans .......

[Freddy C]

..... just in case you haven't noticed what's going down over at Sierra Nevada .....

www.snwmf.com/phorum/read.php?f=1&i=86252&t=86252

[yellowdog]

Tact and diplomacy aside, it's an interesting discussion that's affording some overdue recognition to the VI artists. I can't say I agree with any thoughts of VI vs. JA vs.UK etc, etc. - but I do see the VI output as being an important contributor to whatever momentum this so-called roots revival is taking. I really rate a lot of the VI artists very highly and rank many of them right alongside their JA brethren.

[BMC]

yellowdog said:

I really rate a lot of the VI artists very highly and rank many of them right alongside their JA brethren.

I don't, but not because of the singers or deejays of whom I do rate a few, but mainly because of the riddim structure they often use and I dislike. Find a lot of the riddims out of the VI quite boring to be honoust. I've heard live recordings of some St. Croix performers from snwmf 2005 and did rate their vocal effort (Batch & Ras Attitude mainly), but simply didn't like the music that supported 'm so much. BUT, I also know many many people rate much of the VI sound and that's all good too, why not. Enjoy what you like, but starting discussions on what really deserves the term 'roots' (be it riddim-style, message, instrumentation, all of those, but what's it called when it only has one or two of those etc etc) goes too far from its purpose and is rather useless imo: listen and just enjoy (or don't listen if the latter isn't the case).