Reggaeliscious

I'm feeling very reggae today, as you can tell by my blog. I love all kinds of music - there isn't a single genre of music where I can't find something I like. You name it, metal, opera, classical, country, indie, rockabilly (Honky Toast is a fave), folk, reggae. I don't know what it is about reggae, but I absolutely love it. I grew up listening to Bob Marley and UB40 (then later, bands like Sublime and the Marley kids). When ska got big in the 90s I recognized it's reggae roots and took part in the surprisingly huge U.C. ska scene. I think I saw Skankin' Pickle and Stretch Armstrong ten times. No Doubt made it out to the Provo Armory in '93. Gwen Stefani (my style icon) sweated on me. Ever since I was a kid, Bob Marley has been a staple at my house. Legend takes me back to some good memories: blasting reggae on the boat at Lake Powell before wakeboarding, surfing on the North Shore of Oahu, and early Saturday mornings in college - the kind with cotton floating in the golden light streaming through the windows. That's what reggae is to me.

I have been mocked for my love of reggae, although I have no idea why, it's just a type of music. It's like preferring pineapple over strawberries - big deal. But whatever - I'll always love reggae the most. For all of you reggae rookies out there (and if you don't know who you are, you're in luck - pretty much 98% of the population are not reggae literate beyond "Buffalo Soldier"), here is a list of some of my reggae/island style favorites:

Matisyahu (I love, love, love me some Matisyahu. He's playing at RedFest at the UofU on September 18th and I will be out of town. I'm seriously distraught over this.)
Mishka (If you can stand to look at Matthew McConaughey's huge head, check out J.K. Living records within his website to hear some of Mishka's new stuff - which is also the soundtrack to Surfer, Dude - a movie that I have absolutely no interest in seeing.)
Damien Marley
Stephen Marley (Mind Control is brilliant, as is "In Love With You" with Erykah Badu)
Ziggy Marley & the Melody Makers
Orange Grove
Jimmy Cliff
Dawn Penn (Rihanna did a decent remix)
Black Uhuru (my brother is my reggae music sherpa, he knows all the good stuff)