Do you want to know what really grinds my gears? People who think all reggae music sounds the same. Clearly they have only listened to a very limited amount of songs, because reggae is one of the most diverse genres of music. The genre boasts several sub-genres including: Roots Reggae, Dancehall, Modern American Reggae, Ska, and Reggae-Fusion. These sub-genres have sub genres themselves that create even more diversity within the umbrella term Reggae. Let’s go through several examples to prove this point.
We’ll start with Bob Marley. These two songs both are considered roots reggae, but notice they are not very similar:
“Iron Lion Zion”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVNqV2i_szwNotice the use of different instruments. Iron Lion Zion makes use of different horn instruments influenced by American Jazz. There is a faster paced rock influence that ends in repetitive crescendo like much of 70s rock music. Could You Be Loved was intended for the American black audience. It has heavy funk influences and bass groove that was popular with black audiences of the time. Both have the roots influence of having a distinctive upbeat that is essential to reggae.
Now let’s look at another roots reggae icon, Peter Tosh. As the former guitarist of Bob Marley, you would think that they would be similar, but they really are not. Notice that the instrumentation has a more ska-pop feel and the organ plays a part as a major instrument. Here is his hit “Wanted Dread And Alive.”
Still in the same genre of 70s roots reggae is Toots & The Maytals. Notice how the song is carried by vocals, and the vast difference in instrumentation from the other two. This has much more of a “sit around the camp fire” feel and more of an African influence. This is one of their more well-known songs “54-46.”
American Modern Reggae has much more of a rock influence that only loosely resembles roots reggae. Passafire is at the forefront of this movement. They are heavily influenced by rock and use live effects to keep their songs interesting and original. This is their song "Kilo"
SOJA is also a modern reggae band that sounds nothing like Passafire. They have more of a roots influence, but still have a distinctive sound. Notice the use of the piano and the distortion and wah-effect of the lead guitar. This is their most popular song “You Don’t Know Me”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE5XuF_CB90Not one these songs sound any more alike than any rock or pop song. Reggae is a diverse genre that boasts significant musical talent and is popular all over the world.
I don't understand your point? These all sound the same to me.
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