Rastaman Vibration
| Bob Marley
Rastaman Vibration
Rastaman Vibration is the eighth studio album by the reggae band Bob Marley and the Wailers, released on 30 April 1976. The album was a great success in the US, becoming the first Bob Marley release to reach the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart (peaking at number 8), in addition to releasing Marley's most popular US single "Roots, Rock, Reggae", the only Marley single to reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at no. 51. Synthesizers are featured prominently on this album, adding a breezy embellishment to otherwise hard-driving songs with strong elements of rock guitar. This is one of the three Wailers solo albums released in 1976, along with Blackheart Man by Bunny Wailer and Legalize It by Peter Tosh. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Rolling Stone
(2002) Rastaman Vibration contains some of Marley’s most intense images of oppression, paranoia and despair. Tracks such as “Who the Cap Fit,” “Crazy Baldhead” and “War” are offered by the Wailers with dire urgency as Marley’s brutal visions are echoed by his own church choir, the I-Threes. Twenty-six years on, neither Marley’s music nor his message has lost its sting.
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All Music
Marley phrases the text exquisitely to fit a musical setting, a quiet intensity lying just below the surface. Equally strong are the likes of "Rat Race," "Crazy Baldhead," and "Want More." These songs are tempered by buoyant, lighthearted material like "Cry to Me," "Night Shift," and "Positive Vibration." Not quite as strong as some of the love songs Marley would score hits with on subsequent albums, "Cry to Me" still seems like an obvious choice for a single and remains underrated.
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Sputnik Music
Rastaman Vibration is another strong release by Bob Marley & The Wailers and probably my favorite behind Exodus. It flows together well, contains some powerful tracks, and has very clever lyrics. I just wish it would have had more musical masterpieces. When I say that I mean that, on this album, the music seemed just to be playing in the background while Marley sang his message. I wish the music could have been powerful as well. Luckily, Marley's lyrics are strong enough alone. 4/5 for Rastaman Vibration.
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Elsewhere
Marley's real legacy is his music, and it is heard in its power, passion and honesty on Rastaman Vibration. And in these troubling times the things he sings about are still relevant.
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Greil Marcus
I know Marley is capable of far more adventurous work than anything on Rastaman Vibration; I want to see him challenge the reggae form itself, just as Selassie’s death must have challenged him. If that takes time, I’ll wait.
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Adrian's Album Reviews
'Rastaman Vibrations' is an album that easily withstands repeated listening, a serious album in places, a happy album and a religious album in other places. A good album in all places.
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Only Solitaire
Marley writes good lyrics, but he's no lyrical genius (rather like Phil Lynott, I'd say, the two of which have quite a few things in common), and he can't pull a composition through on the strength of lyrics alone, anthemic as they might be. Still, at least half of this album is worth memorizing forever. And for a band that's been playing reggae for at least ten years, that's definitely no mean feat. Just very good.
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Bob Marley & The Wailers
Like pizza and sex, even average Bob Marley is still pretty darn good, but those searching for Marley magic should look elsewhere. Note: Unsurprisingly, not a single song here was selected for Legend, which presents Marley at his most accessible. B.
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