I’m going to have a hard time being objective here. Good thing I don’t have to do that if I don’t want to.

I love this album so much. It’s been in my pantheon of favorite pieces of music for years now, since I first discovered the CD version in a used music store in my hometown and listened to it on repeat on my little CD Walkman (yeah, I’m that old or young depending on who’s reading this) and burning out one set of headphones after another listening to it.

Now, I’ll try to be fair here - this is a compilation album. That might make some people raise their eyebrows, I guess, but if it’s good enough to be #48 on the Rolling Stone list then I’m not gonna argue. It was put out as a compilation of Marley’s greatest hits to that point, and therefore lacks the single-album cohesiveness we’ve been learning about in previous issues.

As Evan Welsh writes in Spectrum Culture:

“If there is anything that doesn’t hold up, it’s the album’s nature as a best-of compilation. Legend ebbs and flows a bit awkwardly, without any sense of an emotional arc.”

I think the reason this album deserves recognition as a compilation is the fact that it nearly singlehandedly introduced millions of people to reggae, and if you’re introducing people to a new genre it makes sense to give them a “gentle” introduction through the best hits available. Objectively, that’s a pretty good idea, and there’s no denying the fact that this is probably the only reggae album many people have ever heard of.

All that’s amazing and cool as hell, but screw being objective. Here’s my review: go listen to this album and feel some of the best musical vibes that have ever existed. You’re welcome.

Jams:

“Is This Love”
“No Woman No Cry”
“Could You Be Loved”
“Three Little Birds”
“Buffalo Soldier”
“Stir It Up”
“Jamming”

Originally part of How To Appreciate Music From Our Past.