i'm in no way an expert on reggae, but I would recommend Los Pericos. download the song pupilas lejanas, it's good stuff
Just to give an example of some of the incredibly powerful lyrics some of the more "conscious" writers were able to put down: Book of Rules the Heptones (B Llewelyn / H Johnson) Isn't it strange how princesses and kings In clown-ragged capers in star dust ring It's just while all the people like you and me Will be builders for eternity Each is given the bag of tools The shapeless mask and the book of rules And each must make his life flow with in A tumbling block or a stepping stone It's just while all the people like you and me Will be builders for eternity Each is given the bag of tools The shapeless mask and the book of rules ------------------------------------------ As I mentioned before I'm not much for most modern reggae though the ocassional piece will come around the strikes my fancy, I think "Ring the Alarm" by Tenor Saw from the late 80s is kickin' track. I've tried listening to some more Matisyahu and I'm afraid I'm just not down. I'll leave it at that. A good friend of mine is an actual scholarly authority on the music of JA. Through his good offices I once got to have dinner with Aston "Family Man" Barrett of the Wailers. He worked on the "Island Revolution" exhibit which is on tour now, in Europe I believe. If you get a chance look for it: http://www.emplive.org/visit/press_room/pr_releases.asp?id=219 He made me a copy of the music they play in the dub chamber. It burn th' eart' wi' a furious heat ya!
Just a bump to recommend the Aggrolites (again). I swear, just listening to their CDs sounds like songs from early Trojan Records/Studio One. If they come to your town, check 'em out. I went to see them live and they kicked ass.
A great place to start is the Soul Jazz Records Dynamite series. I think they're up to 600% Dynamite now. http://www.souljazzrecords.co.uk/releases/?id=212 http://www.souljazzrecords.co.uk/releases/?id=189
unfortunately for every good lyric there is a bad lyric... The Heptones - Fatty Fatty (Sibbles) I need a fat girl, fat girl (fat girl tonight) I need a very, very fat girl (fat girl tonight) I'm in the mood, the mood (I'm in the mood) I need some food, some food (I need some food) I'm feeling rude, so rude (I'm feeling rude)