If you’re like me, you’re usually scouting around for interesting music. Whether new or old, major or indy, there’s more good listening floating around out there than any one person can get a grip on in a lifetime. My SLiMP3 library is sitting near a measly 6,000 songs, and there are genres I haven’t even touched.
Which makes album or artist recommendations from trusted friends all the more valuable. I was fiddling with my iPod in the car this morning in the driveway, trying to queue up something for the ride to work, when the scroll bar landed on Steel Pulse. True Democracy has been one of my favorite albums for a long time. It ain’t your grandfather’s reggae, but all the songs are great, and the production values are fantastic. I’ve taken this CD with me on more than one occasion to use as a demo disc when auditioning speakers. There are plenty of nice, deep, crisp lows and sharp, tangy highs.
I see this thing is selling for under $10 at Amazon. I wouldn’t be surprised if your local used CD store has a copy of it sitting around, assuming your town has at least one drug addict who’s crazy enough to have sold this gem for a fix. If you see it, grab it. Then rip it. Stick it on your iPod and enjoy. (My favorite track is #8, “Your House.”)