| Vex | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1994 | |||
| Recorded | Grove Studio, Ocho Rios, Jamaica | |||
| Genre | Reggae | |||
| Length | 60:35 | |||
| Label | MCA [1] | |||
| Producer | Steel Pulse, Stephen Stewart | |||
| Steel Pulse chronology | ||||
| ||||
Vex is an album by the English reggae band Steel Pulse, released in 1994. [2] [3] The band added dancehall sounds to its traditional reggae. [4] The band promoted the album with a North American tour. [5]
The album peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Top Reggae Albums chart. [6]
The album was produced by the band and Stephen Stewart. [7] "New World Order" criticizes the Clinton administration. [8] "No Justice, No Peace" was inspired by the 1992 Los Angeles riots. [9] Tony Rebel contributed to "Bootstraps". [10]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [11] |
| The Indianapolis Star | [12] |
The Edmonton Journal noted the "gentler ... smoothed-out sound." [13] The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "equal parts love songs and personal, social and political manifestos," writing that "luckily, even the topical material is eminently groovable." [14] The Gazette wrote that "lead vocalist David Hinds has one of the most expressive reggae voices around and his band is as tight as a fist." [15] The Indianapolis Star stated that "Vex finds Steel Pulse succeeding in delivering tough messages in an accessible musical framework." [12]
Steel Pulse are a roots reggae band from the Erdington area of Birmingham, England. They originally formed at Handsworth Wood Boys School, and were composed of David Hinds, Basil Gabbidon, and Ronald McQueen (bass); along with Basil's brother Colin briefly on drums and Mykaell Riley. Steel Pulse were the first non-Jamaican act to win the Grammy Award for Best Reggae Album.
Inner Circle, also known as The Inner Circle Band or The Bad Boys of Reggae, are a Jamaican reggae band formed in Kingston in 1968. The band first backed The Chosen Few in the early 1970s before joining with successful solo artist Jacob Miller and releasing a string of records. This era of the band ended with Miller's death in a car crash in 1980.
I.D. is an album by the Jamaican band the Wailers Band, released in 1989. Most of the songs were written by Junior Marvin; the band had around 300 songs to consider.
Tyrone Downie was a Jamaican keyboardist and pianist best known for his involvement as a member of Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Caught You is the third album by the reggae band Steel Pulse, released in 1980. It was released in the United States as Reggae Fever. Caught You was the band's final album for Island Records.
Victims is the eighth album by the band Steel Pulse, released in 1991.
Rage and Fury is an album by the reggae band Steel Pulse, released in 1997.
Ronald McQueen is a bass guitarist and one of the original members of the reggae band Steel Pulse.
LL77 is the debut solo album by American singer Lisa Lisa, released in 1994.
Sacred Island is an album by the American blues/world artist Taj Mahal and the Hawaiian music group the Hula Blues Band, released in 1998.
Gladstone Anderson, also known by his nickname "Gladdy", was a Jamaican pianist, keyboard player, and singer, who played a major part in the island's musical history, playing a key role in defining the ska sound and the rocksteady beat, and playing on hundreds of recordings as a session musician, a solo artist, and as leader of Gladdy's All Stars, featuring bassist Jackie Jackson, drummer Winston Grennan, guitarist Hux Brown, and keyboardist Winston Wright. As Harry J All Stars the band had a massive hit in Jamaica and United Kingdom with the instrumental song "The Liquidator" 1969. Anderson's work was consistently popular in the late 70s too, as roots reggae, dub and sound system culture increasingly prioritised more conscious and deeply spiritual concerns.
Unity is an album by the American band Big Mountain, released in 1994.
Never Give In is the second album by English reggae artist Pato Banton, released by Greensleeves Records in 1987. By the release of the record, Banton had built a long-time following as an MC and deejay thanks to collaborations with other reggae artists like Mad Professor, and momentum-building tours around the United Kingdom, United States and Europe. He recorded the album with producers G.T. Haynes and Lesburn Thomas and worked with the Studio Two Crew from his native Birmingham. The record displays Banton's humorous approach to serious subjects such as drugs and poverty, which he delivers via singing and toasting, whilst the music balances roots reggae with nascent digital dancehall, with accessible grooves and a punctuating horn section. The record features collaborations with Ranking Roger, Paul Shaffer and Steel Pulse.
Nuff Crisis! is a studio album by the Jamaican reggae group Culture, released in 1988. The group supported the album with a North American tour.
Slo-Blo is the debut album by the American band Cell. It was released in 1993 by DGC Records; the band had been signed by Thurston Moore. The album was first issued by City Slang, in 1992. The band supported the album with a North American tour.
One by One is an album by the American band Agents of Good Roots, released in 1998. It was the band's first album for a major label.
Southern Exposure is an album by the American musician Maceo Parker. It was released in 1993. Although marketed as a jazz album, Parker considered it to be "98%" funk.
Victims is an album by the South African musician Lucky Dube, released in 1993. It has sold more than a million copies. Lucky Dube supported the album with a North American tour.
Gumption is an album by the Jamaican musician Bunny Wailer. It was released in 1990 via Shanachie Records. The album peaked at No. 10 on Billboard's World Albums chart. Gumption was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Reggae Album".
Light Your Light is an album by the Jamaican band Toots and the Maytals, released in 2007. The band supported the album with a North American tour. The album coincided with Toots's 45th year as a recording musician.
