Artist: Big Youth Album: Screaming Target

Year: 1989
Duration: 38:26

A of Screaming Target by Big Youth

Reggae music has a way of sending positive vibes throughout a room. The simplistic beats combined with the smooth flow of the singer's voice can be heard from miles away. Born on April 19, 1949, as Manley Augustus Buchanan, Big Youth aka Jah Youth aka The Real Job is one of the Jamaican music legends who has cemented his place in the history of reggae music. Big Youth's music has been known to bring consciousness to the people and his lyrics serve as a perfect example of the struggles and issues experienced by the Jamaican people.
One of Big Youth's standout pieces of work is the album Screaming Target. It debuted in 1972 and is regarded as one of Big Youth's best works. This album has been categorized under reggae, dub, and roots rock styles of music. In this post, we would be conducting a of the album Screaming Target by Big Youth, with a brief history of the artist, the music genre of the album, the best songs of the album, the most innovative parts and a critic of the album.
First, let's dive into the brief history of the artist. Big Youth's music career started in the sound system era of the 1960s. He was known for his captivating toasting and was even nicknamed The Dreadlocks Lennox because of his singing style, which bears some similarities with American singer Lou Rawls. Big Youth's career took off once the founder of Trojan Records, Lee Gopthal heard him in action. This led to a fruitful recording career, which spans multiple albums and singles.
Now onto the music genre of the album Screaming Target. The album is popularly known as a reggae album, but it can also be categorized under the dub and roots rock styles of music. Dub music is known for its electronic remix of reggae music, while roots rock is a subgenre that emphasizes the heavy use of bass and drums. The combination of these genres in Screaming Target created an innovative sound that is both captivating and unique.
One of the best songs in the album is Screaming Target. The title track starts with a haunting scream before Big Youth's voice comes in, riding the instrumental. The lyrics in the song talk about how the system mistreats the youth and how government policies keep the poor down. The beat and the lyrics are a perfect match, creating a chill-inducing ambiance that makes it one of the best tracks on the album.
Another great song on the album is Honesty. The intro features a dub that morphs into a rhythmic groove, with Big Youth chanting Honesty, honesty, must show your honesty. The song speaks of being honest and true to oneself in all aspects of life. The message is timeless, and the beat will make you groove your feet.
The most innovative part of the album Screaming Target is how Big Youth's vocals blend with the dub instrumentals. The dub echoes create a dreamy atmosphere that matches perfectly with the message of the songs. The album is an example of how great instrumentals and lyrics can come together to create a timeless piece of art.
In a , we must point out flaws. One criticism of the album Screaming Target is that it might come off as repetitive for some listeners. Even though the album has ten tracks, it might feel like it has fewer because of the similarity in beat and message in some of the songs. However, this criticism does not take away from the fact that the album is a classic piece of reggae music.
In conclusion, the album Screaming Target by Big Youth is a classic piece of reggae music that is not only nostalgic but also relevant. The combination of dub, roots rock, and reggae styles of music paired with Big Youth's captivating voice makes this album an evergreen piece of art. Despite criticism for its repetition, the album is a testament to how great vocals and instrumentals can come together to create timeless music. If you are a fan of reggae music or just appreciate good music, then Screaming Target by Big Youth should be on your playlist.