Black Uhuru "Chill Out" (1982) [iTunes Link]

Clearly one of Black Uhuru's most essential offerings, CHILL OUT is also required listening for fans of early-80s rootsreggae as a whole. While the album may not have quite the notoriety of ANTHEM, it still serve up a solid nine cuts of this seminal Black Uhuru lineup (Michael Rose, Duckie Simpson, and Puma Jones with Sly & Robbie). The title track is the most memorable, but Rose can handle a hook like no one else,and proves it on "Darkness" ("Darkness seems to grow upon the world"), "Right Stuff" (with some interesting vocoder work), and "Mondays" (a cut that eclipses the title track in intensity, despite its slow, rolling rhythms). While the disc clocks in at under 40 minutes, it's full of some great, guitar-driven roots reggae. CHILL OUT serves as perhaps the quintessential example of the pure, socially conscious Rasta sound of the era.