Excuse Me

For those of you that have read my previous blog, you can draw the conclusion that I really enjoy Bob Marley. The song that I mentioned in my posting, Three Little Birds, which is from the album Exodus. This happens to also be my favorite album by Bob Marley & The Wailers. I find the entire work moving and just simply fun to listen to no matter what my mood may be, but Greil Marcus of the Rolling Stone seems to think differently.
While I agree with Marcus’ statement that “the magnificent rhythm section of Aston Barrett, bass, and Carlton Barrett, drums, and the spidery lead guitar of Julian "Junior" Marvin” is amazing I can not accept his points about the song writing and singing. Marcus makes it a point that the album the lacks drama, “and that lack is Marley's” He says:

“The more I listen to this album, the more I am seduced by the playing of the band; at the same time, the connection I want to make with the music is subverted by overly familiar lyric themes unredeemed by wit or color, and by the absence of emotion in Marley's voice.”

Now I know that not everyone has the same views or opinions when it comes to music, but I do not understand how Marcus can say that there is an “absence of emotion” when Bob Marley is singing. Granted, it may not be the same emotion or drama as their earlier works, but it’s not an absence. But one must know a little Marley history about this album to understand why the emotion changes.
In December of 1976 Bob Marley and his wife were injured in an attempted assassination at his own home. Shortly after this event Marley recorded and released Exodus, but it was an exuberant and happy to be alive Marley and this can be not only heard but felt on this album.
With songs like Jammin’, One Love and, of course, Three Little Birds it’s apparent how much emotion is felt on this album.
As for Greil Marcus’ comparison to earlier albums and Exodus not reaching their “heights” with drama or emotion, I say not true. That being my opinion I say go listen to some of the tracks from this album and make your own evaluation; they can be found in “Bill’s Bangin’ Boom Box” to the left of this post.
Enjoy and remember “None but ourselves can free our minds.” so says Bob Marley.


Marcus, Griel."Exodus." Rolling Stone
14 Jul. 1977. 18 Mar. 2009 http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/bobmarley/albums/album/307680/review/6067721/exodus

Queen, Zak. "Feelin Irie." Bill's Blog
01 Feb. 2009. 18 Mar. 2009 http://lookabill.blogspot.com/2009/02/i-know-you-ve-all-heard-bob-marley-once.html