Jammyland
- Neighborhood: East Village
- 60 E 3rd St
- New York, NY 10003
- 212-614-0185
I have always been a fan of Jamaican music. Starting with the British Two-tone scene to Desmond Dekker, the Skatalites and Bob. I'm no wanna-be rude boy, but I really dig the Jam-down. This love always ebbed and flowed over the years, until the day I found a large trash bag full of vinyl. One record in this pile changed my casual appreciation and kicked it into overdrive: King Tubby's "Meet the Upsetter." It combined this strange atmospheric sound with that ska downbeat and horns. No vocals. This was pretty mind-blowing stuff. The problem was where to find more like it.
Eventually I found Jammyland, a store that specializes in all forms of Jamaican music, from ska and mento to dub and dancehall, with every vocalist, musician and producer imaginable. It can get pricey, which is inevitable considering the vast selection. While combing through the bins you may realize that King Tubby wasn't the only Upsetter. In fact, there are so many boasts of being the "Upsetter" that there's a whole category of "Real Upsetters." For any given record, there's a British pressing, a Jamaican pressing and two bootlegs (and all differ widely in quality). The staff will play anything for you on the sound system, and a whole selection of 45's are available if you just want one song. This is a place for Zion's blood to run through your veins—highly recommended for even the most casual fan who wants to immerse themselves in the sound of Jamaica.—Carl Gambrell
Eventually I found Jammyland, a store that specializes in all forms of Jamaican music, from ska and mento to dub and dancehall, with every vocalist, musician and producer imaginable. It can get pricey, which is inevitable considering the vast selection. While combing through the bins you may realize that King Tubby wasn't the only Upsetter. In fact, there are so many boasts of being the "Upsetter" that there's a whole category of "Real Upsetters." For any given record, there's a British pressing, a Jamaican pressing and two bootlegs (and all differ widely in quality). The staff will play anything for you on the sound system, and a whole selection of 45's are available if you just want one song. This is a place for Zion's blood to run through your veins—highly recommended for even the most casual fan who wants to immerse themselves in the sound of Jamaica.—Carl Gambrell
