Search - Willie Williams :: Armagideon Time

The recipe is in the mixture

Noname | NYC, USA | 11/07/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Willie Williams adds some flavors to this album that might surprise those for whom "reggae" is nothing more than a time signature for songs that all sound the same. Nothing could be further from the truth, and this album is an interesting case in point. With "Armagideon Time" Willie Williams' vocal delivery changes with almost each song, and yet there is a consistency, not only in the lyrics, but in the overall feel of the album. The similarity of the music from track to track is complicated, contrasted and compared through the way in which the vocals fit in with that music in unexpected ways. "Master Plan" exhibits the (now familiar) reverb/echo laden "drum and bass" sound with a catchy horn riff. But right off the bat Willie Williams uses a vocal treatment that has more in common with Gil Scott-Heron's singing on the song "When You Are Who You Are" off of his album "Pieces of A Man".In contrast to the relatively straightforward reggae sound of "People", Willie Williams' singing suggests Bill Withers more than Bob Marley. And on "Turn On the Power" there is a distinct Southern drawl to the singing while an occasional Funkadelic yowl unfurls itself in the backing vocals. Then there is "Armagideon Time", which serves a similar purpose on this album as "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" does on Gil Scott-Heron's album "Pieces of A Man". The song is a warning. The lyrics are simply put. The words are those of a prophet who isn't delivering a call to action so much as he is outlining a situation and then drawing the inevitable conclusion. The music is hauntingly beautiful and dark. In the end, the listener is left to figure out their own reaction to the situation. Reggae grew out of a Jamaican interpretation of American doo-wop and soul and established itself as a music which in turn influenced American rock, rap and soul. Sometimes this original soul influence is self-evident, as in "Playboy" by The Wailers and its obvious riff on Curtis Mayfield's "Talking 'Bout My Baby". On this album Willie Williams reconnects these often blurred lines of influence. Which is an apt tactic to use in creating a musical meditation on Armageddon. In preparing for the end, the past is re-examined and that which was separated is once again joined. Those cast assunder are brought back together again through music. "...A lot of people won't get no supper tonight. A lot of people gonna suffer tonight....""

One of My Favorite Reggae Albums

Ariette Wulf | NYC | 06/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Willie Williams is one of my favorite reggae artists but unfortuately one of the lesser known artists in the genre. Sadly, I think 90% of people who listen to Willie Williams would not have heard of him were it not for the Clash's cover of "Armagideon Time", as the liner notes on this album acknowledge. I know that this is how I discovered him. However, Williams is one of the best musicians to come from Jamaica and not just for "armagideon time". "People", with it's funky melody and rhythm, is insanely catchy and it's a wonder it was never a hit. "I'll see you when I get there" and "what did you do today" are also guaranteed to stick in your head and I don't think you'll mind. Add this to your reggae collection right now."

One of the great reggae songs of all time

Michael D. Szanto | New Hampshire | 12/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of my favorite movies of all time is Ghost Dog - The Way of the Samurai. In addition to being a fantastic movie (check out how the cartoons in the background tie into the movie's plot) it included an incredible reggae song which I had to have so I purchased the sound track. Needless to say, I was extremely disappointed to find that the best song in the movie was not included in the sound track.



Five years go by after hearing this song for the first time and I still don't know who it is and haven't given it much thought until I hear it being performed by the Clash on a retro radio station. Of course, that sparked a renewed interest and was able to quickly find that the song was Armagideon Time by Willie Williams.



Armagideon Time is one of the great Reggae songs of all time that every fan of Reggae should have the opportunity to hear. Hopefully, once you hear this song and others by Willie, you will come to appreciate what a great Reggae artist Willie is. Do yourself a favor and listen."