Music Video Distributors has quite a line-up of reggae DVDs on the market now, and you can get a good peek at them with their bargain-priced sampler titled Better Off Dread. With 13 selections from 12 different DVDs, Better Off Dread works well as a stand-alone disc as well, especially for a mere $7.95 (don't pay more on ebay!).
The disc starts off with an acoustic rendition of "Legalize It" interlaced with interview snippets with Peter Tosh. On the visual side? Take a wild guess (yeah: Rastas and otherwise with bongs, blunts, and everything in between). There's also some great live footage of Tosh on stage, showing exactly how dynamic a performer he was. This selection is from the Peter Tosh - Stepping Razor Red X DVD.
Half Pint moves the crowd with "Cost of Living" live in Jamaica despite subpar quality video and audio. His Live in Jamaica DVD fares better overall than this individual track and boasts some solid extras. Gregory Isaacs' medley suffers from the same problems as Pint's track, but is shaky also due to the severe vocal deterioration he's suffered over the years. Nevertheless, these two legends will boost any collection of tracks.
Other highlights include a live performance of "54-46" from the always-dynamic Toots Hibbards, a rocking version of "Payday Gonna Haffe Come My Way" from Israel Vibration's live show in (where else?) Israel backed by the Roots Radics, Morgan Heritage's "One Binghi" from their Live at the London Astoria DVD, and the two scenes from the movie Rockers (especially the excellent performace with Jacob Miller and Inner Circle singing "Tenement Yard").
Other artists featured on the disc are Pato Banton, Kiddus I, Don Carlos, Future Pigeon featuring Beth Orton, Yellowman, and Sublime.
Clearly, it's quite a lineup MVD's put together and this disc is worthwhile purchase as not only a preview of the rest of their catalog but as a standalone disc. You certainly can't beat the price. Find out more on MVD's web site.
(Full disclaimer: I maintain Half Pint's web site and was involved with the production of parts of his DVD.)
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