um yep,

most reggae is a cliche
(except for Trinity Roots album "True" which is very nice)

I especially hate that song by a group whose name I can't remember - but the chorus went
"I hope you don't mind skanking..."

Jesus those guys looked like they were straight out of prison,
"hey I know pro, lets get one of those NZ on air grants and start a band"

yawn

//most reggae is a cliche
Hmmm... I have to agree in some ways.
During the weekend of Soundsplash I was kind of getting sick of hearing Jah Rastafari, & the year before I remember a fairly young blonde dread band doing there best Jamaican accents.
I fealt like Ali G was kicking around somewhere. Yeah Mon, Big up's my selector.

However no more so than any other genre.. (heres my pisstake)
Long hair black tshirt ...screaming guitar held like a pink love torpedo
mohawk or skinhead doc's...thrashy guitar angry vocals hates everyone in charge
baggy jean long key chain apelike walk cap backwards, big gold chains...bass heavy beats about booty

For the record, Katchafire are great LIVE.

SAN FRANCISCO MAN BECOMES FIRST AMERICAN TO GRASP SIGNIFICANCE OF IRONY
San Francisco -- We spoke to Jay fullmer, 38 who became the first American to get to grips with the concept of irony yesterday. "It was weird," Fullmer said, "I was in London and, like, talking to this guy and it was raining and terrible, and he said, like, great weather, or something like that." Said Fullmer: "And I thought - wait a minute, it's like, no way is it great weather." Fullmer soon realised that the other man's 'mistake' was deliberate. "This guy was pretty cool about it," Fullmer said. Fullmer, who is 39 next month and married with two children, aged 8 and 3, planned ot use irony himself in future. "I'm like saying it all the time," he said. "Weekend last I was like grilling steaks and I like burned them to death and I said "Great weather".

I will not profess to be an expert on the subject but:
In my opinion reggae's appeal is not on playing original, ground breaking, original material.
Reggae is all about groove, simple bass lines, those hip drum feels with no beat one, the off beat guitar or keyboard sound. Groove and melody and that great laid back, chillin' feeling that make it such a special and unique form.

Music is written and played for all diferent reasons.
Some is written as an art form to be lissened to by a critical, in-active audience, i.e classical and some Jazz. Other music is written to have a good old thrash round to, i.e punk or rock.

Reggae is about creating an atmosphere, an attitude, a peace with oneself and the rest of the world.
If that means much of it is similar than so be it. There is a time and place for all sorts, if you don't like it, leave. But there is no need to go around dissing it.

Jimmy Cliff fans, I heard there is a 2 cd delux editon of the soundtrak for the harder they come and a anthology out, i saw the info at www.hip-o.com