Superb Podcast guys. I learned about the spring reverb on the drums. I never knew that's what they were doing.

Thanks, man! Yeah, the spring reverb was new to me, too.

And to everybody else, if you haven't already, go check out Jeff's podcasts -- Drums & Drumming, Parts I & II.

Great series. I listened to all 8 episodes today, but I had to download the episodes. Clicking "Listen Now" changes the button to yellow, but I don't hear any audio. Also, the Reggae episode cuts off at 7:37. I look forward to listening to the next episode. Thanks!

Sweet jams. It gets me in the mood for spring, even though I listen to reggae, dub and ska year round!

I like the podcast series very much, but in fact I found this episode quite a bit harder to follow than the previous ones. Lots of narration going on, something constantly playing in the background, and not enough time to understand the distinctive features of each style. The salsa podcast, for example, was much clearer in this regard.

Just a technical comment: this podcast is not available yet for the download with iTunes, 2 days after the release!
You're doing an excellent work, guys! I've never found something so accurate and interesting in any magazine!

very cool stuff!! i had no idea some electronica influences came from dub..

One more cry for the podcast feed to be updated with the newest ep.

Just to add to what Luca said, it's now 5 days and this podcast is still not available on iTunes. Additionally, 'The Basics of Vocal Harmony' and 'Pedal Point' podcasts refuse to download (on my machine, at least).

I resent having to manually download and unzip the MP3! :)

Sorry, guys... I'm as annoyed as you are. I have no idea why iTunes isn't showing the Reggae episode. The RSS feed got updated on Wednesday, and I pinged both Feedburner and iTunes as soon as I updated the feed.

Looking at it again. I can't figure out what's wrong.

Clifton, those other two podcasts won't download in iTunes, or from the Pandora site?

Kevin, looking at the podcast feed, the feed info for latest ep doesn't have any enclosure information in it- iTunes is seeing the feed perfectly, I'd guess, but the feed isn't pointing at any new MP3, so iTunes, lacking a new file to download, looks like it's doing nothing.

If you have someone coding by hand, it's a straightforward fix. If not, I'd suggest just redoing the whole process, you've been fine until now and probably hit a glitch that will be corrected with a redo.

Looking forward to the next ep.

The feed is now fixed. Your iTunes should see the new episode. (Thanks, Neil!)

Hearing the history of the music blew my mind. It makes perfect sense to see the developments progress in context. Really good stuff! Keep it up! [and, yes, I have written my congressman about the RIAA/licensing issue]

Thank you, Randy -- and if you're unfamiliar with the RIAA/licensing issue Randy mentioned, please read this:

http://blog.pandora.com/pandora/archives/2007/03/more_on_the_cop.html

Interruption of sound and music

Excellent! Great to hear the genres broken down like this with the explnations as to what is going on structurally. I don't have much knowledge of the architecture of the sounds, so your aural examples help to define what was just an intuitive sense.

I linked to you from my podcast as well!

Thanks, Algoriddim!

Gulbar, where was the sound being interrupted?

your serie is realy great! congratulation!!! Could you increase the numbers probably weekly, that would be great!

Excellent! Great information but I have to say that for you to suggest that hip-hop came from reggae is wrong. Black men come from many different cultures in the US. Reggae is but one of them. My roots stem into jazz,reggae, Latin, etc and I was brought up hearing all of these progressions, rhythms, and music. We are a very diversified people. The same for Salsa, the rhythm of the Son originated in the African culture then spread through the different African tribes as they scattered throughout the world. Great podcast though! Keep up the great works!

Hi, Abemeister. I wasn't suggesting that hip-hop came exclusively from reggae, merely that reggae was one of many influences that helped shape the development of that music. The toasting and talking over records, which Jamaican DJs did a lot of in the early- to mid-70s, certainly helped inspire some of the innovating hip-hop artists. Many of those dub production methodologies were inspirational as well. But yes, I agree, Jamaican music is only one of many cultural influences on hip-hop.

You've checked out our Salsa episode as well, I hope?

ah, but then again, ain't most modern genres a mixture of previous genres? :)

somehow, i just kept having an impression of how weird it might sound to have an upright electric double bass, weird in a cool way.

keep the pods coming! :)

RE: Reggae's influence on Rap...

I know I'd get in trouble for that one. Perhaps "evolved into hip hop" is a strong choice of words.

I think it's undeniable that Jamaican music had a big influence in American hip hop music, but to suggest that hip hop is 100% derived from dub and DJs is definitely not what I wanted to convey.

As with all genres of music, elements are borrowed from a wide variety of sources. My point was that Jamaican music in particular has been highly influential on some of our modern pop genres, something that I hope more people become aware of.

Regardless of how we might feel about them, lots of famous artists these days like Gwen Stefani, Lily Allen, and Amy Winehouse are really adapting the classic Jamaican styles in a more direct way.

I find this really quite amazing, since early Jamaican styles were so heavily influenced by American pop music. It's an ongoing cross-cultural musical conversation.

I really appreciate the historical break down. I was transported back to being four years old and listening to the music my parents played. I see where my experiences fit into a world oriented perspective. And I like the cultural circuit within this hemisphere. I am first American born generation of my Jamaican family and I have always been unsettled about being referred to as American. But now the term's meaning has been broadened for me. Thanks

Cheers. Happy to hear it, Simona.

thoroughly enjoyed this presentation. as a jamaican, i appreciate your informed presentation on the history of our music.one on dancehall would be lovely.

THIS STATION IS IRIE. I CAN LISTEN FROM ROCK STEADY TO OLD HIT THERE NO OTHER STATION LIKE PANDORA. LISTEN MY BROTHERS YOU RUN THINGS SCEN!!! WHAT A RAS WAY TO START OFF YOUR DAY IT JUST LIKE I'M AT ME YARD!!!!!!! BIG UP TO YOU

fantastic from top to bottom. Vic and the gang are amazing.

Agreed. Yay Vic, Yay Ray, Yay Soul Captives.

Hi, excellent site, added to favorites!
Thank you!

You guys are awesome.

Thanks, Marcel.

Interesting, who knew my boy lollipop was early SKA, guess my favorites woulda been 50's ragae, but really enjoyed hearing early ragae too, and some rocksteady. cool pod for make ya wana get up and move music. ssrb

That was just well beyond great. I loved the whole session and description of all instruments used. I'm going to download this and let all my friends listen. They all seem to think that only Bob Marley (as good as he is) and Sean Paul exist. Not so. Its waaaayy deeper than them two. I thank you all for the lesson and look forward to the future lessons.
THANK YOU!!

Awesome, Robin. Happy to hear that.

I love being able to tell people, "If you like Sean Paul, you might really get into ______." And I love it when people can do the same for me.

The reggae/hip-hop connection:

Really, you can actually make a very strong case that rap evolved more directly from reggae, given that Kool Herc, the Bronx DJ generally credited in most rap histories as the "father" of hip-hop mc'ing, was a Jamaican emigrant who undoubtedly was simply bringing his experience of Jamaican toasting to the Bronx scene. See here for a little more detail:
http://www.oldschoolhiphop.com/artists/deejays/kooldjherc.htm

There's not a direct line, of course, and nothing involving African-American culture is free of diverse and politically fraught influences. But that's what makes the results so unique. Word.

Absolutely great work! Please check my Ska, Rock Steady and Reggae Podcast http://melodies-of-war.podomatic.com

(Already in the early days there`ve been DJs and versions aren`t typical for Roots!

Right on, Bob, and thanks, Melodies (of War).

And way to reference the great Kool Herc -- thanks for the link. Great information on there.

this music is the best man!!1 i love pandora so kool. don't get tire of it keep lit man this *%^$ is good.. skapunk and reggae in the lungs love it

Great stuff here, really a pleasure to read :)

Right on, right on. Luis, Nick, happy to hear it.

Ska Female Voices
"Bellisimas y Fuertes"

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Se complace en compartir con tod@s ritmos motivadores que sugieren y con aire fresco nos dan movimiento y vida.

Podran apreciar los mas variados estilos kon raices Jamaiquinas x las orquestas mas particulares que con sus idiomas, notas, voces o mensaje de barrios semejantes o no matienen la llama del Ska mundial prendida!

Aparte de traernos al mundo,amarnos y cuidarnos,son capaces de todo,inclusive de hacer grandes canciones!

Salud!

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Alas, too much spam, gotta shut down the Q&A for a while... check back later, and it should be back up. Thanks.