The Itals - Brutal Out Deh

DUBROOM ALBUM REVIEW



The Itals can be considered one of the most underestimated Vocal Trios of Reggae Music. Their music is energetic. Yes I, the Itals are Vitals! And although they sound fresh and new on this album, the truth is that founder Keith Porter is doing his works from the beginnings of the 1960's. This album is first released in 1981, and it is an interesting mix between Roots Rockers and Rub a Dub. The title track is very catchy. Sometimes they sound a bit like the Wailing Souls, another Jamaican Vocal Trio, but vitality is definitely defining their works, so that you can not say one or the other is imitating one another. Most of the works on this CD are conscious, that means that they deal with spiritual or social subjects. According to the liner notes, the Itals are brethren that do not like to live in the big city (Like I Messian Dread) but they are doing their works there and then get back. This you can really hear. The music is fresh, it makes you dance. Sometimes there is really a "live" feel on this (studio) Album. And the top of Jamaican Roots and Rub a Dub musicians join their forces again for this album: names like Sly and Robbie, Flabba (Holt), Style (Scott), the fine horn section of (among others) Tommy Mc Cook, "Deadly" Headly, and Bobby Ellis. When you want to listen to some vital reggae music, you might consider the Itals, Brutal Out Deh.