Dub poetry -- I think the most famous of the dub poets was Linton Kwesi Johnson. Joe Jackson paid tribute to him on his BEAT CRAZY album. Interesting that you should mention dub poetry, which is derived from the sounds of Jamaica and immigrants in Brixton, as rap is really an Americanized version of toasting. Rap's origins are rooted heavily in Jamaican immigrants up in NYC. A couple of other comments -- 1. I realize this is the list of insanely great pop, but too often rhythm gets the shaft. I love melody (which is like a pretty girl, y'know), but rhythm is such an essential component. This is why rap is music -- it is rooted in rhythm. 2. I would agree with Stewart, to a degree, that power pop has generally pretty ossified. But it isn't like power pop is the sole genre with that attribute. Garage rock anyone? Ska? I could go on... Mike Bennett Record reviews and more at http://fufkin.com >From: "Jaimie Vernon" >Personally, I've always preferred the palpable melodicism of a mid-80s >movement called Dub Poetry (a distant grandparent to modern rap). A lot of >Afro-American and Afro-Canadian politicos putting their socio, economic and >political views to a looped beat -- but almost always accompanied by a live >band. Acts like Messenjah, The 20th Century Rebels, Mojah, Oujiji, and >Lillian Allen were at the forefront in this country. > >Jaimie Vernon, >Bullseye > >_________________________________________________________________ >MSN 8 helps eliminate e-mail viruses. Get 2 months FREE*. >http://join.msn.com/?page=features/virus&pgmarket=en-ca&RU=http%3a%2f%2fjoin.msn.com%2f%3fpage%3dmisc%2fspecialoffers%26pgmarket%3den-ca > _________________________________________________________________ Click here for a FREE online computer virus scan from McAfee. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963