Toppa Top 10: The Best Caribbean Books of 2011

Intro 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Honorebel Mention Honorebel Mention
December 6, 2011


5. Julian Henriques, Sonic Bodies: Reggae Sound Systems, Performance Techniques and Ways of Knowing (nonfiction)

Julian, son of Fernando Henriques, who authored one of the first studies of Jamaican popular culture (and possible Sean Paul cousin?), goes deep into the politics of Caribbean bass and the attendant bass culture of soundsystems with such fine-grained detail that there is even a thorough examination of the art of building the bass-cabinets themselves. Illustrated throughout with photographs, Sonic Bodies brings to Caribbean soundsystem culture the reverence it deserves.