Rhythm Collision Dub (ROIR, 1982)

The Ruts were a British punk outfit that existed for only about five years (1978-83 or so) but were one of the first to successfully mix dub and reggae with the rocking punk sound.  How successful a fusion Rhythm Collision Dub truly is is debatable, I suppose, but for a good portion of the album, it's a worthwhile experiment.  When The Ruts (with help from Mad Professor) remains true to the '70s Jamaican dub sound -- which is only for about half of this abbreviated album -- the results can be quite effective.  "Pleasures of the Dance" (also available on ROIR's Towering Dub Inferno), "Love and Fire" (also on Dub or Die Volume 2) ""Whatever We Do" (on Dub or Die Volume 1) and "Rhythm Collision" are the four "standard" dub tunes here, each a dynamic experience with hyper-spastic drums, echoing digital effects, pounding bass lines, and atmospheric harmonicas.  Of the more avant-garde fare, only "Militant" comes close to succeeding as a fusion of styles, largely because it remembers to keep dub as its primary driving force.  Where Rhythm Collision Dub falters -- and where it will lose many reggae fans -- is on the cuts where The Ruts' experimentalism takes over.  "Weak Heart Dub" and "Accusation" are as much rock 'n roll as dub or anything else, while "Push Yourself - Make It Work" is some sort of '80s pop/dance trash that comes out of nowhere.