CD Review: General Jah Mikey, Lyrical Ambassador Vol. 2

I can’t help pondering the concept of “bonus tracks”. Five of them appear on “Lyrical Ambassador, Volume 2,” and hey, I’m glad they’re there, but they’re not significantly different in theme, approach or execution from the ten proceeding tracks. They certainly don’t extend the listening experience to an unusual length (just shy of 50 minutes including the extras). And as far as I know, this is not a re-issue that has to be supplemented by additional stuff from the vaults to cajole you into buying essentially the same album all over again. But when you get down to it, the term “bonus tracks” is always a contrivance, a marketing ploy. An attempted bribe, in fact.  Read more... (365 words)

CD Review: Prezident Brown Showcase Vol. 3

2003

Prezident Brown, Showcase Vol. 3
Jahmani Productions, 2003

Too bad not all presidents (including you-know-who) are as capable in their jobs as Prezident Brown is. Or as creative, or as concerned about society’s direction, or as fully human. But that would truly be asking a lot.  Read more... (506 words + 1 image)

CD Review: Jah Cure, Ghetto Life

Jah Cure, “Ghetto Life”
[VP Records]

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A Luciano Retrospective

3/19/04

LUCIANO CDS REVIEWED

Visions (Charm/Jet Star/Sting Ray, 2003)

Tell it From the Heart (Minor7 Flat5/Al.Ta.Fa.An, 2003)

Ultimate Collection (Hip-O Records, 2003)

Serve Jah (VP Records, 2003)

Sizzla & Luciano, Jah Warrior (Penitentiary Records, 2003/2004)

   Read more... (4412 words + 10 images)

Coffee Table Bob Marley – Two New Views of Bob Marley and the Wailers

 

BOB MARLEY & PETER TOSH, Get Up! Stand Up!
(Diary of a Reggaeophile)
by Fikisha Cumbo
[Brooklyn: CACE International, 2002]

One Love: Life With Bob Marley and the Wailers
Words & Photographs by Lee Jaffe; Introduction & Interview by Roger Steffens
[New York: Norton, 2003]

Two new books about Bob Marley and the Wailers follow the template established by  Read more... (3201 words + 2 images)