Stephen Marley onstage at Red Stripe Reggae Sumfest '05 in Montego Bay, St. James. - Nagra Plunkett/Staff Photographer
Album: Mind Control
Artiste: Stephen Marley
Genre: Reggae
Label: VP
Rating:
Each week, dozens of CDs turn up with uninteresting titles and even less engaging artistes. That changed with the arrival of Stephen Marley's as yet unreleased Mind Control.
Stephen Marley, the artiste, seems to have been around for eternity and has proved himself to be among the best - writer, producer, musician, etc., etc. Yet, as a solo artiste, his mettle is yet unknown. Until, I suspect, right now.
On Mind Control, Stephen proves that he is a well-rounded, talented musician and singer. Though he does not have the most remarkable of singing voices, he does have a memorable one, if only for the fact that he sounds a lot like his iconic father, Bob. But it is also memorable because that sound has a searing, haunting honesty that resonates. This is especially so when Stephen is singing about love, which he does a lot of on Mind Control.
But, it is not all about love. He tackles politics, music and discrimination, while brother, Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley takes an impressive turn on The Traffic Jam and carries the 'rude bwoy' posture well on Iron Bar.
But, not all appearances are useful. Mos Def, fascinating as he might otherwise be, does nothing to carry Hey Baby.
There are dozens of CDs on which you might find one song that might inspire you to wear out the repeat button, but there are few which you can pop in and press 'play' or 'repeat', but not 'skip'.
Mind Control is among the latter. Reggae lovers can finally breath a sigh of relief. It seems the time of the Marleys has returned.
Track listing:
1. Mind Control
2. Hey Baby (ft. Mos Def)
3. Officer Jimmy
4. Iron Bar (ft. Julian Marley, Mr Cheeks, Spragga Benz.)
5. The Traffic Jam (ft. Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley)
6. You're Gonna Leave
7. Chase Dem
8. Lonely Avenue
9. Let Her Dance (ft. Maya Azucena and IIIestra8)
10. Fed Up
11. Inna Di Red (ft. Ben Harper)
Alicia Roache
