Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley: Welcome to Jamrock

I'll start with this:
I've never been a huge fan of Reggae.

I'd listen to Bob Marley, like everyone else, and I want to be Jammin', but it never really took for me.

Then I heard this. While it may not be 100% reggae, I think it would be an excellent entry way to the Jamaican music.

In DC this year, Damian opened for U2 both nights. I was expecting some boring pot-fest, which, mind you, is still good stuff, but this music ROCKED. For the 45 minutes he and his band were on stage, the audience was moving with the music. Even before U2 came on, there was a small sense of community.

I'd enjoyed what I'd heard, so I figured I'd pick up the album. And even on disc, it was good stuff.

Some of the tunes (Confrontation, Welcome to Jamrock) are harder than others (Beautiful, who samples something, but I just can't place it, and Pimpass Paradise), but it moves together well. Confrontation, Welcome to Jamrock, and Road to Zion are my favourites on the album, but that's mostly because they have such great beats.

Something in the lyrics of Confrontation immediately jumped out at me:
"See it deh know the innocent going up in vapors and
propoganda spreading inna the sunday papers
not even superman coulda save you with him cape cause"

Its both a painful visual, and, yes, hearing Superman drew men in. I'm a geek.

In the end: Really, this is a great album. You have to be willing to listen to reggae, but I promise you, this is a great investment, and I plan on picking Young Marley's earlier albums.

Imogen Heap: Speak for Yourself

Let's start with something I didn't realize:

Imogen Heap == vocal half of Frou Frou

I enjoyed the Frou Frou album, Breathe In, but not so much that I would have followed the individual components of that collaboration around the world. Something in Heap's voice sets me off.

My reasoning for picking this album up was that she's got a *short* track on the latest Six Feet Under soundtrack, and her voice sounded so much different from that on the Frou Frou disc that I thought she was a different person. A person who's voice I enjoyed.

Win some, Lose some, right?

I think its the combination of a heavy electronic background and, at points, SEVERE processing of her vocals that just doesn't work for me. She's got a beautiful voice, but they doctor her up too much in studio.

An album of 12 songs, completely undoctored, with studio musicians, I think would be a wonderful album, and I'd happily shell out the bank for that one.

In the end: If you enjoyed Frou Frou, this is a no brainer. Same sound, for the most part, but Heap does push a bit past the Frou Frou sound. She's got a beautiful voice, and should not be processed. Purchase at your own discretion.

Technorati Tagged: Imogen Heap | Six Feet Under