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CD Review
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Nice Up, CD Review >>
At 63 years young, Winston Rodney; The Burning Spear is in fine form. Still doing live shows, (albeit smaller) tours, recording and even blogging on his website. Spear made a rare move in the reggae world. He and his wife Sonia followed his hero Marcus Garvey's advice of self-reliance and took total control of his career. Tired of so many years of rip off producers, agents, distributors and labels, the Rodneys now call all their own shots and do things their own way and in their own time. They also bought back the masters of his back catalog, again a brilliant, but almost uheard of move in the music game. Burning Spear's songs are autobiographical. “Run For Your Life" tells his tale of getting away from the music industry leeches. "The Cruise" recalls his sea trip singing how "number 3 cabin were jammin" while the trombone lays down a low fog horn note. The cut "700 Strong" is about a intimate private concert he held at Marcus Garvey Lawn for 700 fans to raise money for The St. Anns Infirmary in 2006. His world travels from kenya to Ottawa are recalled in "Step It." The title track implores to the ungrated ones what a difference Jah can make in your life.There's almost a highlife guitar pattern to "One Africa" pleading with the continent to make a move towards unity to gain prosperity. A note to young reggae musicians to "Stick To The Plan" of concentrating on making quality original music and not worry about fortune and fame. He makes the disclaimer on "No Compromise" that his Music "..carry no half-naked people" to sell it and it certainly does not. The horns, the percussion and all the Burning Spear classic sounds are hear played in expert fashion with wonderful production clarity. Guest musicians include the legendary P-Funk alums Bernie Worrel and Bootsie Collins. Thirteen strong tracks plus a jungle remix of “Step It”! Haile recommended.
-by Ras Adam Simeon
08/18/08 >> go there
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