Damian Jr. Gong Marley - Welcome To Jamrock

The best that reggae has to offer today. Period.

Jr. Gong has been a favorite of mine since I heard Stuck In Between off of the Halfway Tree disc. Not all that long ago... and I wasn't in love with every single song on Halfway Tree, but it was obvious enough after one run through that Damian Marley has talent in ways few in modern reggae have. He's got roots.

Listen to the lyrics on Welcome to Jamrock and you find a cutting almost brutal confrontation with all aspects of life. In the way that The Blues isn't made to make you forget but to revel in life, Marley lifts your spirits without making you forget about reality. I'm not sure if that's the best way to say it. But After listening to this disc you'll be full of energy to fight rather than forget. And I think that's what reggae has always been about to me. Mobilization of those who connect with the message. Mobilization not pacification.

In true Rastafarian spirit Damian Marley keeps every word and note of every song of Welcome to Jamrock positive with a forward-looking perspective. Makes me smile because I didn't think anybody was making reggae like this anymore. Welcome to Jamrock is richly textured, extremely direct and a hell of a pleasure to hear loud through your speakers.

Rating for Damian Jr. Gong Marley - Welcome To Jamrock: 10 / 10