Search - Jah Mason :: Princess Gone: The Saga Bed

Mason's Big League Debut

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 05/16/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm almost amazed that it took one of the bigger reggae labels all this time to check out Jah Mason. To date, his previous 7 albums have been released on a ton of different labels, with the highest profile arguably being Steve Mosco's Jah Warrior, but seemingly Jet Star, Greensleeves and VP had all turned the deaf ear to one of the wickedest roots lyricists to emerge from JA in awhile.



That all ended when teh boomshot known as Princess Gone jumped on the scene in 2005 and absolutely locked down JA. The song showed Mason as a vulnerable, wounded hearted warrior (so much so that the cover of the album shows him walking along the train tracks looking completely dejected). The album itself follows the same vibe, this is Jah Mason, in love/before love/after love/meditating love, so 8 albums deep and he reveals the sensitive side?



Its still a good album, although not Mason at his best (would absolutely love to see VP bring him back next year in his normal stylee), Princess Gone is a very very smooth one drop reggae album. The best tune here is probably Stay in My Heart, absolutely love the bubbling on that tune. Also have to check the 2 title tracks of course, always wondered exactly what the whole Saga Bed thing was about with Mason, the song is fantastic!



Also, check Real Lioness, Stick Nor Stone (big big tune), Plan Out, the beautiful So Good which is more along the lines of what Mason tyically does, and is one of his better older tunes. And check waiting for, which has just grown on me while writing this review.



Overall, definitely I reccommend anything Mason touches, he'll never release an album that isn't worthy of a listen. This album should do very well for the artist and wake up the fair-weathered reggae fan to his style of music and not limit him to the "he sounds like Capleton" role."