Search - Morgan Heritage :: Live: Another Rockaz Moment

Dilemma, Dilemma, Dilemma. . .

Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 09/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to modern reggae music these days, you can't help but be aware of and somewhat (whether by choice or by their overall activity) of a listener of the Morgan Heritage Family. Be it on an actual album, which they're pretty regular at, releasing a big album every 2 years or so, performing, and they tour constantly or producing, which they are very good at, the Morgans have truly saturated the reggae market and are arguably the best known performing band on the modern roots reggae scene.



However, I'm not a big fan of theirs. They make a style of reggae which for some reason just does not click with me. I'm much more of a fan, in fact, of their production work, including producing for the unknown wicked singer Prince Theo and making the riddim which the legendary Jah Jah City by Capleton and many other good songs (including Love is the Solution by Jah Cure) were on.



But it doesn't take only a fan to realize how fantastic of a live act the Morgans are, Rockaz is, in fact their second live recording, the first being Live in Europe in 2000. This concert took place in late 2005 in Amsterdam on one of their countless persuits through mashing up Europeon stages. It took me a few trips to the record store, but ultimately I decided to go ahead and pickup Live: Another Rockaz Moment (and VP makes it such a warm target, that cover is absolutely gorgeous!). Another factor in my buying it was that the shelves aren't exactly brimming with modern reggae LIVE albums. Its a very unattended to genre within the music which was very popular in the late 90's-early 00's, but has nearly vanished these days amongst current artists.



The music also sounds a little different when done live, so I find myself enjoying a few of the songs which I know, but weren't very fond of from the Morgans' studio albums.



My favorite track actually is the speech, In This Day & Time. The track is just a talk, just a reasoning which leads so nicely into the next track, So Much to Come. That's a great example of the music being different live, as opposed to being done in the somewhat restricting nature of the studio. Sometimes you can hear the greater intensity in the vocal performances. And I remember the song from the Full Circle album, where it basically didnt do anything for me.



Some of the songs which I enjoyed previously from the group are also well done on Live. Especially check Tell Me How Come! over the enchanting Seasons riddim which sounds sooooooooo nice done by the Morgans live. Also loooooooooove the live treatment of Your Best Friend, again, with the very nice lead in. She's Still Loving Me also very nice done. . .

just mark me down as really enjoying the final quarter of the album immensely!



Earlier on check the Intro of course, getting everything going in a very very good mood. Its lead in helps makes the opening song, In Dem Ting Deh even better and the strong one drop on that song (and throughout) just shines! I also really like Live Up, A Man is Still a Man (a song I distinctly remember disliking!), Hail Rastafari and one of my favorite Hertiage cuts, Maskal Square, from the More Teachings album I believe.



Overall, definitely reccomend Live: Another Rockaz Moment! I'm sitting her wishing that their next album would be a live album, these songs sound so much better done in the live treatment and you don't get the typical things you get in reggae with the wheel up or the changing of the riddims. The Morgans seem to make a point of singing the songs how the fans would know them, which is always a good idea! Another good idea is picking up this album.



"

Excellent!

Ernest Osborne | Rollinsford, NH | 02/02/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A roots-rocking, compelling collection of much of the very best music to date of Jamaica's Morgan Heritage, the undeniable "First Family of Reggae", impeccably recorded before a loving crowd in Amsterdam. Gorgeous melodies, intelligent lyrics, musicianship rivaling Bob Marley's Wailers at their very peak, impassioned vocal deliveries, tight harmonies, and best of all reggae as reggae is best heard--LIVE! This one deserves six stars--music as truly lovely as this is as much a rarity as remains the Morgan Heritage family. Whether you're an avid fan of reggae in general or Morgan Heritage in particular, or just curious about what's up with reggae music in 2006, this impeccable recording is a must. Enjoy!"