At its best, Sizzla's music, which draws heavily on Black Power and Rastafarian doctrine, is resonantly inspirational, but at its worst it tends toward an excessively didactic heavy-handedness. This Bobo Dread release offe... more »rs up a split decision: some tracks, like "Lift Mine Eyes" and "Words of Truth," are perfect. Others, including "Every Move That I Make," are strident and overbearing. It's not the message that's in question as much as the method. Sizzla is not a subtle man. As expected, Fatis Burrell's Xterminator crew (including Sly Dunbar and Wailers alumnus Earl "Chinna" Smith) provides exceptional musical support, notably on the surprisingly Jazzmatazz-like "Praise" and the discofied reggae of "Gimme Love." As an extra bonus, VP Records has included a second disc--a live recording of Sizzla's performance at Britain's Brixton Academy of Music. It features many of the artist's best songs, including "Black Woman and Child" and "Words of Divine." --Rebecca Levine« less
At its best, Sizzla's music, which draws heavily on Black Power and Rastafarian doctrine, is resonantly inspirational, but at its worst it tends toward an excessively didactic heavy-handedness. This Bobo Dread release offers up a split decision: some tracks, like "Lift Mine Eyes" and "Words of Truth," are perfect. Others, including "Every Move That I Make," are strident and overbearing. It's not the message that's in question as much as the method. Sizzla is not a subtle man. As expected, Fatis Burrell's Xterminator crew (including Sly Dunbar and Wailers alumnus Earl "Chinna" Smith) provides exceptional musical support, notably on the surprisingly Jazzmatazz-like "Praise" and the discofied reggae of "Gimme Love." As an extra bonus, VP Records has included a second disc--a live recording of Sizzla's performance at Britain's Brixton Academy of Music. It features many of the artist's best songs, including "Black Woman and Child" and "Words of Divine." --Rebecca Levine
CD Reviews
Not The Best Sizzla Album
Negus Shabaka | Brooklyn, NY USA | 09/14/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The album is good but could be better. I think he tries to sing too much instead of chanting. His "singing" abilites were ok in the past but there're not that good anymore. Also, some of the tracks aren't produced well. Therefore, like any other album, if you ain't feelin' the beat, you won't like the track. I have yet to listen to the entire cd from track 1 to the end. I find myself skiping some tracks. The box set has 2 CDs: a regular and a live. The live in UK is ok but not exciting. I've been to Sizzla concerts in NY and they were much better. The problem with the live UK performance is the the live band played the exact beat as the studio produced songs. So except for Sizzla being live, the tracks aren't much different from the studio produced tracks. For people who are already Sizzla fans and have all his CDs, this one is worth getting to add to your collection. For the rest of you, this one is still a good buy, but I would suggest buying one of his other better albums like Good Ways, Royal Son Of Ethiopia, or Liberate Yourself. His earlier albums are good to, like Black Woman And Child, and Praise Ye Jah. However, with the speed of reggae music, those albums are classics and the beats are somewhat oldschool."
Big Up Big Up!!!!
highinnabrooklyn | Brooklyn!! | 08/31/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sizzla Kalonji!!! represent truth and righteousness...... saw him in person in ny when this come out....truly in live. this is good as all his previous ones. lyrics always inspire and uplift. cd is produced by fattis...so u know it. special bonus is the bonus cd, him live in UK, with songs like prise ye jah, black woman & child, and babylon ah listen. favorite tracks on cd- enemies are confounded and think positive. Only (minor) thing about cd is that there is a little less variety on the tracks. all a tem fast and typical sizzla. no slow or diffent tracks like on royal son. nuff respect and bless........"
Kind of Boring
highinnabrooklyn | 11/06/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I saw Sizzla at The Ark this summer and he gave a great performance, better than the ones he gives on EITHER of the discs that make up this album. I own all of Sizzla's albums but I find this one kind of boring and repetitive. Just because his message is good doesn't mean the method is great. I'm "in the know" and I STILL agree with the reviewer."
To be honest this CD is amazing.
highinnabrooklyn | 02/17/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A must have for you collection..period. All the song's are tight. I like Sizzla because even though you can dance to his music; you also get a message. The message of Rastafari."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1
