Strange as it seems, Ziggy Marley has been recording for more years than his father ever did—over three decades now. This self-titled effort is only his sixth solo album though, all of them following the several he made with his group the Melody Makers in the ‘80s and ‘90s. What’s immediately striking about each new Ziggy Marley release—and this one isn’t an exception—is its familiarity. It’s a comforting, feel-good sound. Marley, long ago, forged his own style and purpose, eschewing trends that have come and gone—he’s always stayed true to the roots—yet he is also well aware that he is carrying on a cherished legacy and takes great care to honor it. As has always been his preference, this latest set is stocked with anthems, some addressing topical, contemporary themes (“We are the people, we’re not corporations,” starts off “We Are the People”), others are more universal or personal (“Better Together,” “Amen”), and each track is accessible and lean in structure. Self-produced, Ziggy Marley finds the artist in particularly strong, commanding voice and leading a group of musicians who know innately how to serve him well. On “Weekend’s Long,” the first single from the album, keyboard spurts mimicking steel drums fill in around Marley’s vocal lines as the rhythm section, never deviating, provides an immovable platform from which the singer can emote to his heart’s content. For others, it might have turned out trite; here, it’s a winning, age-old combination of elements that asks for nothing more complicated than the listener’s love for unsullied, honest reggae music.
News
Archive- Listen: Alex Koford Releases First Self-Produced, Recorded and Mixed Single, “When I Rise”
- Brooklyn Bowl to Host Benefit for Bad Brains’ HR, with Members of Bad Brains, Fishbone, Living Colour and More
- Warren Haynes, Bill Kreutzmann, Devon Allman and More Share Tributes to Dickey Betts
- Visual Splendor: Phish Commence Sphere Residency with Classics
- Listen: Brian Eno Updates David Bowie’s “Get Real” with Nature Sounds
- Listen: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats Announce Fourth Full-Length Album ‘South of Here’ with “Heartless” Preview
- The String Cheese Incident Unveil The Mexico Incident with Daniel Donato, moe., Chromeo and More
- Lettuce Expand 2024 Tour Schedule: John Scofield, Ziggy Marley, BISCOLAND and More
Most Popular
- That’s Hot: Paris Hilton Plays Cornhole While Vampire Weekend Deliver Phish, Grateful Dead Medley Jam at Coachella
- Grateful Dead Release 16 Previously Unheard Outtakes, Alternate Versions and Mixes of “Scarlet Begonias,” “Ship Of Fools,” “China Doll” and More
- Blues Traveler and Big Head Todd & The Monsters Revive Blue Monsters Tour for Summer 2024
- Billy Strings Starts Spring Tour with Bluegrass Standards in Tampa, Fla.
- Bob Marley’s Sons Detail The Legacy Tour, First Joint Run in Two-Decades
- Listen: Sean Ono Lennon and James McCartney Unveil Collaborative Single “Primrose Hill”
- Watch: Ronnie Wood and Chuck Leavell Join The Black Crowes, Perform Faces “Stay With Me” for First Time Since 1990
- Ventura Offers Array of Alternatives to Skull & Roses This Week
No Comments comments associated with this post