2008 Woodie Awards
CD Review: Earth, Roots & Water
4 stars
Josh Miner
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: FUSE
Originally published: 2/28/08 at 3:52 PM EST
Last update: 2/28/08 at 3:51 PM EST
Re-released this week by Light in the Attic Records is a wonderful but rare 1977 Canadian reggae album.
Originally released on Jerry Brown's Summer Records in Toronto, it has been unearthed to be enjoyed over 30 years later.
These seven tracks provide fun listening to fit just about any taste.
From mellow instrumental tracks such as "Innocent Youths" and "Liberation" to the more lyrical tracks such as "Love the Same Old Way," it's hard not to find something with which to get carried away.
With sharp contrast to the snow outside, the title track "Innocent Youths" begins the album with a warm feel that carries itself through this short but nonetheless fun album.
The mellow beat is the perfect start not only for the song but also for the album as a whole.
"Tribulations" brings in some serious reverb that becomes hypnotic enough to become unnoticeable as it gives way suddenly to sampling that seems way ahead of its time.
The track, at a little over seven minutes, is the longest on the album, but flows nicely into the two shortest songs on the album, the instrumental "Liberation" and "Love the Same Way."
"Liberation" is one of the most enjoyable tracks on the album.
The drums along with an echo placed just right make this instrumental track flow nicely without ever becoming dull.
The bass is heavy but never becomes too much, and makes a great transition into "Love the Same Way," a really fun track that continues the great bass and percussion.
A lover realizes that things have become mundane and vows to change things in one of the more straightforward songs on the album.
"Love the Same Way" stands out for this reason, on a album that was as varied as it was ahead of its time.
In "Lou Sent Me," we hear a man lament over love and its true meaning - not just romantic love but love for all mankind.
The meaning behind the song is great and listening to the spoken words becomes as enticing as the beat, the two slowly becoming entwined with each other.
Originally released on Jerry Brown's Summer Records in Toronto, it has been unearthed to be enjoyed over 30 years later.
These seven tracks provide fun listening to fit just about any taste.
From mellow instrumental tracks such as "Innocent Youths" and "Liberation" to the more lyrical tracks such as "Love the Same Old Way," it's hard not to find something with which to get carried away.
With sharp contrast to the snow outside, the title track "Innocent Youths" begins the album with a warm feel that carries itself through this short but nonetheless fun album.
The mellow beat is the perfect start not only for the song but also for the album as a whole.
"Tribulations" brings in some serious reverb that becomes hypnotic enough to become unnoticeable as it gives way suddenly to sampling that seems way ahead of its time.
The track, at a little over seven minutes, is the longest on the album, but flows nicely into the two shortest songs on the album, the instrumental "Liberation" and "Love the Same Way."
"Liberation" is one of the most enjoyable tracks on the album.
The drums along with an echo placed just right make this instrumental track flow nicely without ever becoming dull.
The bass is heavy but never becomes too much, and makes a great transition into "Love the Same Way," a really fun track that continues the great bass and percussion.
A lover realizes that things have become mundane and vows to change things in one of the more straightforward songs on the album.
"Love the Same Way" stands out for this reason, on a album that was as varied as it was ahead of its time.
In "Lou Sent Me," we hear a man lament over love and its true meaning - not just romantic love but love for all mankind.
The meaning behind the song is great and listening to the spoken words becomes as enticing as the beat, the two slowly becoming entwined with each other.
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