CD Reviews - Buju Banton
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Unchained Spirit

After putting his slack ways behind him and becoming a devout Rasta man, Buju Banton produced two of the best CDs in the reggae genre  Till Shiloh and Inna Heights. The latest in the trilogy,
Unchained Spirit is loaded with great music  though not up to par with his last two offerings.

Unchained Spirit features Buju in collaboration with some of the best-known names in reggae including Beres Hammond, Luciano and Wayne Wonder. Filled with hits, there is both a studio version and a live version of the Buju Banton/Beres Hammond number 1 smash Pull It Up. There's also Woman Dem Phat on the famous Unda-Wata riddim, and the best version of the
23rd Psalm I've ever heard. The melodic 23rd Psalm features vocals by Gramps of Morgan Heritage.

Voice of Jah is my favorite track on Unchained Spirit. It features outstanding background vocals by LMS, flawless production work, incredible musicianship, and lyrics inspired by the Book of Revelation. Voice of Jah is not only inspirational, but has a sound that you'll want to listen to over and over again. This is Buju at his best. 

Other stand out tracks include We'll Be Alright, featuring Luciano, Poor Old Man, featuring Stephen Marley, Life is a Journey, and Reunion, featuring Wayne Wonder. Unchained Spirit may not be on the same masterpiece-level as Till Shiloh, but it's good to satisfy any Buju fan.

Unchained Spirit - Buju Banton
Track Listing

1. Intro                                                      9. Mighty Dread
2.23rd Psalm - feat. Gramps of                10. Poor Old Man - featuring Stephen Marley
                       Morgan Heritage
3. Voice of Jah - featuring LMS               11. Law And Order
4. Sudan                                                  12. Guns And Bombs
5. We'll Be Alright - featuring Luciano      13. Woman Dem Phat
6. Pull It Up - featuring Beres Hammond  14. No More Misty Days - featuring Rancid
7. Life Is A Journey                                 15. Pull It Up (LIve In Concert) - feat. Beres Hammond
8. Better Must Come                               16. Reunion - featuring Wayne Wonder

                                                                                                                          Overall Rating: 4
Rating Scale:
6: Off-the-Scale!!!
5: Excellent
4: Very Good
3: Good
2: Fair
1: Poor
Visitors since July 7, 2001
Friends For Life

The man with the rough growling voice is back and at the top of his game with Friends For Life. Eighteen months in the making and produced by some of the finest producers in the business including Donovan Germain and Steven 'Lenky' Marsden, Friends For Life is an excellent CD. Recorded in Jamaica, New York, and Miami and featuring some of the finest musicians in the business including Sly Dunbar, Robbie Lyn, and Dean Fraser, the 19-track CD showcases a wide variety of musical styles making it accessible to a broad audience. Styles run the gamut from hardcore dancehall to conscious roots reggae. There are also lovers rock tunes, r&b influenced ballads and a ska number. Guest appearances include Beres Hammond, Nadine Sutherland, Wayne Wonder, Bounty Killer and Fat Joe.

As a whole, Friends For Life is a marvelous CD. However, be warned that not every track is a winner. The CD gets off to a somewhat mediocre start with Paid Not Played. There're a few other sub-par tracks, then there is Damn. This one is truly awful! The CD would've been much better without it. Yet there are more than enough outstanding tracks to make Friends For Life a CD well worth adding to your music collection.

Without a doubt, my favorite track is La Da De Da, a feel-good song with a rhythm guaranteed to make you get up and dance. The easy to sing-a-long with La Da De Da is one that you'll play over and over again. Another of my favorites is Mama Africa, a bouncy remake of an old Peter Tosh number. Mama Africa is a fine tribute to the African continent and one of the more memorable tracks. Another top-notch track is Hooked On Love. Recorded on the classic China Town rhythm from legendary producer King Jammy, Hooked On Love takes us back to the good old days when dancehall was just about having a good time without all the negativity we see today. The title track Friends For Life is a smooth, laid-back r&b influenced number that's all about the importance and beauty of true friendship. Positive vibes flow through this one. What Am I Gonna Do featuring Nadine Sutherland has hit written all over it. Nadine's absolutely incredible vocals together with a pulsating dancehall rhythm combine to make What Am I Gonna Do one of the best on the CD. I'd like to hear more Buju Banton, Nadine Sutherland combos down the road. This combo works like magic.

Other tracks worth mentioning include All Will Be Fine, Maybe We Are, Feeling Groovy, and the anti-gun song Mr. Nine. Feeling Groovy is performed to the tune of an old Don Drummond ska instrumental. Friends For Life has something for everyone who enjoys Jamaican music in all its many styles.

                                                                                Track Listing:

1. Paid Not Played                                                                        10. Get It On (feat. Wayne Wonder)
2. Tra La La                                                                                       11. Friends For Life
3. Teaser (featuring Bounty Killer)                                             12. Good Times (feat. Beres Hammond
                                                                                                                                                      & Fat Joe)
4. Excerpt of a Speech by Marcus Garvey                              13. Damn
5. Up Ye Mighty Race                                                                   14. Feeling Groovy
6. All Will Be Fine (feat. Sons and Daughters  Choir)       15. La Da De Da
7. Maybe We Are                                                                            16. Pensive Mood
8. Mama Africa                                                                                   17. What Am I Gonna Do (feat. Nadine
                                                                                                                                                                          Sutherland)
9. Hooked On Love                                                                          18. Mr. Nine
                                                                                                                                                                Overall Rating: 4
Friends For Life - Buju Banton