Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers

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Bob Marley's kids step into the spotlight for their first major-label album (though they had been recording since 1982), and they display a talent worthy of the family name. Their biggest hit off of Conscious Party was "Tomorrow People," a free and easy tune that has the universal feel of a Wailers song. "Tumblin' Down" was also popular, and deservedly so, with its cool, relaxed, atmospheric sound. Other solid tracks include "We Propose," "New Love," "Lee and Molly," and the nice full-band sound of the title cut. The Melody Makers obviously know a good thing when they hear it, for they seem to pattern their style after that of their father: an accessible, rootsy, cultural style, with Ziggy's evocative vocals sounding remarkably similar to his dad's, and Ziggy's sisters singing background like the I-Threes. The Melody Makers' songwriting, of course, is not quite as sharp as The Wailers', and since this was released in 1988, a slight '80s rock sound (with guitars and synthesizers) creeps in every now and then. All in all, though, a promising start. Note: This album won the Grammy for best reggae album in 1988.

Track Listing
1. Conscious Party
2. Lee and Molly
3. Tomorrow People
4. New Love
5. Tumblin' Down
6. We a Guh Some Weh
7. A Who a Say
8. Have You Ever Been To Hell
9. We Propose
10. What's True
11. Dreams of Home

Rather disappointing after such a promising debut, One Bright Day nevertheless spawned two big hits, the exuberant "Look Who's Dancing" and the strong title track. Little else is truly striking, however -- perhaps "All You Got" or "Love Is the Only Law." This album has an increased pop/rock sound, with tracks like "Who Will Be There" and "Pains of Life" featuring annoying rock guitars. Additionally, the songwriting is consistently a step below Conscious Party, with little that is catchy, either melodically or musically. Even though this album also won a Grammy for best reggae album, it didn't deserve it nearly as much as Conscious Party. Its mainstream appeal certainly accounted for this win. Despite the award, I still consider this effort a sophomore slump.

Track Listing
1. Black My Story (Not History)
2. One Bright Day
3. Who Will Be There
4. When the Lights Gone Out
5. All Love
6. Look Who's Dancing
7. Justice
8. Love Is the Only Law
9. Pains of Life
10. Urb-an Music
11. Problems
12. All You Got
13. When the Lights Gone Out (Jamaican Stylee)

As good as any Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers effort I've heard, not only because it's possibly the most consistent, but also because it's the most musical. That is, the music is distinct, not relying on the "melody" to "make" the song. Not only that, but there also is a refreshing sense that little of this material would ever cross over to the pop charts. Tunes like "Rebel in Disguise" and "African Herbsman" -- a cover of the Ritchie Havens song that his father had also covered -- for instance, capture a great old-fashioned, grimy, rootsy/bluesy sound with raspy vocals reminiscent of Bob Marley. Unlike the hits from their first two Virgin albums, these songs seem unsuited for the mainstream market, and more than anything else I've heard from the group, Joy and Blues captures a true roots feel. They even manage to maintain their positive, upbeat outlook on life, producing a fun, funky album that doesn't follow the then-current trend into dancehall. From the funky bass line of the title track to the catchy, happy melody of "Brothers and Sisters," this is a proper showcase of the Marley family's talent.

Track Listing
1. Joy and Blues
2. Brothers and Sisters
3. There She Goes
4. Talk
5. Rebel in Disguise
6. X Marks the Spot
7. Head Top
8. African Herbsman
9. World So Corrupt
10. Garden
11. Mama
12. This One

A hit-or-miss effort that mostly whiffs, Fallen Is Babylon nevertheless won Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers their third Grammy Award in 1998, further proving how ignorant the Grammys are when it comes to reggae (and probably most other genres of music). Almost as if to alienate reggae fans, Ziggy leads off this album with the insufferably pop/dance title cut and the less-but-still irritating hip-hop beat of "Everyone Wants to Be," featuring the ubiquitous Wyclef Jean (and produced by Kevin Bacon? What the...?). Only after their overwrought version of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" do the Melody Makers settle into some decent material, led by the funky roots of "Postman." Stephen Marley, who wrote and sings "Postman," as well as two of the other best tracks here -- the sultry "Notice" and the mellow "Five Days a Year" -- is the real star of Fallen Is Babylon, making you wonder why it isn't Stephen Marley & The Melody Makers. His raspy, bluesy vocals echo his father's, with an edge not found on Ziggy's. For his part, the only good song that Ziggy contributes is the sexy, soulful "I Remember." When the Melody Makers stick to such a calm, relaxed style, they suit me nicely, but too often on this set they are too damn happy, too energized. Tunes like "Day By Day," "Brotherly Sisterly Love," "Born to Be Lively" (which makes sloppy and unimaginative use of a sample from "Lively Up Yourself"), and the aforementioned "People Get Ready" are drivelly and upbeat to the point of corniness. If they'd settle down behind Stephen's melancholy lead more often, I'd enjoy the Melody Makers more than I do.

Track Listing
1. Fallen Is Babylon
2. Everyone Wants to Be featuring Wyclef
3. People Get Ready
4. Postman
5. Brotherly Sisterly Love
6. Born to Be Lively
7. Long Winter
8. I Remember
9. Day By Day
10. Five Days a Year
11. Notice
12. Diamond City
13. Jah Bless
14. People Get Ready [R.H. Factor Reggae Vocal Mix]