MATISYAHU

LIGHT

2009-10-03

Born Matthew Miller but using his Hebrew name, Matisyahu, as a recording artist, this New York native melds reggae, dub, hip hop and rock into a mostly pleasing stew of sounds to support his pleas for peace, love, understanding and enlightenment. Those with an ear for the more challenging beats and changes in tempo will find much to like in "Smash Lies". Hip hop is the order of the day for "Escape" although the musical backdrop heads towards dub reggae. Other tracks such as "We Will Walk" and "For You" have a big production and rock hooks that wouldn’t be out of place on a Church or U2 disc. "One Day" has an easy groove that is reminiscent of Bob Marley’s "No Woman, No Cry" while "I Will Be Light" has a slow, percolating dub bass beat that propels the introspective lyrics about the search for identity, a theme repeated in "So Hi, So Lo" which has a big sing along chorus. "Motivate" and "On Nature" both grab a mid-tempo punk/reggae groove that sounds like vintage Joe Strummer and the Mescalaroes or even early Clash. Matisyahu proves himself to be a vocal mimic as well with the chorus to "Darkness Into Light" sounding eerily like solo Ozzie Osbourne and "Silence" echoing Paul Simon. While those who dislike hip hop or who insist on categorizing Matisyahu as a reggae artist will struggle with this disc most everyone else will find something to like. Smitty

More reviews tagged #World

  • reviewed 04/2017

    Ryan Corn
    The Pressure

  • reviewed 05/2005

    Ali Farka Toure
    Red & Green

  • reviewed 05/2007

    INDIALUCIA
    INDIALUCIA

  • reviewed 07/2009

    SILA AND THE AFROFUNK EXPERIENCE
    Black President

  • reviewed 03/2008

    Toumast
    Ishumar

  • reviewed 07/2007

    DOBET GNAHORE
    Na Afriki

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.