Ziggy Marley
Wild and Free
Tuff Gong; Release date: June 14, 2011
The Deal: Five-time Grammy winner releases his fourth solo studio album.
The Good: Marley kicks off his latest album with the title track, featuring Woody Harrelson. To no surprise, they talk about hemp and marijuana growing wild and free. Harrelson isn’t a bad singer, though I can’t say he brings much to the song that couldn’t have been done by Marley’s own vocals. The song was previously released in support of California’s Proposition 19 to legalize marijuana. Like most of Marleys’ music, there’s a political message at times while the usual focus is on positivity. “Forward to Love” is an upbeat tune, while the catchy “It” features Heavy D spitting some rhymes and giving a quicker vibe to the song. “Changes” features his son, Daniel — another generation getting involved in the family business. “Personal Revolution” starts with a beat driven by a snare drum before transforming into a politically charged song with elements of his father’s style. “Get Out of Town” started weak, but as the song went on, I found my foot tapping and the rhythm grabbing a hold of me.
The Bad: There’s no way that anything a Marley does won’t be compared to his father. There are some standout tunes on this album that can match up — though it’s hard to compare anything to a legend.
The Verdict: His father would be proud that Ziggy continues to keep the family legacy alive and keep reggae music in the hearts of followers. This is a solid album from start to finish. Like so much reggae music, the summer is the perfect atmosphere for listening.
This article appears in Jun 21-27, 2011.
