- Best Reggae Album
Five albums in, Ziggy Marley is still going strong, including putting the release out on his own label, Tuff Gong Worldwide. In an interesting move, the first single, "I Don't Want To live on Mars" was released the same day as the album itself. AOL got the exclude video release on their page (yes, you just read that right), and features his real-life wife and kids in a dream sequence where their families travel an unhealthy Earth. Basically, we should treat Earth better so we don't have to live on Mars.
I typically enjoy anything a Marley has to offer up, and only seem to counter them with Grammy season, so this should be a pleasant romp through a sweet light sky of clouds. No, I'm not high.
The song we were just talking about, "I Don't Wanna Live On Mars," is first up. It starts off with a launch count-down, leading into something I will never consider reggae - that's straight up rock. It's incredible. Yes, it settles into a more typical-of-genre beat, which is nice and more comfortable for the album, but that was a killer start.
"Fly Rasta," the title track, comes in loud and with demands. I mean that in the nicest way possible way, as I don't think Ziggy would ever intentionally demand anything really, but the opening words sort of hit like a mallet. Anywhos, the song has a load of horns behind it, just adding to the power. It's not anything light and airy, as a song with 'fly' in the title may imply (no one, just me?), but it's powerful.
We get to come down a little with "Lighthouse," led by delightfully sweet guitar strumming and warmth to the vocals. This is just like sailing home and seeing hope in the distance. The song is so much more gentle and nice! Ahhh, sweet aural relief. I love that Ziggy maintains his peace message to all through it too. He keeps true, which is just plain wonderful.
"Sunshine" isn't as light as you might think or hope. In fact, there are a lot of darker sounds throughout it. The lyrics are why saves it in reference to the title, but a lot of the sunshine has to be felt through your own interpretation. You have to work hard to internalize this one the way it should be, but I think it might be worth it.
In the literal sense, "Moving Forward" really sounds like a forward march. The horns add that momentum and the repetition drives us all on. It also has this odd air of misty-ness to it that I can't totally put my finger on, but I know we shouldn't be sober while taking it in.
"You" has an odd sense of familiarity to it. It's also got a much edgier feel with some downright funk mixed in that we haven't heard on the album thus far. It's really a simple love song of redemption provided by someone's presence. Yeah, okay, a little more intense than simple really, but the song does its trick. The guitar plays on and gets us down on a good beat.
I want this "So Many Rising" to be done as a mashup with Bruce Springsteen's, "The Rising." But as an acoustic mashup. I think it could have a cool effect. This is done simply with drums and guitar strum and the words. It's a great uplift song for people looking to have a an effect on this world. Someone's there, someone's listening, and someone recognizes it all.
"I Get Up" is more of a personal anthem, but still recognizes that we're all going through some tough shit. I love that nothing is truly personal for Ziggy, and the basis of "one love" shines through absolutely everything he puts out there. Here's an example of one of the absolute happiest little songs that you didn't know you needed to hear, but want it to be for you nonetheless.
I don't know how "You're My Yoko" is going to sit with me as a Beatles loyalist, but I respect her as a business woman, so let's hear this. The most interesting part of it, I feel, is that I think there are elements of Beatles music/melodies during the verses. And it's much more to do with the free love concept. Okay, okay, I'm not hating it.
"Give It Away" is the final track on the album. Why is Spotify doing this new thing where it makes me manually play the last track on everything? This happened on a playlist earlier… sigh. Anywhos, trying to maintain my levels of happy here, and Ziggy's ending this on a sort of introspective note. I get the happy though - you can only have love if you give love. True, true, and a good way to close things out.
Added to My Playlist:
- "I Don't Wanna Live On Mars"
- "Lighthouse"
- "Sunshine"
- "You"
- "So Many Rising"
- "I Get Up"
Only a few songs on here, surprisingly, drug on a bit. For the most part, the songs were all unique and almost inspiring in their messages. Ziggy has put together yet another really nice collection of songs you can take with you for all of your needs, as long as you remember it's never for you alone.