Jimmy Cliff - Rebirth

     I hadn't listened to any Jimmy Cliff for a few years, save for some of the classics, but hadn't turned up a full album.  This recording starts out with such gusto and such a heavy amount of energy that I have listened to it over and over since picking it up.  Working with punk musician (Rancid) and sometimes-producer Tim Armstrong, seems to have really helped turn this album back to a root origin. In fact, the song Reggae Music he unfolds a history of his own path, starting way back in the 60's with Leslie Kong, recording songs "in the style of ska".  This song kind of sets the mood for the entire 46-minute ride.

    This new release for one of the pioneering voices from Jamaica seems to really open up a lot of old doors, conjuring up memories of the ska sounds of the past, the styling of which he started with.  It's a similar production style as T-Bone Burnett did with BB King's hugely successful One Kind Favor album from 2008 where Burnett basically had BB revert back to his single-amp reverb sound of the 50's.  And Cliff nails it here, what an amazing way to pay homage to your humble upbringing by digging up that "old sound" and putting new life to it.  The old-school style of horn-heavy, skankable ska really shines on this.  A few slower-paced reggae songs thrown in mix it up for your aural pleasure.  All in all, this Rebirth of Jimmy's is exactly what the doctor ordered, this is 5 stars!