Welcome to Jamrock [PA] (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Damian "Junior Gong" Marley (programming); Dan Warner (guitar); Stephen Marley (keyboards); Shiah Coore, Paul Fakhourie (bass guitar); Jazzwad, Craig "Niteman" Taylor, Willburn "Squidley" Cole (drums); Eek-A-Mouse, Nas, Black Thought, Bobby Brown , Rovleta Fraser, Sean Diedrick, Owen "Dready" Reid, Noel Davey, Bounty Killer.

The huge success of "Welcome to Jamrock," released as a single early in the summer of 2005, raised expectations for Damien Marley's same-titled full-length. Fortunately, everything--from the progressive blend of reggae, hip-hop, trip-hop, pop, and roots within, to the crisp production from brother Stephen Marley--lives up to the hype. While it would be an easy commercial move for Damien to replicate the positive roots vibe of his father's reggae, he instead builds on the consciousness of that music and updates the sound for the 21st century.

Tinged with overtones of dancehall ("Khaki Suit") and urban contemporary R&B (the silky smooth "Beautiful," which features a cameo from Bobby Brown), WELCOME TO JAMROCK is a melting pot of an album, one as well suited to the streets of Brooklyn as the neighborhoods of Kingston. The cover image--which depicts Marley in militaristic garb surrounded by corrugated metal fences--indicates that Marley means business, a fact confirmed by this fresh, edgy music. minimize