| Review of Roots Revival by Aswad | |
| Artist: Aswad | |
| Album title: Roots Revival | |
| Release year: 1999 | |
| Label: ARK 21 | |
| Genre: Reggae | |
| Rating: 8 out of 10 | |
| Track listing: | |
| The Best Times of Our Lives | |
| Freedom Street | |
| Caution | |
| Boom Boom Carnival | |
| Follow '99 | |
| Take It Easy | |
| Roots Revival | |
| Breakout | |
| Peace Truce | |
| My Love | |
| Thank You Lord | |
| Invisible Sun | |
| The Best Times of Our Lives | |
| Review: Roots Revival is an apt title for this album, since Aswad's greatest successes have been as a pop-reggae crossover band, most notably with the huge 1988 hit Don't Turn Around. On this one the group returns to its roots with a vengeance. The sound is still pretty slick, but the material includes a remake of Ken Boothe's rocksteady classic Freedom Street, two seldom-covered Bob Marley tunes (Caution and Thank You Lord), a decent cover of the Police's Invisible Sun (featuring Sting in a guest appearance), and a bunch of relatively roots-wise new originals. The only remaining members of the band, Drummie Zeb and Tony Gad still have a great melodic sense, as evidenced on the smooth and silky Follow '99 and the churning Breakout. But the rhythms are deep and compelling as well, resulting in a sound that will move them in the dancehall even as it pleases more roots-oriented fans. | |