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 - Jammin' .With Time magazine having awarded this album the distinction of Album of the (last) Century, it would be a bit contrarian to give it less than 5 stars, even though it is not my favorite Marley album--Kaya is. What is it that made this skinny, half white, soccer and ganja loving Jamaican such a beloved figure? Well, of course dying young always helps, and like his near contemporary John Lennon, Marley didn't make it into middle age. But Marley was truly one of a kind. His voice is not the kind of voice that you say is a good voice or a bad voice. Like Dylan's it is instantly recognizable as his voice and that is all that counts. The songs are brilliant, all self penned, and rarely covered by other artists. Marley, as far as I know, never performs cover versions of songs by other composers. Marley is seen by many as a quasi religious figure, and I have to confess that though I am no Rastafarian (though I have smoked ganja) nor Christian (though I have taken communion), I find this album spiritually uplifting in a way that I do not find, say, contemporary Christian music uplifting. Marley's songs are replete with Biblical references and echoes, but to compare someone like Amy Grant with Marley would be absurd. However the fact that it IS so absurd is a measure of his status, which is head and shoulders above all but the very greatest artists. You have to put him up there in the pantheon of greats along with the Beatles, Stones, Miles Davis, Hendrix etc. So like all of Marley's recordings, you cannot measure it simply in musical terms, because it is more than just music, it is inspiration too. This album goes from strength to strength. Many albums start with the best track and then go downhill, but this one saves the best for later. Jammin' is probably my favorite Marley track, and you get two versions here. The first sounds very much as if it would fit right in on Kaya, with the booming bass, guitar lines adding a little color, and that voice, ah, that voice with the unique Marley lyrics. The second is a longer jazzier, more instrumental version. Then come Waiting in Vain, Turn Your Lights Down Low, Three Little Birds, and One Love/People Get Ready, before the reprise of Jammin' and Punky Reggae Party. Really, if you like Marley's music, you can't go wrong with this. Since writing the above I have been listening to this album in my car almost every day from weeks and I have revised my opinion. It probably IS the greatest album of the twentieth century. Everything else I listen to now seems to pale by comparison. Rating: - Bob Marley IS a LegendThis is my favorite Marley album. The pulsating grooves of "Natural Mistic" and "Heathen" are minimalist simplicity at its most powerful. Bob was a rebel, a mistic figure. I only recently learned of his powerful influence in Jamaica's social and political life. He was their guru, their guiding light, and rightly so. His mere presence brought calm amid the turmoil of his country. His music is a perfect expression of his beliefs - the lyrics, the steady and hypnotic riddims, the melodies - every element in perfect accord with the others. The most amazing thing is, these guys were basically inventing this new music at the time they were coming out. To those who don't know (?) who Bob Marley was, this cd would be a perfect introduction, because it is not too heavy with political content and there are some "accesible" songs, such as "So Much things to say." A great and joyful work by the most important figure in Jamaican music, and one of the most important EVER. Period. Rating: - Pure GeniusBob Marley is the master of reggae music. Reggae music since Bob has been gone is just not as good. Bob Marley's music is real special. This is meaningful, honest, breathtaking music. Songs like Jamming and One Love prove that. Get this album right now! As you read my review all you are doing is wasting time. You NEED to listen to this. Music is my religion and Bob Marley is part of my religion. Rating: - A man for all eternityThis magnum opus of reggae albums is of such stature most of all because of the resonance, rather than the ever-evident catchiness, of its songs. Reggae music's compactness and choppiness combined with its rich texture and seemingly instrinsic depth turned out to be a most suitable avenue for Bob Marley's social, political, and spiritual commentary, and his talent in the genre and earnest, forceful singing blended admirably. Song titles and lyrics in Exodus demonstrate Bob's focus on Biblical metaphors as a means to galvanize people for action and self-examination, but he also sings about ordinary experiences in life and love. Most of the songs are instantly recognizable classics, especially the title cut, "Jamming," and "One Love." Bob's wringing declaration "Let's get together and feel alright" seems to be a musical parallel to the final line of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, with a universal aura, like something you heard in a previous life. But you didn't, nor was this the case with any of the other songs, which are the unique genius of Bob Marley. Rating: - Marley's BestEasily his best recording, and now that it's been remastered it's even better than before. A must, along with The Clash's "London Calling" remaster.
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