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 - My Favorite MatisyahuI have a number of Matisyahu CD's , but this one is my favorite. The mix of songs is great and I love the whole "feel" of this CD. Rating: - good musicit was a nice present for my family, they liked so much the music, smooth listening and a perfect gift Rating:  - Great FunI just discovered Matisyahu recently and started with Youth. Then I decided to backtrack and check this one out. It's just as good. Comparing them, what Live at Stubb's lacks in studio refinement, it more than makes up for in raw energy and intense but natural rapport with the audience, which can be felt listening to the CD. He is a phenomenal performer. A previous reviewer's denigration of Matisyahu's religious transformation was uncalled for. Many people who were not raised to be religious and embark on some sort spiritual path as an adult find themselves greatly enhanced and permanently changed. This is sometimes more true for the newly religious than those who were raised with rituals that they continue. Perhaps it's not a coincidence that Matisyahu's career took off like a rocket after he became religious - and I'm not referring to the novelty factor, but to his presence, confidence and sense of purpose. I'm sure life on the road is a challenge to his orthodox lifestyle, but Matisyahu says he can handle it and I choose to take his word for it. I have nothing negative to say about this CD. I'm withholding the fifth star only because my standards are very high, and I think Matisyahu has not yet lived up to his great potential, and I want to have room to raise the rating when he does. Rating: - Talmudic Suburb DubsWhen I first heard about Matisyahu, it sounded like a gimmick. An orthodox Jew singing reggae. But I figured I'd give it a listen, especially since people whose musical opinions I respected seemed to like him. But on my way checking out the music, I came across the fact that Matisyahu was not raised orthodox. He was an American Jewish kid raised with about as much religion as your average young Jewish American. Okay, now I know it's a gimmick. I can accept the role of culture and ethnicity in people's lives, and I'm happy to give it a pass when people from religious families are religious at about the same level of intensity. After all, some people just internalize what they are taught, and they're happy with that. But if you are more religious than your family, if you have taken steps towards a more fundamentalist approach to spirituality, if you have taken on a more dogmatic orthodox identity, then my gut reaction is that you are not acting but reacting. It may sound like I'm saying that each generation should be less religious than the preceding generation. In fact, that is what I'm saying. An American mostly-secular Jewish kid who becomes orthodox is acting out. I know it's wrong to generalize, I'm sure there are exceptions, but I'll commit to my generalization. And, no problem, we all go through phases. But if you go through a phase of identifying as an orthodox Jew, complete with easily identified garb, and suddenly your musical career takes off, I would imagine things would get pretty reinforced. It would be hard to back away from orthodoxy when the curiosity factor is what draws a lot of people into taking their first peak at his work. When you read his religious views, he's talking about peace and unity and not letting your ego get in the way, and one could draw that from a reading of any of several religious or philosophical texts. But at this point, he's the orthodox Jew in the whole getup, and he couldn't dare break character while he's on a roll. Does it matter? No, it's just a distraction. I've been listening and enjoying the music. The lyrics are interesting, and overall Matisyahu and his band have a great sound and a stirring, energetic vibe. It's good stuff. Give it a listen. But really: Good music, good lyrics (not to mention Tanqueray, Sudoku, Latakia tobacco and backgammon) should be plenty enough religion for anyone. Rating: - The Second Greatest Reggae CD I know of... The first will be a surprise to even people who think they know everything reggae!With "King Without A Crown" getting airplay on many alternative radio stations in the US, Matisyahu expresses an incredible spiritual fervor to the masses--with a quite attractive blend of reggae rhythms and elec. guitar that makes you feel part of an entire religious movement. I'm not religiously inclined by any means, but beyond the arrangements and just the general ambience of the music, Miller's voice is nothing short of amazing, and his delivery comes as nothing less than ethereal. Really, even a casual Marley fan can appreciate the combination of reggae with a decidedly great backing band. Spirituality is traditionally part of reggae, and Matisyahu is no exception, channeling a certain soul of honesty and hunger for a higher power. Like I said, I don't believe, but if I did, this would be the soundtrack to the top. But enough of that. Standouts are "Chop 'em Down", "King without a Crown", "Refuge", and "Close My Eyes", probably the best track here. But there are also the understated "Warrior" and "Exaltation", the two longest tracks. These don't feel like 7 minutes, because the band actually knows how to balance singing and instrumentation, often with the singing supplementing. And the one surprise: "Beat Box", happens to be an amazing display of skill for a human beat box, which at its end, the guitar comes in. Rapping by the MC and Miller ensues. "My mother sang songs in camps of concentration. His mother sang songs inside the cotton plantation. Her mother sang songs while we were bombing their nation. Now I sing songs for much more than just my occupation"... Better rapping skills than most of the [...] flung at us today, and did I forget to say that THE LYRICS MEAN SOMETHING. It's like a revolution or something. Be part of it. Yes, I saw Matisyahu in concert. It was the best concert I've ever been to to date, and I'm agnostic... Go figure, right? Excellent songwriting and vocals make this an accessible and unpretentious album. Also, I must recommend "New Dubby Conquerors" by Seeed, huge(popular) in Germany right now. You can listen on amazon.de even if you can't read the German. Best Reggae I know of. Comes off the line as PERFECT, with excellent critical acclaim even in JAMAICA! Check it out or download some tracks, it's infectious and electronically experimental.
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