Dylan Judah (Mountain Paradise, 2004)

Dylan Hyde, AKA Dylan Judah, luckily has a name that translates well into a reggae moniker; Ras Biff just wouldn't sound right.  Formerly lead singer of the California roots band the Cannons, he's an experienced artist even though this self-titled album is his solo debut.  The quality of material here is similar to that of his former group (ex-bandmates played on it), but there's less pop and hip-hop elements.  The more strict reggae sound is certainly aided by the fact that the album was engineered, co-produced and mixed by the legendary Hopeton "Scientist" Brown, not to mention that it features Carlton "Santa" Davis of Soul Syndicate fame on drums.  Dylan Judah switches back and forth between singing and chatting in a DJ stylee and is quite adept at both, especially considering he's a Cali kid -- not exactly straight outta Trenchtown.  His songwriting skills are likewise strong, as he traverses between tender love songs like "Loving Energy" and "First Class Lover," plaintive roots like "Bread of War" and "See Us Through," and fiery dancehall-edged exhortations like "Nyabinghi Service" and "World of Confusion," all the while delivering thoughtful lyrics such as those on "Bread of War":

It's peace that they want but they eat the bread of war,
Peace that they want but they learn the art of war.  

With this marvelous release, Dylan Judah places himself in the mix of the many promising American reggae acts out there now.