Our Faith (1992, Railroad)

*GUEST REVIEW*
It's unfortunate that this album by Bad Brains singer HR and his Human Rights band (including, in this incarnation, Ras Michael on percussion) is out of print. Unlike much of the HR material available, Our Faith is a straight-ahead reggae album, avoiding a lot of the punk experiments he's tried in the past. The disc is heavy on mid-tempo roots, with HRs inimitable wail weaving in and out of the rhythms created by (HR's brother and Bad Brains drummer) Earl Hudson and bassist William Banks. Tracks like "Fatherless Children," "Rest Stop," and the highlight, "Revolt," showcase HR at his finest -- something that's not always a given when listening to his records. Our Faith dabbles in jazz as well, with "Here I Am" as another high point, a smooth love ballad that gives the singer a chance to stretch his considerable pipes in a way other than screaming his lungs out. Certainly comparable with Charge, HR's finest album, Our Faith is an unfortunately under-known record that would appeal to both Bad Brains diehards and reggae fans alike. The band doesn't really stray from the standard Brains-style choppy roots sound, and after a half-dozen songs, it gets a bit tiresome, but on the whole, this is an album that's definitely worth a listen...if you can find it.

- Sam Thompson