Utopia (Shashamane Movement, 2005)

Ijah Menelik is a cultural sing-jay from Montserrat who is actually the nephew of legendary calypso/soca artist Arrow (of "Hot Hot Hot" fame), so it's fair to say that music is in his blood.  Now based in the Washington, DC area, he has ties to St. Croix band Bambu Station (lead singer Jalani Horton plays guitar on a couple of tracks here) and its label Mt. Nebo Records (His tune "Baggawire" is featured on Mt. Nebo's Talkin' Roots Volume II showcase.).  His debut album Utopia starts on a mega-high note with "After da Storm," one of the best, most immediately engaging tunes I've heard in a while.  It's bouncy bass line, feel-good lyrics ("After the storm comes the calm."), bluesy guitar, emotive vocals, and more than six-minute length add up to an epic roots jam.  It's the type of song that's usually a once-an-album thing, but Ijah Menelik strikes similar gold with "Never Say Never," a rootsy number with a more forceful bass line and the uplifting message, "Never say you can't, do a weh you want...Dreams and aspirations, go for it!"  After the first three tracks, the sound moves away from roots into more propulsive dancehall and hip-hop (including some rapping from guest MCs).  But even if you're not as into hip-hop, Ijah Menelik (perhaps through the strength of his musical bloodlines) displays a knack for crafting catchy hooks that draw you into tracks like "Herb (Man)them," the funky "Who We Are," and the inventive, minimalist sound of "Civil Nile Nation."  There's ample cause for excitement for the future of Ijah Menelik.