Most Royal (Jah Warrior, 2004)

One of the most exciting artists you've never heard, Jah Mason continues to shine on Most Royal.  Not nearly as eclectic in sound as Never Give Up, this album's music is dictated by British producer Jah Warrior, whose potent roots approach can be heard on Prince Alla's Glory, Peter Broggs' Jah Golden Throne, and the compilation Rootical Vibrations.  Although Jah Mason is considered a dancehall DJ, the music here is purely roots-oriented, with few digital dancehall flourishes.  If you like Sizzla's rootsy material but are put off by his faster, more aggressive dancehall mode, then you should check Most Royal out.  As showcased on the Prince Alla and Broggs releases, Jah Warrior favors a classic, slow, rolling roots style offset by pumped-up bass lines that will rattle your teeth, drawing in dancehall fans more than your typical roots sound.  Some might think that the songs start to sound too much alike after a while (with the similar music and structure of chatting verses and sing-songy choruses), but I found virtually every track on Most Royal to be a head-nodding blast.  Most notable are "Can You Feel the Pain," "Love How the Youths Them Live," "Rainbow Circle Throne," "Saga," "Words of Wisdom," and "Don't Cry."

Rise (Uprising, 2005)

This is an odd album. About half of it feels like it got stuck in a time warp, like a worm hole sucked up Jah Mason and spat him out around the year 1992. The two tracks featuring singer Zeno sound like vintage Sanchez -- though not necessarily in a good way -- but they're masterpieces compared to the cheap, generic, dated dancehall sound of the second half of the album. The liner notes don't have any producer credits, so I don't know who to blame (maybe Mason himself?), but whoever is responsible for these beats needs to find a Delorean and come back to the future. Luckily for us, though, the half that isn't so bizarrely outdated serves as a reminder of what has made Jah Mason one of the most exciting reggae artists to emerge in the past few years. Capleton fans should enjoy the fact that not only does Mason continue to resemble Capleton on dancehall tracks like "Guess & Spell" and "All We Say and Done," but he duets with him on "Rise This Morning." The true highlights, however, are the roots twosome of "No More We Slave" and "Life Goes On," which sparkle with the singjay's contagious energy and juicy roots rhythms. So overall, Rise is a great album...if you listen to the first seven tracks. After that, you're on your own.

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Princess Gone...The Saga Bed (VP, 2006)

*GUEST REVIEW*
I love Jah Mason; his music caught my ear the very first time I heard him on the Oneness compilation. For a few years, he had new a new LP every few months, and then I was just hearing him on riddim compilations. Apparently, in the meantime he has signed a contract with VP Records and been recording his "major label" debut, a minimalist yet sleekly programmed roots production with sparkling live instrumentation (when its used) designed for mass appeal and modern dancehall spinning. His delivery is less lyrical and direct than it has been previously and is less profound. The subject matter is still conscious, though there are more fun and love songs here than you usually find on a Jah Mason album. This results in it seeming that maybe he has sold out a little bit. On the other hand, it could just be that I'm being a little hard on him. If you like Jah Mason, I hope you won't find this record as disappointing as I do. Luckily, the album opener "Saga Bed" is the worst song here, so skipping over it can prevent you from having your hopes let down to soon. On "My Princess Gone," his singjay style has a crooning thing going for it. It reminds me of the style of Christafari's Valley of Decision a little, minus Mark Mohr's bombastic gurgling and replacing it with Jah Mason's emotive voice (this is not a bad idea). On the second half of the album, Jah Mason delivers the goods we're used to on "Plan Out," "Stick Nor Stone," "Get Along," "Togetherness," "Stop It," and "Got to Pay the Price." Generally, the album is not bad, but it is definitely my least favorite of all of the stuff that I've heard by him.

- Trammell Scruggs

*Alternate Review*

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Wheat and Tears (Greensleeves, 2006)

Jah Mason returns to the striking quality of Never Give Up and Most Royal, presenting a sure contender for album of the year in Wheat and Tears. Roots purists who are wary of modern roots/dancehall hybrids can use this album to wean themselves onto today's conscious singjays, since apart from the generic digital romp "Farmer Man," it's one-drop grooves for all! "Fire" Mason's amazing vocal range is on full display, from the smooth crooning of lovers tracks like "Now You Say" and "Let Me Live My Life" to the roots singing on "King of Kings" and "This Morning" to his impassioned DJ chatting (a bit like Prezident Brown) on "Couple Chalice a Day" and "No Time." He even throws in an acoustic guitar ballad in the fetching "My Life." Combined with his ability to compose striking melodies and the hookiest of hooks, it's a vivid sampling of why he's one of the most talented artists in reggae today.