More Herbs for the Youth (Jah Roots, 2005)

Reggae in the United States is dispersed in the way that hip-hop was a decade ago: mostly either East or West Coast.  Well, Jah Roots is out to change that.  Hailing from Springfield, Missouri, this seven-piece band features a throwback roots sound with a splash of energetic, early dancehall and lovers rock.  Eschewing fancy art work and marketing, Jah Roots favors a grassroots approach to spreading their music: distributing free CDs at concerts and encouraging fans to copy and share them (a refreshing departure from mega-record companies prosecuting 16-year-old music downloaders).  The music is a marvelous cross-section of older beats ("Bad Food" = John Holt's "My Satisfaction," "Come With Me" = the Techniques' "Queen Majesty"), hot newer riddims (the folksy, guitar-propelled Lava Ground riddim on "Babylon Respect Lower", the funky Crystal Woman riddim on "Vampires Be Still," the bouncy Father Jungle Rock riddim on "I Am So Happy," and one of my faves, the Doctor's Darling riddim -- popularized by Tanya Stephens' "It's a Pity" -- on "It's Your Love"), plus (I presume) some original beats.  Even if you know the riddims already, though, Jah Roots gives them their own unique, live-instrument twist (as if they're right next to you) that enlivens the music and may even mask its familiarity.  Lead singer Josh Heinrichs's vocals, like the music, are soulful and impassioned -- along the lines of John Brown's Body's Kevin Kinsella or early Ali Campbell of UB40 fame.  More Herbs for the Youth is one of the most engaging, purely enjoyable releases I've heard in a while.  You get a sense of genuine exuberance from the band, a feeling of the love they have for the music, and a hunch that they would perform a great live show.  There's ample reason to look forward to future releases from Jah Roots.  Check out the "rootsmusic" group at Yahoo! Groups to find out more.

Crucial (GanJah, 2006)

Jah Roots returns as strong as ever, but if you wanna hear 'em this time out, you'll have to pay, you deadbeats (see cdbaby.com). People have families to feed, y'know. After releasing their first two albums to the masses free of charge, the band understandably has decided to go the standard retail route with Crucial. It continues in the same vein as their previous efforts -- invigorating roots with a free-flowing, "jamming" vibe that at times samples past classic cuts (like Israel Vibration's "Same Song" riddim on "Secrets" and Barrington Levy's "Murderer" on "Don't You See the Problem") and that just makes you want to boogie. As with Babylon Weak Heart, they hook up with DJ SkillinJah (for one cut) and add another two sing-jays to the mix, I-Ron and Badda Skat. These guests represent admirably and throw a jolt of party energy into songs like "Good Highs" and "Chant Down Babylon," but it's Ras Josh who continues to be one of the most engaging singers in reggae today. He combines a Marley-esque wail with Ali Campbell-esque soul and throws in a blues singer's calculatedly ragged edge and a jazz singer's vocal improvisation to craft a style that would make "Mary Had a Little Lamb" listenable. From up-tempo jams like "One to One," "Poverty," the anti-babylon rant "Don't You See the Problem," and the title track to more mellow grooves like "Roll Up the Spliff," "System a Dread," "Secrets," and the anthemic "Fight Down We Chalwa," Crucial soars. Hopefully, its mainstream distribution will draw more fans into the Jah Roots sound.