It's not often you hear reggae albums from enlisted soldiers; I dare say Joshua Alo's is the first! A member of the United States Air Force, Alo has lived all around the world but was born and raised on Oahu, Hawaii, and he brings that tropical sound to his debut album, Answer Your Calling. This is "hammock music": swaying, peaceful, and gorgeous, suited for sunset on a secluded beach, whether you're in the mood for love or for meditation. It's the latter that Alo is more concerned with here, as titles like "Faith," "Answer Your Calling," "Light Over Darkness," and "Paradise" reflect his spiritual (though not necessarily Rasta) inclination. The laid-back music is conducive to deep thought, Alo's acoustic guitar and ukulele adding a specific Hawaiian twist to the roots and lovers riddims -- even though, ironically enough, the album was recorded in Italy (presumably while he was stationed there) with a local band, Zion Love. There's an expansive, almost jazzy sense to the music, with long instrumental stretches (several tracks open with extended guitar intros) that make everything in the world seem just a bit calmer. Sure, it's odd to see a soldier singing in a genre that's notoriously anti-establishment, but judging Alo by his profession alone ignores the individual -- an in individual who has crafted a triumphant debut that is hopefully the first of more to come.  See joshuaalo.com.