Sign Time (Sun King, 2008)

Veteran roots singer Claudius "Kingman" Linton returns with his first recordings in over 20 years, teaming with Baltimore-area producer/musician Ian Jones as Kingman & Jonah. If there's any rust on Linton's game, it isn't apparent on Sign Time, an eclectic, heartfelt album with a sound that remains true to the singer's roots in music of the '50s and '60s. Tunes like "Lonely Nights," "Baghdad," and "Windows of My Mind" have a rustic, strumming guitar mix of reggae, blues, and country akin to Toots & The Maytals -- particularly with a more uptempo groove like the get-up-and-dance "Sun Sun." It's a refreshing blend of styles, although acoustic ballads like "I Need You" and "Amazing Grace" might be a bit too slow and lacking in "reggae-ity" for some listeners' tastes. Linton's penchant for conscious lyrics remains intact, with as biting, anti-war titles like "World War III," "Star Wars," and "Baghdad" attest. "Star Wars" is not only the highlight of the album, but it's one of Linton's best compositions of all time, balancing a sobering nuclear disarmament message with a soaring, horn-driven musical groove. Jones sticks mostly to the background in the Kingman & Jonah equation, singing harmony and playing guitar and organ, although he performs a duet on the country-tinged ballad "Lonely Nights," adding a bit of a Sting vibe to the proceedings. Joining him in the back is a sparkling array of legendary musicians, including Ansel Collins, Dwight Pinkney, Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, Bongo Herman, and Dean Fraser, solidifying the high-level content of Sign Time. Hear more at www.sunkingrecords.com.