Jah Sees, Jah Knows (Snapper Music, 1997)

This collector's treat brings together two albums by MIR, a previously defunct (resurrected for 2002's Roots Controller album) roots band that never received a lot of exposure here in the States.  The first album, Chronicles, is a "best of" compilation, while the second, Live at the Counter Eurovision 1979, is the group's most acclaimed album. MIR is about as rootsy and cultural as reggae bands come, making them pretty unique amongst UK bands, whose "rootsiness" is generally tempered by a more mainstream vibe.  Chronicles is fairly comprehensive, with 17 tracks from a group that only released four albums.  At their best, MIR echoes the greatness of the Abyssinians, as instant classics like "Live Up" and "Wise and Foolish" and the solid "Earth" and "Bail Out" attest. At their worst, however, MIR tends to fall into that old reggae cliche of their songs starting to sound alike (I like to call it "Culture-vitis.").  Unfortunately, a good portion of Chronicles succumbs to this disease.  The songs aren't bad; they just aren't distinctive. Live at the Counter Eurovision helps to make up for this, mostly because it simply has fewer tracks to bog it down.  The toe-tapper "Ghetto in the City" is hard to resist, along with "Oh! Wicked Man!" "Judas Iscariote" will certainly draw favorable comparison to Burning Spear, and "See Them Ah Come" has a seductive, slowed-down Stalag 17-ish rhythm that will draw you in.  Get this thought-provoking, ethereal material before MIR disappears again!