*GUEST REVIEW*
My first earful of Rob Symeonn was on a various artists collection Easy Star Volume 1 put out by the Easy Star label a few years ago. His slinky "Delilah" was a real grabber, easily holding its own alongside songs by veterans like Sugar Minott and The Meditations. I've since been watching for a full length Rob Symeonn album, and The Chosen One makes the wait worthwhile. A nyabinghi intro (always a good sign, though this one is too short) kicks things off, and from there it's roots all the way. Producers Noel Alphonso (also a multi-instrumental contributor), Victor "Ticklah" Alexrod and Mikey Assassin keep the upfront bass and drums chugging along, dropping in keyboard, guitar, horn and percussion peppering that frames Symeonn's reedy, lightly raspy voice. Some songs ("Light of Mine," "No More") have a chipper, almost poppish quality that eases up the seriousness of offerings like "Good Over Evil" and "Jah is the Teacher." Still, pretty much everything here is quietly killer, even when Symeonn steps away from the reggae beat for the echoey acoustic testimony "King Tafari." Great conscious songs, nice textured sound with just enough hints of dub in the mix, deejay breaks that are slack-free and crisp work by such notable players as Val Douglas, Andy Bassford, Kevin Batchelor and Bongo Herman tie it all up in proper Rasta stylee. The Chosen One is very choice indeed.

- Tom Orr