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Awakening (Aquarian, 2001)

*GUEST REVIEW*
Sounding matured as both a songwriter and singer, Rocky Dawuni's third album is better than his first. He keeps his voice under better control, while using it to take the songs to higher levels than on his previous album. His arrangement skills have improved with each instrument occupying its own space and playing off the others. "I'll Try" opens up the set strongly starting off with minimal instruments and culminating in a crescendo that climaxes with Rocky going into falsetto. "High and Low" left me feeling stunned. Here he keeps on feeling the music and using his voice in a way that reminds me of Buju Banton. Honestly, the music is as funky as anything off of Bob Marley's Uprising. Though the songs aren't quite that good, they are good, and as the album moves on, each track picks up where the last left off, continuing the rocking conscious vibes. "Fathers Child" and "Soul Adventurer" share similar melodies, but approach them with from different directions. "Rootsman Swinging" is a minimalist Nyabinghi-ish song complete with hand-percussion, horns, and call-and-response background vocals. The album closes with three versions of songs from the album, each treated with the utmost care for rhythm and feel. Awakening is an amazing album that cashes in on the promise shown by Crusade, and then some. 

- Trammell Scruggs

Book of Changes (Aquarian, 2005)

*GUEST REVIEW*
Sheeeeeeee-it. What is this? Is it reggae? Is it roots? Is it rock? Whatever it is, it's damn good. Rocky Dawuni switches things up on Book of Changes. It's not traditional roots, neither is it the contemporary reggae of his past albums. This is something completely new. The album opener, "Book of Changes (Intro)" is a slow groove with singing vox as well as spoken word. Imagine Prince Far I, Me'shel Ndegeocello, and Bob Marley in a studio together, throw in some traditional Mediterranean instruments, and you can get a sense what we're talking about. Cool? Well, don't get too comfortable; better yet, get ready for the ride of your life, because Rocky Dawuni has some seriously innovative ideas for you to soak up. You could always hear in his music an interest in afrobeat. Well, here it is in full swing. "Wake the Town" sounds like what the title suggests, conjuring up images of any small town with tropical/humid climate, a small drum circle, and the people dancing. "Africa for Learn" gets rid of the tribal percussion, but stays in the groove, even incorporating seventies-style blaxploitation guitar and horns at points. With its smart arrangement and soulful groove, the song blows away any indie rock trio who thinks the studio affords them the room to experimentation. Speaking of reggae, don't think that Rocky's abandoned it, "Fadaland" breaks out with a one drop riddim, along with some muted guitar picking and a heartical flute accompaniment, not to mention some conscious lyrics: "Is your destination Mt Zion?/For that is the only way (to the Most High)/Look at the state of the world today/might has triumphed over rule of law/we know not the hour for the time is at hand/the children got to know repatriation is a must for those who really trust/that Holy Mt Zion is calling (Yes I)". "The One" continues the reggaelation,  but it's still not typical; there's an icy Rhodes keyboard, spicy bass/drum interaction, and smooth vocals singing words of love and affection. The acoustic guitar-driven "Save Us All" is on of the greatest folk songs in reggae since "Redemption Song". "Shashemane" breaks it down with a cool funk-laced 1-2 backbeat 3. "Afroroots" picks things back up, and as the name implies, it's a reggae tinged afrobeat song. Starting out strong and upbeat, as the song progresses, the good times just get better and better. I'll leave a little for you to explore on your own, but suffice it to say -- and I don't like saying this, but I mean it -- if you only get one album this year, let it be Book of Changes by Rocky Dawuni. It delivers on every point of promise that he has shown in any of his music; and as it's title suggests, in change, in rebirth, there the fruits of labors lie. It's available on cdbaby.com and iTunes.

- Trammell Scruggs