Universal Message (VP, 1999)

With such a great line-up of artists, how can this compilation miss?  OK, there have been star-studded collections that have been underachieving in the pass (and there will be more in the future), but this one lives up to the star power, becoming an immediate contender for album of the year.  Chris and Joel Chin deserve credit for pulling together a bumper crop of modern roots and dancehall that, according to the album's stated concept, "breaks all language and race barriers."  The producers -- who include Steely & Clevie, John John, and Dean Fraser, among other lesser-known ones -- and performers both bring their "A" games, and two artists in particular -- Buju Banton and Luciano -- each come up with the best song I've heard from them in the past couple of years.  Banton's "Truth" is a red-hot, funky jam, while no less impressive is Luciano's "Winter & Summer," a simply gorgeous work produced by Dean Fraser, who, though not known primarily as a producer, also does Morgan Heritage's tranquil, gospel-edged "Down By the River," a song with all the classic sound of an oldie like the Melodians' "Rivers of Babylon."  Superb album cuts from Beres Hammond ("Sing Glory" from Love From a Distance), Sanchez ("Hands of Babylon" from Perilous Time), and Glen Washington ("Jah Glory" from Get Next to Me) beg you to run out and buy those individual albums (which you should do).  The other great tunes here are "King in the Jungle" by Jah Cure & Sizzla, Freddie McGregor's "Jah Never Fail I," and Norris Man's "Bad Road."  The only misstep on Universal Message is Morgan Heritage's sappy, classical string-laden "When Will It All Change," which sounds more like something their siblings LMS might do.