Customer Reviews

Calling Rastafari

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Burning Spear has done it again. This is a must buy for any fan of this truly unique Reggae artist.Track five Brighten My Vision is easily one of the finest new Reggae tunes I have ever heard. Sound is very clean with good support from a lively horn section. Having seen Burning Spear live numerous times I have come to the conclusion that he is the Brightest Reggae artist recording today.Simple but intense lyrics proclaiming this mans love for Jah. Destined to be a classic.Pick it up.

Every time I see a new Burning Spear release, I have to smile and get it, as Winston Rodney is still the heartbeat of roots reggae, and it appears he has no intention of quitting any time soon- nor should he. His voice, still pure and beautiful after all these years, is still a staple in my apartment, and will always be as such.

This new release is quite good, with Winston's voice in good form, and using the call and reply method he uses so well. For me "Hallelujah" and "House of Reggae" are the best tracks on here.

This cd is not a bad introduction to the Prophet for the uninitiated, but he/she would be better served finding the classic lps "Marcus Garvey," (one of the greatest reggae lps ever made) "Garvey's Ghost," "Man in the Hills, " "Dry and Heavy," and "Social Living," all of which are readily available and are must listens.

Ahhhh "Calling Rastifari" is but a refreshing misty breeze that will uplift and crack any cold face with a smile. Do yourself a favor and add this to your Spear collection. If new to spear, although this album is rightious, I would recommend strongly first getting "Fittest of the Fittest" or "Hail H.I.M." for Spears finest work of rocksteady riddims. Just saw Spear at the O.C. Reggae Fest, he was hot! Keep the Spear burning man! One Love. Peace.

I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer from Sarasota below. Burning Spear doesn't put out anything bad, but he's done so much better. Get below recommendations first. One note: Live ('77) is from London, not Paris. There was a live release recorded in Paris, but this was recorded in '88 by the Slash label, not Mango/Island. Get the Mango releases first!!

After seeing nothing but 5 star reviews of Winston Rodney's latest effort and reading that it was as good as anything he has ever created, I rush-ordered Calling Rastafari, beats unheard. After listening to it for a few weeks now, I must say I am a tad disappointed and feel it needs to be knocked down just a notch or two. The musicianship is flawless and tight, and the sound quality is superb, but my grievance is with the material itself. The album lacks the artistic imagination of earlier works. The songs might have poignant lyrics, but they don't have the energy, or melodic creativity of some of the releases of yore. In response to those who have said that Rodney just doesn't have the voice he once had, I would argue that if he had more inspired material, he could still belt it out with all the original gusto. I find this CD to be more reminiscent of other lackluster Heartbeat records such as Farover, Fittest Of The Fittest, Resistance, etc., than the works from their prime (although Hail H.I.M. is quite good, and I do intend to purchase their live release Love and Peace in the near future). My recommendation is that you first obtain all the material recorded by Mango (Island Records) between 1976-1978 before purchasing this one. The essentials in my humble opinion are Man In The Hills, Live (Paris'77), and Marcus Garvey (get the double album version that is now available with Garvey's Ghost on the same disc [also called 100th anniversary] for great dub versions of all the songs from M.G.). Enhance these with Dry & Heavy, and Marcus' Children (re-released as Social Living). Best Of compilations Reggae Greats and Harder Than The Rest are also excellent, but unnecessary duplications if you have the aforementioned. Calling Rastafari is nevertheless an undeniably solid release, and a worthy addition to any Spear Collection. Burning Spear has never put out a lousy or really boring recording. I only awarded the 3 stars as a judgment relative to Spear's earliest, and greatest works (I can't give them 7 stars now, can I?).

A true masterpiece, "Brighten My Vision" will inspire anyone who has questions about what drives this living legend. Every track has a message and over time each track will become a classic. Outdone only by his "Live in Paris" cd. Jah Bless Winston and every treasure he has given us.

This album is awesome. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because Burning Spear has other albums that are better than this and they are 5 star albums (in my opinion). I will start off by saying if you don't have the albums Marcus Garvey, Man In The Hills, Dry & Heavy, Social Living, and Hail H.I.M. get those first. Those are classic, raw Burning Spear in his true form. If you have all of those and want more Burning Spear, get this.

This album won the 1999 Grammy for Best Reggae Album. It is a more polished, refined sound than the albums I mentioned previously. However, it is not a mainstream album. Its still roots reggae with bright horns, thick bass, and funky drums. I happen to like the more raw sound of his 70's releases a little more, but this is still great Burning Spear. The best songs are Brighten My Vision and House Of Reggae. If you're a true Burning Spear fan, you won't be disappointed with this album.

Simply put, this cd is good. Great songs with a great band. Tight drums and bass with a nice horn section. This gets 4 stars from me because I'm sure everyone would agree that his older stuff is where it's at.

Not a classic, but by all means, a tight album.

Legends never die, and Winston Rodney is one of the finest. However, they sometimes fade, such as is the case with Burning Spear. I hold this band second only to the Wailers in terms of all-time Reggae Greats. However, see if you can find the original self-titled album and you will agree there is no comparison in quality. "Marcus Garvey" and "Harder than the Rest" are also some of the finest reggae albums ever put forth. In my opinion, Burning Spear has become t0o focused around pleasing the pop-culture base and mass-touring and has lost some of the emotion and force its ealier music contains. "Calling Rastafari" is still better than 90% of the reggae on the market, but is not up to Burning Spear Standard. Three Stars.

Winston Rodney's trade mark dreads and beard have turned grey but make no doubt about it, he is back, stronger than ever. The opening track "As it is" sounds as good if not better than his old stuff. On the first song he makes references to "studio one, Bob Marley and how he has been through the struggles of jazz and blues musicians" to be here now "as the stone that the builders refused". He is back with a voice sounding as good as ever. HE even gives his unexplainable gurgle-sounding-call on a track. The horn section, a Burning Spear trademark, is as cohesive as any he has employed in the past. The players are all new so you won't find some of his old band members like Bobby Ellis, Aston Barrett or Junior Marvin but the new musicians are tight. What would a "Burnuing Spear" album be without at least a few mentions of Jah Rastafari, Rasta,and of course Marcus Garvey, he praises all. "BS" tackles a few new themes as in "Sons of HE" where he makes references to "Malcolm X and Martin Luther King" and the disgrace of American slavery and segregation. "Statue of Liberty" is a song about immigration and he reminds us that it stands for"equal rights and justice". There is only one song I don't care for. It is entitled "You Want Me To". It is out of place as it is a romantic song of sorts but comes off sounding like a cruise ship promotion for Jamaica, Trinidad and St.Croix. The saving grace of the song is his scat singing towards the end. Make no doubt about it, this is one of his strongest releases in years. It is good to hear him again. For those unfamiliar or new to "Burning Spear", try some of their old school reissues on CD like "Man in The Hills" or if you like dub"Marcus Garveys Ghost". Burning Spear is still one of the best Reggae groups around