Customer Reviews

Confrontation

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album, though somewhat more rare than other more popular Bob Marley albums, is my all around favorite. It has a very "native Jamacian" sound, almost African, which I really love. Songs like "Jump Nyabinghi," "Blackman Redemption," and "Chant Down Babylon," are really reminiscent of the early-years Marley material. The songs on this cd are just excellent. My favorite by a long shot is "Stiff Necked Fools," which I happen to think is one of the best reggae songs ever written. You won't be void of classics here either...CONFRONTATION contains the wildly popular "Buffalo Soldier," and "Rastaman Live Up." This really is the best Bob Marley album. Somehow I think it would be Bob's favorite, if still with us.

Before his untimely death from Cancer in 1981, Bob Marley & the Wailers had been working on their 11th album for Island Records, "Confrontation". Unfortunately, Marley could not oversee much of this album's progress and the album would not be released until 1983, nearly two yeears after Marley's death. It contains a slew of stellar unreleased material from 1978-1981 and was intended to be his last in a trilogy of specifically African-themed albums, having been preceeded by 1979's "Survival," and 1980's "Uprising".

Each song is a classic from the hopeful tunes like "Chant Down Babylon," my personal favorite, "Jump Niyabinghi," the joyous "Blackman Redemption," and the heart-warming and bold "Rastaman Live Up!," each carrying the message of the revival of Africa and the call for the righteous people of all cultures to keep their heads high. Equally spellbinding are the smooth, meditative tunes like the disco-impacted "I Know," "Give Thanks and Praises," "Mix Up, Mix Up," "Trench Town," and "Stiff-Necked Fools" (originally called "Wisdom," and made with the Lee Perry years with the original Wailers, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh). Each song, with these ones in particular, show Marley in a calm, happy state, almost ready to depart the world as if his work has been completed. It's as if he tells his fans and those who so adore him not to worry in each song. The album, while perhaps not the most chart-topping, is the group's most utterly spiritual and in many ways, their most profound.

The album's track which stands above all the others, however, is the amazing, danceable, yet profound and protestful "Buffalo Soldier," a true story about the mistreatment of Blacks by the Western World and their being forced to join the Union Army for the purpose of killing Native Americans.

In closing, "Confrontation" is simply amazing; so heartfelt and spellbinding. Each song is a smile from Marley in words saying "Do not worry". Each song touches the heart and intrigues the mind. "Confrontation" will stay with you forever. This is truly the most profound, spiritual, and joyous reggae album ever made.

This album along with Kaya is not often looked upon in the Bob Marley and the Wailers catalog, but it is very deserving. The title of this album basically says its purpose, which was Bob Confronting the good and evil within himself. the song you will probably recognize is Buffalo Soldier which appears on Legend. The first 4 tracks are very upbeat and very listenable to the casual fan. As you go past the first 4 tracks, they become less upbeat and stick more to the truth of Rastafarianism. To the casual listener these will not make sense, but to those of you who understand a little bit about Rastafari, these tracks will certainly make sense to you. What many people do not know is that this was released in 1983 and Bob Marley died in 1981. Bob was around to supervise the first single record release for the album, but had passed away before the entire album could be released. Aston Barrett the bass player supervised the releases of singles for this album. Aston barrett was Bob's right hand man, and Bob trusted him to mix and produce the album for release. This is actually Bob Marley singing on all the tracks even though it was released after his death. This cd was intended to be released before the brilliant Uprising album, but the material was shelved because Uprising had a more appealing sound to it. Confrontation is probably for collector's only, but if you want yet another unique side to this band Confrontation is probably for you. Even though this disc is not overly popular amoung Marley fans, it is still one of my favorites.

To me it makes a lot of sense, that there is a good possibility, that the songs on this album or some of them, were intended for posthumous release, as George Harrison did the same thing. Bob passes on, but how surprising, the opening track tells us, "Come we go chant down Babylon one more time." "How do I know, that's how I know, Reggae Music, Chant down" seeing how the copywright dates for these songs are '81 and '83; certainly, one of the books out must address this.

Maybe this release was put together after Bob passed on; but I had it back then in album, I picked it over a CD of Survival (but might not Uprising): another grand 5 star effort: but, the songs on Confrontation can not be called leftovers; it does seem, in the final music Bob was writing, he is in that realm, where everything is perfect or near that like say some music by certain Rock artists at certain periods of their careers is very memorable (i.e. Dylan Bootleg, Rolling Stones Exile, Hendrix) ; and I definitely appreciate the progression of Marley's songwriting from say, the CD "Burning" to the last years; maybe not much better music or better but a more profound universal message in the last release of Robert Nestor Marley

Opening with "Chant down Babylon one more time": do the opening notes mirror "Pimpers Paradise" from the Uprising album? A good enough opening:

Then, the classic "Buffalo "Soldier", I was not previously aware of what a "Buffalo Soldier" was, then saw some pictures and understand what Marley means, "how the dreadlock Rasta was the Buffalo Soldier"; now I think, most know what a Buffalo Soldier is and I think, in part in regards to this song.

"Jump Nyabinghi"; another fine effort, African reference like Survival's Zimbabwe; memorable lyrics, biblical reference, "it remind I of the days in Jericho ..."

"Mix up Mix up", oh isn't this one of the reasons I love this album, this song might sound like a leftover, but it is a classic leftover at that; the rhythm and lyrics you may well find bringing a smile to your face, his singing as well; great message too.

"Give thanks and praise", Spiritual tone, every time, I listen, it can bring or nearly bring a tear to mine eye.

"Black man redemption" again, landmark statement and song, excellent opening, maybe too profound for me to understand, but I can listen to it at least.

"They come from trenchtown", excellent addition to his other song "Trenchtown Rock" on earlier releases, including a live version.

"Stiff necked fools", well, one can reflect, sadly, should have Marley survived his cancer with an operstion of amputation not taken? Maybe this does not deal with that subject, but if you ever feel overall; just sort of screwed or ground down in life; unfairly treated this is a good song to take heed of;

Which quite appropriately is followed up by "I know", it could be seen to build on the prior song, because it asks "are you a victim of the system" but happily, "Natty will be there, see you through ...." I agree with the other reviewer, this song, is very unique and may be the best of the whole bunch; Something about it, reminds me of the cool freshness of the ocean (see similar song, "Shine Like a Blazing Fire", on Third World's "Rock the World"); I'd be a Stiff-Necked fool not to like this song.

"Rasta Man live up", remember that song, "Rasta Man Vibration"? "I and I vibration yeh", well, this is another fine sermonizing song of inspiration.

Excellent Easy going Sax and mix of the final track, the longer version of Buffalo Soldier; This version I like better than the original and is very danceable.

One reviewer laments that this album is lacking in cohesiveness, and is just leftovers,escpecially deriding the track I know. Well, I and I know this is Selassie I music at It's I-ist level. I know's music might sound a litlle soft and discofied but marley alwyas wanted to try to get this message across to the masses. The singing and lyrics are profundly touching, even if obviously unpolished Songs like BlackMan Redemption,Rastaman Live up, have some of the riches, fullest bass lines and melodies in all reggae music. Give thanks and praise, chant down babylon, rastaman live up, all fully match the Biblical, spiritual, and revolutianty aspects of Bob's greatest. Mix up Mix requests original music not just version after version of unorginality, give musicains a chance to be creative it says. Trench Town also speaks directly to Jamaica biggin up that place. So don't be a stiff necked fool and please check this album again and again and then I an I will also know. Peace and love

I have to admit it, when I first picked up a Bob Marley album, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, given the baggage that surrounds Marley's name, his smoking habit and misunderstood religion. But if you listen to this man's music, it all becomes clear and the ambiguity and intimidation is erased, your soul will be satisfied and spirits lifted by Marley's positive pep talk. Maybe as a Christian, I like his message of love for God and for eachother. However, Bob's music will transcend all racial bounderies and religious beliefs. On Confrontation, Bob sings about "chanting down babylon" which symbolizes the destruction of a racist, oppresive society. He sings on the first track we can "chant down babylon with music". Buffalo Soldier is my favorite song on the album and Jump Nyabinghi! is a joyous song with the Marley message of peace and unity. It's a shame Bob had to die so young, now we can never see how Marley's music will evolve, but rest assure, even though reggae today has lost its power, Bob Marley and his music of peace and love will live on.

This album is brilliant,
Even though Uprising was actaully made at the same time,
So these are just the leftovers, that they didnt want on Uprising.
Though the leftovers from Uprising are probably as good than the tracks they put on Uprising.

1. Chant Down Babylon - 10/10 - Should of been on Uprising.
2. Buffalo Soldier - 10/10 - Should of been on Uprising.
3. Jump Nyabinghi - 10/10 - Should of been on Uprising.
4. Mix Up, Mix Up - 8/10
5. Give Thanks And Praises - 6/10
6. Blackman Redemption - 9/10 - Should of been on Uprising.
7. Trenchtown - 9/10
8. Stiff Necked Fools - 9/10
9. I Know - 6/10
10.Rastaman Live Up! - 10/10 - Should of been on Uprising.

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So this is what "Uprising" would of looked like!

1. Coming In From The Cold
2. Buffalo Soldier
3. Bad Card
4. Pimpers Paradise
5. Work
6. Chant Down Babylon
7. Jump Nyabinghi
8. Rastaman Live Up!
9. Could You Be Loved
10. Blackman Redemption
11. Redemption Songs
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That would of been a 6 star album,
but anyway "Confrantation" is a album worth getting, even is your not into reggae.

I agree that this shouldn't be the first Bob Marley album for anyone to own. It was released after his death and it is a compilation of songs recorded around the time "Uprising" was being made. Not to say its bad, but it shouldn't be anyone's introduction to this legend's music.

That being said, this is still an amazing album. Almost every song is a Marley classic. The only song that doesn't exactly fit is "I Know," but that song is still not a reason to not buy this. You should probably buy all of Bob's other studio albums first, and then you'll know whether or not this is right for you. I love everything Marley, so I'm biased.

This is one of the more spirituall albums. It has great significance to those of understanding. Chriss Blackwells influence seems to be less imposing...meaning that the "crossover" vibes isnt that evident.
Songs such as my favorite; "Siff Necked Fools" speaks directly to the mentality of the scocially outcasted Jamacian Rasta Man living in that time before the Jamacian Government figured that Rasta faith was a good way of "branding" the Jamacian tourist "product" and ride on the internationall aceptance of the Wailers and Rastafari Culture. Allthough barriers are being broken down at home {in Jamacia } its sad to say that Rastafari is STILL persicuted for there religion in Jamacia. Having grown up and lived in Kingston most of
my life and being socially aware Im speaking from experience, not what you see on T.V. In the song "Trench Town" it says "Up a Cane River to wash my dread; upon a rock I rest my head. There I vision through the seas of oppression oh dont make my life a
prison...we come from Trench Town"......

It says a lot about the man that they could pull together an album like this from what some have called left overs. I'd hardly call them that though as I like every song on the album. There is a spiritual side that comes through very clearly regardless of whether or not you agree with what he is preaching. A Very powerful and touching group of songs to say the least.