Customer Reviews

Halfway Tree

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is by far one of the greatest modern reggae albums out there. Named after a particular area in Kingston, Jamaica where all major roads meet, Damian "Jr.Gong" Marley sampled a variety of musical genres while collaborating with many big time reggae, dancehall & hiphop artists.

1. Educated Fools (5/5) - Nice hiphop beat. Great way to start things off. Bunny Wailer opens with an interesting skit leaving Jr Gong to do his thing along with Bounty Killa & Treach (Naughty by Nature). 2nd best track of the album.
2. More Justice (4.5/5) - Big time reggae tune. Good message.
3. It Was Written (4/5) - (modern reggae/hiphop) Very popular track. Nice collab with Capleton, Stephen Marley, and Drag-On.
4. Catch a Fire (3/5) Not bad for a solo effort.
5. Still Searchin' w/ Yami Bolo (5/5) - 3rd best track on the album.
6. She Needs My Love w/ Yami Bolo (4.5) - Dancehall track. Very nicely done.
7. Mi Blenda (5/5) - More Danchall here. Arguably the best track on the album, and Jr. Gong's best solo effort. He delivered an absolute scorcher!
8. Where Is the Love (4.5/5) - Nice Hip Hop beat. Good vibes. Nice collab with Eve. Positive message.
9. Harder (Interlude) - see #10
10. Born to Be Wild (3.5/5) - A rather dark/violent story was told but overall it's a well produced song.
11. Give Dem Some Way (5/5) - Modern Reggae. Nice african inspired beat. Jr Gong was sharp on this one.
12. Half Way Tree (Interlude)
13. Paradise Child (4.5/5) - Nice collab with Jimmy Cozier. Very smooth and relaxing R&B beat.
14. Stuck in Between (4/5) - Modern reggae tune. Jr Gong did his thing as usual. Well done track.
15. Half Way Tree (5/5) - Danchall/HipHop. Major props to Jr Gong for bringing in Swizz Beatz on this one. The beat is sick! You'll be bouncing from start to finish. 4th best track.
16. Stand a Chance/And You Be Loved (4/5) Modern Reggae. Very smooth track. The Bonus track should have been separate.

Overall, a very solid grammy winning effort that wouldn't disappoint. It's really made for the larger audience rather than just roots reggae enthusiasts, as most of the tracks had hiphop beats (crossover appeal). I'd recommend reggae/danchall/hiphop fans to get this album. It has everything that will grab your attention.

Inferior to his first album "Mr. Marley", Damian Jr.Gong strays from his father's influence and his dancehall style to a confusing mix of R&B, Hip-hop, and Rap. Guest appearance by Treach? Whose down with O.P.P? Not me! What's with the munchkin voice on the title track "Halfway Tree"? Must be all the Ganja smoking! Save the dramatic spots for MTV and get on with the roots. Besides "And Be Loved" and "Catch a Fire" where he samples Bob's original classics "Could You Be Loved" and "Slave Driver", "More Justice" sampled from Ziggy and the Melody Makers, and collaborations with the most vocally talented of the Marley brothers--Steve, the rest of the album is sort of disappointing. About half the songs are good, and as a hardcore reggae fan, buy it...but if you don't own his 1996 debut "Mr. Marley", buy that one first!

Halfway Tree, Damian Marley's major label debut is a ground-breaking blend of reggae riddims and dancehall bass lines. beginning with the electrifying reality rhyming of Educated Fools, and pushing into more solemn and inspirational songs such as It Was Written (my favorite), he then pays a beautiful homage to his father in Catch a Fire, doing a very worthy job putting a modern twist to Bob's Slave Driver. From there Damian moves into some R&B and more dance-able tunes, but brings the revolutionary spirit back with the Halfway Tree Selah, and with the humbling social critiques of Stand a Chance. Overall, this album is a well-rounded and fantastic reinvention of Rebel Music and Damian shows his roots and inspirations, mixing everything together, and creating an album that you can dance too and draw inspiration from. His BEST album!
You can lead a revolution with this stuff...

Jr Gong is following his half brother Ky-mani's step by releasing this album that is cross over reggae CD..so many
pop tracks, it's amazing none of it has made it into POP radio,
especially when SO many rap groups (i include shaggy in that group) are doing Faux ragga rap..More Justice is one of the Killer tracks there..and there's a hidden track at the end of the last song..every track is good..just get it, and see how
real ragga is done, Hiphop ragga is a waste of time!

I am totally in love with Damian Marley's voice. It is edgy, but smooth and incredibly easy to hear. I have all of his albums and there is absolutely NO WAY you can get tired of listening to him sing. On this album, one of my favorite songs is "Still Searchin'". You can't get enough! Seriously. If you are not convinced, listen to the sample. A girl could fall in love, literally! I highly recommend this album to anyone. Very well put together!

One of the best reggae albums I've heard in some time with its raw, driving, hard and relevant lyrics. I like this one even better than Jamrock. This brother has a style that is his own, and his interpretation of the Marley message will ensure that the word of the Last Known Living Prophet survives . . . If you like hard unfiltered reggae, you'll love this one.

Every single day for the past few months I have been listening to Stand A Chance. There are several great songs on this CD, Educated Fools, Give Den Some Way etc etc. But Stand a Chance is hypnotically beautiful, conscious, great rhythm, power voice, great message, its got it all. AND THE BONUS TRACK right afterwards is also great. On give dem some way, the last 5 seconds are very unusual in music these days....he just goes OFF . I wish the whole song had this power that the last 5 seconds have. ITS AMAZING. Those last 5 seconds fill a universe!
Damian Marley is his own man. I am hoping in t he future, he gets rougher and tougher and spits the truth louder. he's poised to receive it all. lisabancroft.com fullmoonstone.com

This album is intense, radiating Marley creativity with a political backdrop that spouts truth in every direction. I was instantly hooked on the nu-skool intelligence plastered over seriously phatty beats. Every track on this album is slammin and representative of the genre.

If you like passionate, sensical, and political music with intelligent lyrics that can't be easily categorized or compared with much else, then this album is fa ya.

Thanks to amazon.com for dropping a nice review of this album, which I agree with, except for the "truly funny" spoken-word that introduces the first track, which is phenomenal. I wonder if Rebecca heard what Bounty was saying or if she just heard the word "monkey" and lost track of the meaning...this album is evolved reggae, and wayyy dope. A must have for true heads.

peace....!

Halfway Tree is a must have! Some CDs have a few songs that make the item worth buying but every song on this is awesome! Not only that but every song on this CD alone makes it worth buying. Damian maintains the traditional reggae sound laid over a soulfull r&b rythum that moves you! Jr. Gong is the Marley to bring reggae music into mainstream and Halfway Tree is the perfect compilation that bridges modern r&b hip-hop with true reggae sound and lyrics. Marley, reggae, hip-hop, or whatever your flav - pick up Halfway Tree. No wonder Halfway Tree won BEST REGGAE ALBUM OF DA YEAR! This CD is Off the Hook!!!!

- love & respect
- praise jah

This cd is so good. Jr.Gong is keeping the Marley name alive. There is a lot of energy. I definately recommend this cd.