Customer Reviews

Other Side

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

 

 

South African reggae superstar Lucky Dube has returned with an excellent new album, The Other Side. The follow up to Soul Taker, a decent outing that failed to reach the soaring heights of his previous work, The Other Side marks a return to vintage form.

His trademark combination of thoughtful, timely lyrics and a light, rich, upbeat reggae sound work together as beautifully as ever. And, of course, the centerpiece remains Lucky's incredible voice. With the rich and driven resonance of Peter Tosh combined with the emotion and range of Seal, Dube's voice easily has to rank among the best in reggae, if not music in general.

As seems to be his habit, the best songs are stacked at the beginning of the album. The first 5 tracks are all outstanding, especially the title track, which discusses the "grass is greener" phenomenon among many blacks around the world, wanting to return "home" to Africa, while many Africans dream of leaving, and Cool Down, a smooth burner about infidelity.

Lucky Dube fans, and fans of smooth roots reggae in general, rejoice! Once again Lucky and his peerless backup band have delivered the perfect soundtrack for an afternoon in the hammock, on the beach or wherever you need a little sunshine...

- Lucky Dube returns to his roots with his signature roots rock reggae sound combined with organ, guitar and sweet background vocals (now including his daughter). If you liked "Trinity" or "Serious Reggae", you will love this one.

It moves your soul with his lyrical treatment of such issues as AIDS, political strife and the most interesting song I've heard called "The Other Side". This one deals with the tendency of African descendants from all over the world to long for a life in their ancestral homeland while many in Africa just dream for the chance to leave. How many reggae songs have you heard about reuniting with African homeland? He casts no value judgment on who is right and who is wrong, but since he has witnessed both sides, he passionately vocalizes the truth that we are all animals of the "grass is always greener" mentality.

A great find for both veteran reggae lovers and new converts ready to move on from the Bob Marley "Legend" training wheels into something equally moving but less overplayed.

His new album THE OTHER SIDE continues to present a fine blend of African, reggae beats and stirring vocals, providing ten new songs on social issues ranging from sexual responsibility in a world of AIDS to longing for a different world.

I did not know Lucky Dube before I heard him at the Lugano Estival Jazz, in summer 05. I am totaly taken by this music! The whole band lays a mildly grooving carpet to his masters beautiful voice. I bought The Other Side along with Soul Taker because they are the newest albums and thus came closest to the live concert.

This guy is a perrenial reggae favorite of mine. Talk about consistency man. I think with Jamaican artists (contemporarily) they get too caught up with trying to adapt to the popular Yankee market (i.e. try to be too hip-hoppish, most times). African cats on the other hand are more true to their style, their soul, their game, hence; their music. This is why I like Dube alongside his beautiful melodies, harmonies, signature keyboard tone, style, awesome band and back-up voices. A champion of roots reggae!

Lucky Dube's reggae is the best in the world. I'm glad I found it on UTube. Not available in America.

I believe the BBC cited the song "Number in a book", the opening song of this album in an article on the untimely death of Lucky Dube, words very pertinent to the crisis of violence in South Africa that even cost Lucky Dube his life. I know you must be in heaven good man.

On to this album, it's got a good share of dub and when you touch on African rhythms as one reviewer said and it's not King Sunny Ade by any means, it works. Of course, Dube did do other music before getting involved in reggae. That being said, the accompanying singers are usually women but the roots is there too. Quite a bit of keyboard/straight organ work here too.

Besides the opener every song is a winner, intense messages mostly maybe 2 love songs, relaxing vibes and a pretty good morality. Is a good combination, powerful words if not always the most powerful rhythms I humbly opine. The title song, "The other side" works well enough and is one more reggae song talking about "going back to Africa"; but in Dube's case, he is telling us, "hey, sometimes the grass is green on the other side" versus what they might sing out in Jamaica. The single word titles of almost 3 of the last 4 songs, "Soldier", "The Bully" and "Hero" (maybe this one even reflecting on 911 in an indirect way) come along alright. "Divorce Party" and "The cool down" yes seem to deal with marital fidelity and isn't Lucky's view actually rather orthodox to the institution of marriage. "Family Ties", yes, this is a bit in the same vein as "Number in the book" and somewhat haunting at that.

I don't find overwhelming rhythms here as in some reggae but I don't see that in Alpha Blondy's songs either. Maybe it's partly a cultural difference and how we see music in the west.