Unchained Spirit

Buju Banton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 22, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 22, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Anti
• ASIN: B00004WFE7
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,041 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Cultural Colonialism Reversed, October 16, 2000

By 

"scalpelman" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unchained Spirit (Audio CD)

Something doesn't ring true about this album. Actually, several things. The first four tracks are nothing but warmed-over 1970s US soul and gospel - slick, inauthentic, gloopy and faintly nauseating. A ploy to crack the US market, I suspect. Buju Banton is touted as Bob Marley's true heir, but Marley firmly put his cultural stamp on other styles and made them his own; Banton merely appropriates them wholesale, and despite the Jah-talk they sound bland and remarkably unJamaican. That said, there are 12 more tracks - 48 minutes of music - during things improve considerably. But this is a deeply flawed album. If you want cultural dancehall at its finest try super-righteous Sizzla's sophisticated 'Black Woman & Child' or Capleton's hugely exciting 'More Fire'.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply beautiful music!, October 5, 2000

By 

Irie1 (FL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unchained Spirit (Audio CD)

This album does not disappoint....it definitely delivers what Buju Banton fans have been waiting for. Tracks such as the '23rd Psalm' w/Gramps, and "We'll Be Alright" w/Luciano keep the mellow mood flowing, whereas the upbeat "Guns & Bombs" and "Girls Dem Phat" will certainly get you rocking. Simply the best!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nobody is making better reggae today, August 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Unchained Spirit (Audio CD)

Buju Banton is a master of styles. He nails gospel, hip-hop, first-wave ska, dancehall, even a punkish redemption song with Rancid. All of it is filtered through reggae backed by an insistent drum machine. Other guest stars include Morgan Heritage and Luciano. There's a gorgeous spiritual vibe that never comes off as soft or New Age-y like a lot of today's reggae. If all the reggae you own is Bob Marley's "Legend," then you should take a chance on this. If you're actually into reggae, this puts most other contemporary artists to shame.