World Peace

Culture | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 17, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Heartbeat / Pgd
• ASIN: B00009LW3D
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #286,531 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One of roots reggae's institutions, Culture has cut a broad swath through Jamaican music thanks to potent political lyrics and an organic roots reggae sensibility that eschews dancehall's rough ghetto patois and digitized music making in favor of sweet-sounding vocal harmonies and live music backing. On its 30th album, the long-running outfit is still led by Joseph Hill, whose raspy sing-song vocals and rastafari political convictions touch on such subjects as oppression ("No Segregation," "Sweet Freedom"), war ("World Peace"), ganja ("Bud A Bawl"), and salvation ("Holy Mount Zion" and "Walk In Jah Light"). Hill’s messages are nicely supported by solid, groove-driven backing from the Firehouse Crew (a great group of hired studio guns), noted Jamaican saxophonist Dean Fraser, and members of Shaggy's backing band. Culture first made its impact felt in the mid-'70s, but this album proves that Hill and company still have much to say. --Tad Hendrickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Culture Is Harder Than The Rest, February 14, 2004

By 

Gavin B. (St. Louis MO) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: World Peace (Audio CD)

Joseph Hill is one of the few reggae musicians that can claim a rightful bloodline to the original roots conscious innovators who actually began the international movement of reggae music. To Joseph Hill's credit, Culture has remained firmly rooted in the spirit of Rasta consciousness and roots music that is essence of reggae.

Some thirty odd albums later one finds Joseph occupying much the same musical space as he was in the mid-seventies. It's a very good space and while others have moved on, it has become remarkable how Culture continues to endure, not from a forumula of success, but by never deviating from what made them great. Culture never felt the need to follow trends, and devolve into a band that used electronic gimmickery and an attitude of "slackness" into order to stay relevant. Culture keeps doing what they've always done best, which will leave Joseph Hill the last man standing, when all of the accounts are set straight. Cuture is truly harder than the rest.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars World Peace captures classic Culture of old, June 17, 2003

By 

Trevor Holland (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Peace (Audio CD)

CULTURE
World Peace
Heartbeat

Joseph Hill is one of reggae's greatest living songwriters and survivors. When you think that most international recording artists able to deliver thirty albums in over a quarter of a century, might or should be millionaires - here comes Hill, still thriving on a large underground fan base and working the club circuit that extra hard with every passing year. If he has wealth, it's not related to silver or gold, but in wisdom and prophecy.
In 1977, Hill's vocal group Culture (then comprising of Hill's cousin, Albert Walker and cousin-in-law, Kenneth Paley) released an album of legendary proportions, `Two Seven's Clash' that made an impact on the growing legion of white, anti-establishment English punk rockers of the time. England was a hot bed for sufferer's music of all kinds and with racism rearing its ugly head, the country's wild youth found some solace in the sufferer's sound of Joseph Hill and company.
What has emerged in the twenty six years since, is a reggae icon of majestic proportions who conducts himself in public with dignity and always has a joke or two to pull out from behind your ear. Surviving the exodus of young ears to reggae dancehall's phenomenon during the late 80's and early 90's, Hill elevated his stature with the emerging roots, reggae revivalists during the late 90's. He and Culture crowned the 20th century with a series of impressive albums, `One Stone,' `Trust Me' `Cultural Livity' (live), `Pay Day' on RAS Records as well as `Humble African' on VP. Even today, Joseph Hill's voice shows no sign of wear or tear and his strength as a songwriter is just as apparent now with `World Peace' as it was with `Two Seven's Clash.'
A master at writing anthemic chants in a hymn-like manner, Hill's profound insights into poverty, war and injustice are all revealed on `World Peace.' From the cries of "Some of them a holler, some a ball" on `Time Is Getting' to the persevering restraint shown on `Never Get Weary,' Hill's hypnotic hooks grab your attention and never want to let go. Whether he's inviting George Bush to reason by his side (bible in hand) under a marijuana tree (as on the title track) or chanting alongside niyabinghi drums on the exceptional "Babylon Falling," Hill captivates as well as he does communicate. "There's enough (freedom) to satisfy a mans need, but not enough to satisfy his greed. Hill declares on. "Sweet Freedom."
The delightful harmonies and anecdotes on `World Peace' are enhanced by the inclusion on three tracks ("Bad A Bawl", "Dog" and "Holy Mount Zion") of Jamaica's leading roots band, The Firehouse Crew. These tracks are by no means superior as "Babylon Falling" will a-test, but certainly help solidify the album. Regardless of the fact, Joseph Hill has left us with another sublime piece of work for us to think about, repeat and respond to. Let's hope that he, Albert and Telford Nelson continue to walk in Jah light and soldier on toward world peace until all of life's tribulations "come down."

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars as large as the planet & all the love of Jah, November 23, 2003

By 

I X Key "burningfield" (tomorrow) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Peace (Audio CD)

Culture is not a band that wastes time with anything less than the hugest issues. From the title song announcing that we can't take another war & that we want world peace to the mystic reverie Walk in Jah Light & other demands for social rectification, such as No Segregation, everything on this CD is monumentally important. Both the lyrics & the completely memorable music! Good on Culture!