Ok, when I first heard of Matisyahu, I thought it was a gag act. Nothing wrong with that. Heck some artists, like Ray Stevens and Weird Al have made a career out of it.
For the uninitiated, Matisyahu is a Hasidic Jew who sings about spirituality and philosophy in front of a Reggae band.
And he stage dives.
And performs in front of large enthusiastic crowds.
And has a major label record deal.
Did I mention he's totally serious and extremely talented?
All I can say is, listen to this CD that shows him interacting and feeding off a large crowd and marvel at his voice and how tight and excellent his backing band is.
It's rare to come across something different let alone unique. Matisyahu isn't a gimmick. He's the real deal. If you listen to this CD you won't be sorry.
Check out Matisyahu's official site, where you can hear the title track from his new CD, Youth.
Track Highlights
Track 2, "Chop 'em down" a song that meanders through several different emotions, starting softly and building in energy and fire. This song showcases all the strengths of Matisyahu: his amazing voice, his sincere and effective Marley-esque reggae delivery and his amazing band.
Track 5, "King without a crown" the first single off the album. This song has a TON of energy. It makes you want to move, even if only to tap your foot. Most reggae is too mellow for me, but this works. Live this number is close to frenetic and the audience loves it. Count me in.
Conclusion and Grade
It isn't often I listen to a new band and am totally hooked from the first song. This is one of those times.
A+
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