It all starts with a title track that sets the tone for the rest of the album which is a well balanced mix of political, dance, and love ballads, with a few street tunes thrown in for good measure. Right off the bat he gets to you with a his political views, his title track is all about the control that the powers that be have tried to exert over the public, and he warns us (even pleads) not to be swayed and controlled by those powers, he follows that up later in the album with song titled "Chase Dem" which is even more direct and to the point as he is obviously fed up with the political system.
His love ballads are definitely a cut above the mainstream as well as the music itself sets the sexy mood while the lyrics set down situations that we can all relate to. In the song "Your Gonna Leave" we feel it as the song tells us of a relationship that has run its course and we are invited along as he comes to that realization. Another song "Lonely Avenue" is about love and loss as we’re told of a woman that turned down a marriage proposal and we can share his pain of love denied. What I feel mostly in these songs and in his dance tunes (especially "Let Her Dance") is his respect and admiration towards the opposite sex which is a breathe of fresh air in a landscape where women are continually objectified in modern day music.
My favorite track on the record has got to be "Hey Baby" a song that features Blackstar’s Mos Def, a smooth beat accompanies both he and Mos’ lyrical styles. The song is one of appreciation for his woman sticking with him through the good and bad. It’s so hard for artists these day’s to ‘keep it real’ but Stephen never has that problem anywhere on the album, like the title track suggests he remains true to himself throughout the record. "The Traffic Jam" featuring Damian Marley also stands out with some serious beat boxing (by Phantom) that really completes the song.
My only real complaint about the record is that I wish it was longer, but that’s not really a complaint about the content, I just want more of that good stuff. All in all whether you’re a reggae fan or not, this album is honest and complete in the sense that it really does have something in it for everyone, as Stephen Marley keeps a tradition of musical excellence alive and well. I highly recommend that you check it out.
