Performer Notes

Following up his much-heralded live album and a prominent guest appearance on P.O.D.'s TESTIFY, Hasidic reggae singer Matisyahu unveiled his major-label studio debut, YOUTH, in early 2006. Primarily produced by Bill Laswell (something of an avant-garde equivalent to Rick Rubin), this 2006 outing finds Matisyahu backed by his LIVE AT STUBBS ensemble (here dubbed Roots Tonic), which can turn on a dime from dancehall to heavy rock. Although labeled by some as a novelty act, Matisyahu presents his unusual musical hybrid with passion, whether charging through the fierce, Bad Brains-like title track or plaintively crooning on the acoustic "What I'm Fighting For" (which strongly recalls Bob Marley's "Redemption Song"), proving that his attempts to reach out and transcend musical and cultural boundaries are, if nothing else, genuine.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (p.90) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "His voice is nimble....His band plays one-drop roots reggae like a group of Jam Cruise vets, turning up the heat..."

Q (p.117) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "This is rousing reggae with soaring melodies which harks back to the glory days of the '70s..."

Q (p.116) - Ranked #100 in Q Magazine's "100 Greatest Albums of 2006."

Global Rhythm (Publication) (p.44) - "Filled with songs of love and faith....It's varied, musical and just plain funky enough that people will want to listen to these songs for a long time to come."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.113) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Miller matches his own spirituality with that of his adopted genre."