Culture release relies heavily on reggae's roots-minded message
Most people are not familiar with the principles surrounding roots-conscious reggae. The most familiar reggae artists - most will think immediately of Bob Marley and his crew - did indeed scribe a mass of potent roots songs, but often strayed into the territory of love and indulgences almost as often as they did the principle beliefs of Rastafarianism and oppression. On his album, "World Peace," roots-reggae artist Culture cuts the slack topics and engineers an album full of potent lyricism, political topics and calls for change. It's high on message, low on slack topics such as love and pleasing to the ear. The problem is with all the power underlying the lyrical content, it all seems too familiar to the seasoned reggae listener and a bit too radical to the casual fan. "World Peace" has a lot to say, but unfortunately, it seems that other artists like Peter Tosh, Buju Banton and Steel Pulse have all done it before - and done a better job with it. A.P.
