JAH ROOTS: Crucial

Jah Roots

Crucial

© 2006 GanJah Records (094922607928)

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Crucial is the most recent release in a string of excellent reggae albums by Jah Roots. With every song on the disc easily becoming your favorite, this CD has so much to offer to any listener, a very positive message and a great sound to back it up.

tracks

1 Crucial
2 Dont You See the Problem
3 Secrets
4 One to One
5 Good Highs
6 Fight Down We Chalwa
7 Roll Up the Spliff
8 Chant Down Babylon
9 Murderers
10 Poverty
11 System a Dread
12 Empress

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notes

Crucial is the most recent release in a string of excellent reggae albums by Jah Roots. An explosively good vibe is packed in this little CD. Pop it into the player, and the syncopated island jams bury their way into your head. For all the classic Reggae fans who love Bob Marley and the like, many tracks such as "Secrets", and "Fight Down We Chalwa" exhibit a similarly classic Reggae sound. For those who are looking for a new sound, tracks like the title track "Crucial" and "Good Highs" have great reggae rhythms infused with vocal influences from Hip-Hop and Ska. The disc also very tastefully contains heart felt message about either having a great time or bringing attention to some of the worlds problems. Their music has potential to do many great things for the world. It provokes deep thought of reality by offering up views that most people want to ignore. Their political message is very reminiscent of past Reggae greats, whose only way of getting their message out is this great music called Reggae. This CD has so much to offer to any listener, a very positive message and a great sound to back it up. With every song on the disc easily becoming your favorite, it's hard not like everything about it. It's apparent the memebers of Jah Roots put their heart and soul into their music. When anyones ear catchs the infectious sounds on this CD, they will definately be impressed

reviews

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  • author: Jensen Hirashima

    AWESOME REVOLUTIONARY REALNESS SICK BEATS

  • i love em
    author: Cory

    this cd kicks ass jahroots is an awsome band i enjoy it very much havent taken it out of my cd player yet

  • Awesome
    author: Dani

    I love Jah Roots! This CD has some of the cutest stoner love songs I've heard. Very nice. I use them. = ] Some of the vocals were a little off, but other than that I loved the whole thing!! one.love.Dani

  • Crucial
    author: Theresa Ratay

    Stellar CD. Makes me want to dance the whole time I'm listening to it!

  • Jah Roots is revolutionary
    author: Jason Kerr

    I saw Jah Roots for the first time at Flamingo in austin and they are the fittest of the percussion level of reggae music. Mixed with dope bass lick after dope bass lick they cannot be missed be any i-and-ite reggae fans. The chucks, are tuff, the solos are unique and Jah Roots lead singer posesses the sound of true roots reggae. If you havent seen these guys get the fuck off your ass and make it to Austin for reggae fest on 4-20- I know I'll be there.

  • one of the best reggae sounds
    author: www.lastadded.com

    Of all the reggae Last Added has listen to the trifecta of Jah Root's Good Highs, Roll of the Spliff, and Babylon Respect Lower make this band one of the best reggae sounds currently online. Only Tribal Seed's Beautiful Mysterious is close, but loses under the weight of not having a few more good reggae songs. Hailing from Springfield, Missouri what makes Jah Roots sound so good is their duel vocal approach coupled with a great rhythm section.

  • Crucial
    author: Del Ponticelli

    This album is CRUCIAL,it JAMS! If you don't have it, you need to get it. Can not wait till they come to Corpus Christi, TX.

  • author: Susan Pattie

    Awesome awesome awesome!!! I can't stop listening to the CD. But having heard some of their stuff online, I was already expecting something great. Wasn't disappointed. The music makes me feel so good. I would love to see them live. Normally I'm biased against white Reggae bands - but this one blows me away.

  • crucial
    author: paul anderson

    I found these guys from checking out woodbelly on youtube. I am areggae supporter from Toronto and this song makes me feel the way I like to feel while listening to reggae. nice email me @ panderson110@cogeco.ca

  • crucial
    author: paul anderson

    I found these guys from checking out woodbelly on youtube. I am areggae supporter from Toronto and this song makes me feel the way I like to feel while listening to reggae. nice email me @ panderson110@cogeco.ca

  • HERBALICIOUS!!!
    author: Ashley

    I caught these guys live in St Pete, with Tribal Style and Badda Scat. Best live reggae I have ever seen. Horn player BLEW me away!! Awesome. Check out all their stuff.

  • Money!
    author: Wilmu

    Great grassroots Reggae CD. A friend of mine from Springfield told me to check these guys out and I am thoroughly impressed. Check it out!

  • Great CD, every track is great to listen to
    author: Kyle

    Loved the CD. Not one track I don't like listening to.

  • author: Jesseca

    I found Jah Roots through WoodBelly and I have to say this is the best sound I've heard in a long time. Smooth. Simply Smooth. Greatest CD I own.

  • rocked
    author: zac

    jah roots are the best saw them at schwagstock 33 i was hooked

  • great cd, loved every track
    author: steve

    the cd is packed with power, its one of the best i have heard in a long time cant wait to hear more.

  • AWESOME!
    author: Lindsay

    I LOVE this CD. I'm a huge reggae fan, saw these guys in concert a month ago and had to buy their new cd. I love almost every track and can't wait to buy their other cds! BUY THIS CD NOW!

  • Great Songs!
    author: Haide Rasta

    Greetings from Athens, Greece! Jah Roots have at least a couple of fans here too! I love the cool and fresh roots sound of yours, vibes flowing, can't resist skanking. Crucial band, keep on spreading the word, wider and wider. And keep on having so much fun of it, cause it's obvious and inspiring that you're happy doing what you're doing. And you have to be, to make other people happy too. And come play in Greece!

  • JAH Roots: My favorite track…One to One
    author: David Wells of Miracle Ink

    This particular song begins with a plaintive, solitary wail of brass-artistry, immediately following, the voice of lead singer Ras Josh somberly let’s the listener in on the dire state of affairs put forth by “One to One.” Throughout, his vocals are framed by the solo horn – working as a narrator, moving the listener from here to there, .. The verbage contained within the opening lyrics spell out what the listener already knows from the ominous, advancing vibe employed during the opening: THERE IS CONFRONTATION IN THE AIR . What exactly this impending throw-down is about…I couldn’t tell you. The tradition of Rasta reasoning is employed in the space of this song to try and fend off the preemptive strike bubbling through to the surface. A tone of deep concern can certainly be detected in Josh’s vocal stylings. Around the four-minute-mark on the track, space suddenly expands within the song’s fabric, creating a cavernous, sonic habitat allowing for the crucial introspection called for to develop, ruminate and ultimately arrive at this (apparently) most pivotal of decisions. Nice implementation of Roots-Reggae standard wah-wah guitar and stone-solid bass line. This song manages to be pleasurable despite brimming with a heavy flavoring of unnerving urgency, conflict and tension. A dizzying accomplishment. Jah Roots, as a collective, illuminates this piece with the highest standard of artistry I’ve heard employed in this genre of music during my fifteen years of intent listening.

  • “Some Day” Makes For a Soothing Reggae Retreat
    author: David Wells of Miracle Ink

    Another great cut from JAH ROOTS . This song is more ballad-esque than some of their other tunes I’ve heard. Ras Josh’s voice registers an intimate performace. This song seems to reveal itself as a meditation on love, mortality and appreciation to the most high.

  • System A Dread
    author: David Wells of Miracle Ink

    Jah Roots delivers an anthem for the dreadlocked everywhere. Though following in the tradition of many a past reggae tune desiring to “mosh up Babylon,” this song doesn’t stop at that. What’s different about this track is it offers an alternative, even if it’s only meant as a whimsical, passing meditation. The title “System A Dread” serves as a label for a societal contruct based on the ideology of Rastas world-wide. Jah Roots is offering an alternative to the Babylon system, rather than just demanding its immediate demise, which is arguably the most common theme running through most roots reggae standards. In addition to Ras Josh’s vocals which alternate between high-energy and meditative-melodic-conjecture, the horns on this track rival anything I’ve heard lately from the Dave Matthews camp. Ultimately, this track enages the listener, posing a fleeting yet triumphant possibility for a simpler and less toxic existence. An existence where instead of “pharmaceuticals makin’all the money” physicians prescribe “herb and honey.” On this sonic creation, Jah Roots makes your visit to their parallel reality sound positively uplifting.

  • CRUCIAL is the 1st ever MidWestern Produced Roots Reggae CLASSIC !
    author: David Wells of Miracle Ink.

    These guys are very talented. I can’t fathom how this heavy roots reggae band spawned from Springfield, Missouri. I saw these guys open a Bob Marley Festival last summer and was immediately struck with how tight their band sounded and by the lead-singer’s voice – which literally left me speechless. He’s also a talented song-writer as well. The guy who raps in my opinion almost serves to distract from Ras Josh’s authenticity and stirring vocals. I can’t believe I’m writing the following, but it’s the truth: They were my favorite act on that hot summer day, on a bill that included Stephen Marley, Ziggy Marley (who I am a huge fan of) and Bunny Wailer who it goes without saying demands infinite respect. So, obviously, you could say I like Jah Roots.

  • Highlights include the title track, which is especially reminiscent of middle-pe
    author: JAMMIN REGGAE ARCHIVES

    Jah Roots - Crucial Based in Missouri, Jah Roots play in a rootswise style that harks back to the late 1970s, when roots-and-culture reggae had fully developed and dancehall was waiting at the threshold for its turn to take over. Their sound is sharp and well-defined, and lead singer Ras Josh sings with a laid-back diction that recalls both David Hinds in his jazzier moments and (believe it or not) Tracy Chapman. It's hard not to be a little distracted by the affected Jamaican patois (Missouri, remember), but they carry it off well enough. What really matter are the songs, which are uniformly very strong. Highlights include the title track, which is especially reminiscent of middle-period Steel Pulse, and the high-energy "Chant Down Babylon." DJ I-Ron is very impressive. Recommended. www.niceup.com

  • This CD never leaves my cd player in my car
    author: Abby Leigh

    So this cd is sooooo good if you dont have it you need to get it...i always leave it in my cd player in my car because its just an up beat cd which gets me pumped for anything....pretty much just buy it...

  • There's nothing like Crucial to just sit back and chill to!
    author: Amber McDaniel

    I loved this entire CD! I heard them(Jah Roots) for THE first time at McCarthy's on St. Patty's Day, and I was blown away, matter of fact the whole place was........back to the cd in review......love, love, love Murderers, but like I said the cd takes me to a whole other place everytime I pop it in, and for that I'm psyched and thankful! Buy this CD, you won't regret it!!!

  • Crucial is fantastic
    author: OAR Darby

    This album was great I thought. First heard of Jah Roots last September at Schwagstock, saw them and ordered the album as soon as I found it in stock. I would highly reccommend this album to anyone that digs the reggae music.....i just wish I had this album last january when I was in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

  • AWESOME!! But where is "Only wanna be with you"??
    author: Rosa Maria Noonan

    Awesome style. Really enjoy listening to it. Thanks so much. Keep doing what you are doing.

  • jah roots is an excellent reggae band!! i love it!! i'm glad i purchaced it!!!
    author: lws

    jah roots is awsome!! great reaggae band to listen too!! i love them!!! would be nice if they would take a moment to write and notice who really likes there music!! i love rock/metal, but that never keeps me from good chill layed back island music!! thats the feel jah roots gives me!! also i connect jah roots with in my inner peace with god as one!! much peace!! lws

  • Their music has potential to do many great things for the world.
    author: The Current - Tahlequah, OK.

    Crucial is the most recent release in a string of excellent reggae albums by Jah Roots. An explosively good vibe is packed in this little CD. Pop it into the player, and the syncopated island jams bury their way into your head. For all the classic Reggae fans who love Bob Marley and the like, many tracks such as "Secrets", and "Fight Down We Chalwa" exhibit a similarly classic Reggae sound. For those who are looking for a new sound, tracks like the title track "Crucial" and "Good Highs" have great reggae rhythms infused with vocal influences from Hip-Hop and Ska. The disc also very tastefully contains heart felt message about either having a great time or bringing attention to some of the worlds problems. Their music has potential to do many great things for the world. It provokes deep thought of reality by offering up views that most people want to ignore. Their political message is very reminiscent of past Reggae greats, whose only way of getting their message out is this great music called Reggae. This CD has so much to offer to any listener, a very positive message and a great sound to back it up. With every song on the disc easily becoming your favorite, it's hard not like everything about it. It's apparent the memebers of Jah Roots put their heart and soul into their music. When anyones ear catchs the infectious sounds on this CD, they will definately be impressed. Jah Roots has been city hopping promoting Crucual and on Nov 10th Tahlequah will be lucky to host them at The Dream Theatre. This is an exciting chance to see some awesome Reggae Live in Tahlequah. Whether not or you may get to the show you will not regret purchasing this CD or any of their other albums. For more info about Jah Roots please visit www.myspace.com/jahroots

  • realse my soul and have music with heart
    author: jake lathan

    realse my soul and have music with heart

  • This CD is awesome...I love Jah Roots!!
    author: Amanda

    This CD is awesome...I love every song!

  • Musically,.. Outstanding an Voice, so Inspirational an,… magical even!
    author: Dread Vibration

    Review on album “Crucial” by “Jahroots” Sometimes yuh come to find a group a musicians that a really blow yuh away wid dem sounds an vibes. Well ,…this group called JAHROOTS is defenitely a group like that!!! From di first tune called Crucial (an believe I a Crucial Album it is) till di number twelf tune called Empress man a tell yuh all a dem a scorchers!!! Personly I love/like di number six tune the most” Fight down we Chalwa” it,s called, Raaastafari mi tel yuh one wicked/bad tune dat! Picked out dis ya one as I favourite after hearing the cd for bout??? Many a times. For I say it again,a none a dem less!!! Truly I bredren,…raaspec from I,… all a di weh J. Musically,.. Outstanding an Voice, so Inspirational an,… magical even! I know I said this inna some a di Reviews I did awredi, that it is a must have inna yuh Reggae collection,…but dis ya one, A DEFINITIVE MUS HAVE!!! Eric Groves,Josh Nail,Stephen Washburn,Grant Maledy,Mike Hulsey,Ras Josh an I-Ron together dem is JAHROOTS.An yuh all right when yuh a seh Good music bring good vibes inna di number five song” Good high” keep on doing Jah Blessed Works an never ever stop bringin di people di good highs an good vibes,for believe I,….dem a need it,all over di world!!! Blessed love to yuh all, an may Jah Guide an Itect yuh all fi Iva an Iva, I man say an pray. Check dem at www.myspace.com/jahroots an learn all about dem or check Di station Bigupradio. Jah bless yuh all with love,light an livity. Iceraly I Jahlive I Rate 5.5.

  • I think my CD player likes Crucial so much, the eject button doesn't work! Lucky
    author: KristinA

    Naw..really, I picked up Jah Roots when More Herbs for tha Youth came out. I fell in love with their energy,stylee,sound and incredible lyrics. Their new cd Crucial is mad talent on the rise and obvious only a taste of whats to come! I-Ron's addition sets it off to perfection and makes a great addition! They switch it up everytime leaving the common Reggae repetitiveness in the dirt in my opinion. There is not a song on this cd you would skip through, a matter of fact, the more you listen to the cd, the more enlighten you become. A definite must have cd for your sanity!!

  • It can all truly be summed up in their track "Good Highs".
    author: EME

    So here's a band with plenty of energy, style, and presence. But do they have the talent and sound to bring it all home for the fans? Yes, and then some. What was pushed as a simple memorabilia at the night clubs turned out to be a silvery disc of vibrant energy and a welcomed addition to our music collections. Jah Roots' ability to fuse that oh-so familiar Rastafarian sound with islander vocals, a smooth playin' sax, and a bit of tight hip-hop, skat slipped in on the occasional track shows their talent pool runs deep and long. Unlike their fellow unkowns out there in music land, Jah Roots' latest album "Crucial" was recorded with true devotion to the preservation of their talented sound. If you think they're rockin' live, wait until you get a hold of "Crucial". It's obvious nothing was sacraficed for this album. Great sound quality, top mixing and fabulous selection of music. It can all truly be summed up in their track "Good Highs". Thanks guys, -m

  • Their talent pool runs deep and long
    author: Eme

    So here's a band with plenty of energy, style, and presence. But do they have the talent and sound to bring it all home for the fans? Yes, and then some. What was pushed as a simple memorabilia at the night clubs turned out to be a silvery disc of vibrant energy and a welcomed addition to our music collections. Jah Roots' ability to fuse that oh-so familiar Rastafarian sound with islander vocals, a smooth playin' sax, and a bit of tight hip-hop, skat slipped in on the occasional track shows their talent pool runs deep and long. Unlike their fellow unkowns out there in music land, Jah Roots' latest album CRUCIAL was recorded with true devotion to the preservation of their talented sound. If you think they're rockin' live, wait until you get a hold of CRUCIAL. It's obvious nothing was sacraficed for this album. Great sound quality, top mixing and fabulous selection of music. It can all truly be summed up in their track Good Highs.

  • Jah Roots kick-ass & take names with the "Crucial" cd!
    author: Jeri Fletcher

    The Crucial cd is definately Jah Roots latest and greatest cd yet. After Babylon Weak Heart and More Herbs for tha Youth, I did not think it could get any better, and it did. I-Ron is an amazing sing-jay and song writer, Jah Roots is blessed to have such a addition to their already incredibly sick music. I look forward to the next cd and the next after that, Jah Roots knows how to bring the sweet ass reggae and the beautiful vibes to boot.

  • Jah Roots latest album "Crucial" is worth having in your reggae collection !!!
    author: Go Magazine

    New Jah Roots music is nothing new; the band maintains four myspace pages where fans can download its songs, and it's been known to give out CD's for free at live shows. So what is the incentive to pay money for this particular album? Regardless of your thoughts on the scratch-for-songs exchange, Jah's latest album, Crucial, is worth having in your reggae collection. The band's dancehall-infused style of reggae, which its been crafting since the band formed its current incarnation in 2003, is at its most polished on this release. Every cut sounds practiced, honed and perfected--and they are, after playing them at so many of the band's live shows. The best part is that little of the tunes' energy is lost when put on CD; they don't sound live, mind you, but the happy trance-like vibe is there the same way it would be on a Friday or Saturday night at The Outland. There are no real weaknesses for reggae fans to find in the recordings, although casual listeners might point out reggae's one limitation: repetitiveness. But the greatest strengths are the dancehall flows that dee jay I-Ron contributes to six of the album's 13 tracks, the sinewy playing of saxaphonist Grant maledy and the feel-good soul singing of singer Josh Heinrichs, a.k.a. Ras Josh. It's easy to tell when musicians love what they put on record , and jah Roots communicates that love well--well enough to pay for, even. Choice spins: "Crucial", "Don't You See the Problem", "Good Highs", "Murderers".

  • author: Yea yea

    I feeling this album. Check out G Tee Shotta at www.808musicstore.com i see you two doing big things together.

  • Avery positive review from the #1 reggae review site worldwide!!!
    author: www.reggae-reviews.com

    Jah Roots returns as strong as ever, but if you wanna hear 'em this time out, you'll have to pay, you deadbeats (see cdbaby.com). People have families to feed, y'know. After releasing their first two albums to the masses free of charge, the band understandably has decided to go the standard retail route with Crucial. It continues in the same vein as their previous efforts -- invigorating roots with a free-flowing, "jamming" vibe that at times samples past classic cuts (like Israel Vibration's "Same Song" riddim on "Secrets" and Barrington Levy's "Murderer" on "Don't You See the Problem") and that just makes you want to boogie. As with Babylon Weak Heart, they hook up with DJ SkillinJah (for one cut) and add another two sing-jays to the mix, I-Ron and Badda Skat. These guests represent admirably and throw a jolt of party energy into songs like "Good Highs" and "Chant Down Babylon," but it's Ras Josh who continues to be one of the most engaging singers in reggae today. He combines a Marley-esque wail with Ali Campbell-esque soul and throws in a blues singer's calculatedly ragged edge and a jazz singer's vocal improvisation to craft a style that would make "Mary Had a Little Lamb" listenable. From up-tempo jams like "One to One," "Poverty," the anti-babylon rant "Don't You See the Problem," and the title track to more mellow grooves like "Roll Up the Spliff," "System a Dread," "Secrets," and the anthemic "Fight Down We Chalwa," Crucial soars. Hopefully, its mainstream distribution will draw more fans into the Jah Roots sound.

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