DLC IndustryWatch:
THE HINDSIGHT 360 REVIEW SHEET*
*TM & Copyright ©2000, 2002
DLC Information Group,
a unit of The DLC Organization
By Daddy Lion Chandell
Music & Entertainment
Analyst and Historian/
Founder, Chairman, and CEO:
DLC IndustryWatch
John Brown's Body
This Day
I-Town/Shanachie, 2000
Cycles*: 5.5 +1 of 7 | HR! |
Reggae, Contemporary
Producers: Alex Perialis
and John Brown's Body
DLC IndustryWatch Choice*
REGGAE ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2000
[This Hindsight 360 Review originally released on April 12, 2000,
corrected and revised in 2002 for "Wake The Town!*"]
I intended to do a feature story on this band BEFORE I composed this review (and I still do, considering how important this band is! But to me, as well as a few other people understandably anticipating this review, this review is LONG OVERDUE, and so it is. So, just as you read, STRAP INTO YOUR SOULS for THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE!!! In this ride, and in our travels with this band, expect to hear me say it time and time again that John Brown's Body are THE SUPERHEROES OF REGGAE MUSIC!!!
By now, after nearly five years of existence with the name John Brown's Body (in tribute of the white civil rights abolitionist, with reflective purpose in their music), many people have probably compared or contrasted them, an all-white band with one African member, with the likes of fellow bands like Big Mountain and the legendary British band UB40. Well....
(give me some room..... excuse me..... ATTENTION, PEOPLE!)
Let Daddy Lion Chandell tell you like this---
With JBB, THERE IS NO DAMN COMPARISON!
I have enjoyed the music of UB40 for years, and lead singer Ali Campbell will forever ignite stages and CDs with his piercing voice. And though I haven't heard too much of Big Mountain's music, I know that they can play some sweet music. But if I was a betting man, and there was a Reggae music horse race lined up, John Brown's Body would remain the undefeated thoroughbred! I even told them myself, specifically saxophonist and harmony vocalist Lee Hamilton (RESPECT ALL THE TIME!) that they kick both their asses! I wasn't ashamed to say it there and I'm not ashamed to say it here either. Why?
Because UB40 and Big Mountain only play THE REAL DEEP Roots Reggae on occasion, when they feel to do so. John Brown's Body plays it REAL, and DEEP, and ROOTSY, and SOULFUL, and with 'NUFF PIERCING VIBRATION to create a global cataclysm all the time. They have come up throughout the years, learned all that was necessary, and have graduated as ultimate students in the college of Reggae authenticity, becoming masters of their craft!!! JBB has ultimate respect and knowledge of TRUE REGGAE MUSIC, the kind that has been missing from our ears for many years---since way back in 1988, when Dancehall hit the town (and was at its best) and Roots Reggae became less and less and still less. The heartbreaking slow tragedy that it was, DLC and The Hindsight 360 Review Sheet* is PROUD and HONORED to present to you, live and direct from America, for 2000 to eternity, the next greatest recorded Reggae band in the world since Aswad. John Brown's Body, and their third and best album ever since their first---This Day!!!
We begin our blessed journey in the "Isle Of Springs (Free All Day)" and ever so rejoiceful opening This Day ever so appropriately. We are transported by way of vortex drums and organ in the beginning, followed by the bass rhythm of David "Solid" Gould and a chwanky, slightly (and only slightly) Wailer-esque accompaniment by Nate Richardson. Then bring on those heavenly horns from Lee Hamilton and Chris Welter---PURE UTOPIA! "Isle Of Springs (Free All Day)", one of the album's best masterpieces, which hints right at a possible Christianity background/concept of the group (or at least lead singer Kevin Kinsella, since I can't really speak for the others just yet), is not lengthy in verse, but is extremely forceful in execution and power, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CHORUS HITS!!! That leads me to believe that the song's focal point for the people was in the chorus. While the vocalists belt out the chorus "Tell the people they are free all day / Come tell the people they are free all day....", right after those words, David Gould releases a wicked back-and-forth bassline that will make your mouth say "OH, MY GOD!" and your heart turn inside out into a fatal acceleration, making way for some (pardon the "valley" terminology) GUARANTEED MAXIMUM REWINDAGE! Obviously a favorite track of mine, which I never hesitate to play over and over again---either the whole song or just to hear the chorus repeating five times into fade. David Gould must be given some big-time reward for his banging bassline antics.
Next up, a self-explanatory love song which counts for the listener as well as for Kevin. "Satisfaction Feeling", which is the only song on this album featuring female sibling background vocalist members Charisse Lucente and Yvette Lucente, not to mention the truth of this album, is an automatic reminder of the erotic Lorna Bennett classic "Breakfast In Bed" (not to mention the hilarious Dancehall version "Skank In Bed" with Dancehall legend Scotty) [Blue Mountain-Island, 1972] with its semi-chunky, deep "build-up" bassline and execution. It almost seems as if it was an answer record to the latter. The presence of The Lovely Lucente is inevitable and unsurprising, especially for those who know JBB well. "Satisfaction Feeling", with its rich mid-early 70s sound, could very well be regarded as a classic, a favorite, or quite simply (and most definitely) a focal point in this album by many Reggae critics, historians, and DJs. All I can say is enjoy and rewind if you must, because like The Carpenters, we've only just begun.
For many years now, many people have spoken of, preached about, sang of, or hinted about a "Land Far Away". Kevin is pretty much reflecting on what I just phrased to you on this matter, while otherwise being somewhat inspired by The Abyssinians' definitive classic Reggae spiritual, "Satta Massagana" [label and date to be updated], for its opening base lyrics. Who knows of it? Who's heading there IF anyone is going there? Gee, with the music JBB plays, that land might as well be anywhere just around the bend as they play this fine piece for you. Incidentally, as he belts out the line "I like the night and the feeling that it brings, yeah...." during the first of two short (but very sweet) bridges, the mood in the music matches the mood in the text, making this upbeat track all the more enjoyable, not to mention the raw conviction of Kevin's vocal performance in this song.
As we leave the "Land Far Away", the next question at hand is "Can You Let Her Go?" The answer is a resounding no as Kevin stands by his much-criticized lady---that's the subject matter of "Can You Let Her Go?". This song is a true Reggae song, one of those songs you listen to at home with a bunch of other joints on a classic Reggae compilation. Solid lives up to his name on that grooving fast-tempoed bass. The tulips are tiptoed, tapped, and tickled on by drummer Tommy Benedetti, and the horns get hotter and hotter as they harmonize amongst the heavens, especially during the dub-rock break in the middle of the song. Can you let this song or this album go? HELL, NO!
On This Day, we shall sing and rejoice in the name of The Almighty for our livity, as well as the life brought to us by John Brown's Body---not the Sheriff, mind you. Speaking of which, the title song "This Day" once again feature slight Wailer-esque elements, but only mainly at the opening and the bridge of the song, with a little tiny touch of Parliament Funkadelic in the middle; other than those tiny aspects, the song is pure JBB. The divine organ is not missed for a single solitary second, and the party should be getting started any time soon after that.
"Foolish Pride" IS A CLASSIC! "Foolish Pride" is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE songs on this album!!! "Foolish Pride" IS A MUST TO LISTEN TO OVER AND OVER AGAIN....especially since it feels so short and is yet TOO SWEET!!! Four minutes, ten seconds for a Reggae song is rather sufficient, but not for a song like "Foolish Pride", which is heavily and undeniably styled in the classic sound form of the aforementioned Aswad, combined with elements of Horace Andy circa 1977. This is the kind of song you'll hear passing by a car that's playing that REAL GOOD REGGAE, and you really love that song, and you want to know who performed it, and maybe even want to get your hands on it. Well, remember this---it was John Brown's Body. There are two things I would have loved to hear with "Foolish Pride"---1) to be hit more times by the instrumental chorus melody with horn backing, and 2) to hear a dub version of it. I mean it's totally NOT FAIR! I mean....
"Poor Man's Prayer (Give I Strength)" has a dub. Shoo! Well, nevertheless, it's time to board the choo-chooooooo! Get on board this freedom train for another celebration taking place before The Almighty, where once again as a prayer is recited for the people plagued in poverty. I'm sure plenty of us can relate to this situation. Duh! "Poor Man's Prayer" automatically gets the hips moving and the vibes activating, an ultimate dance hall jam. Again, I forget who in particular or which song was previously styled in the manner that this one. But I'll tell you one thing---the people at the legendary Trojan Records would have a field day with "Poor Man's Prayer" for one of their upcoming compilations.
By the way, let me mention that when it comes to Reggae Dub, JBB KNOWS DUB!!! If you don't know JBB well or at all, "Poor Man's Dub" is a perfect introduction to how Dub is done. But if you REALLY want to know, check them out in CONCERT!!! No other band (or at least, very few bands) has ever actually PLAYED DUB during a stage performance! That's real talent there, and it's coming from RIGHT HERE IN AMERICA!!!
Next up, let's take a grooving night ride once again with God, Jah, Jehovah, Yahweh---whatever name you wish to call The Almighty. That's right, there are "Many Names" for The Most High, and yet we all have yet to find a true understanding AND OVERstanding of Him and who He is. The short song that it is (the shortest one for that matter), the lyrics are as Divine as the subject matter and the music. To dance, vibe, or perhaps conjure up nice memories of the past to this catchy tune never fails!
Trojan Records has another potential classic to look at and it's called "This And That (Just A Little Bit More)", which has that real 1970s/Trojan/Heptones feeling about the music. So much so, that if you never knew that this song was made in 1999 by a group named John Brown's Body and released in 2000 on I-Town Records or Shanachie Entertainment, you would probably be surprised to find that out when the local music store representative finally hits you with the astonishing news. "This And That" sets itself immediately to early 70s time and gives off a feeling of good old Caribbean family home music listening time, in the Caribbean, or America.
Time for a little "Inversion". The title of this instrumental piece created by (yep, you guessed it) David Gould suggests somewhat of a science-fiction-type, innovative setting. Well, there are a few scientific sound effects (not as many in the first track, "Isle Of Springs (Free All Day)") but nothing dominating the riding rhythm of this nighttime tune, which sounds a tad itchy at the beginning and turns slightly Wailer-esque (once again) toward the end.
I tend to treat this next song, "Jah Works", like the last song of the album since it's sadly the last Reggae song on the album. I also place a lot of attention on this song since this is the song that captivated me the most on an interesting, cool-breezy February 23 when I discovered JBB for the first time. There was another group that performed before them called Jah Works, who I originally came to see, unaware of what I would soon experience instead. I missed them, but ended up finding a lost Divine treasure in music that will inspire me even further ahead. That's right, John Brown's Body, "The Superheroes Of Reggae Music", became a new and instant inspiration to The Lion. "Jah Works", the longest song on the album (All Praises Due To The Almighty for that) and also one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE songs on this album, is a slow, heavily, bass and rhythm-driven track that will send your Soul soaring toward The Heavens and beyond. And I will always remember the song for that fateful day, which, ironically, was the record release party for This Day to be released THAT very day. Interestingly enough, "Jah Works" exits off with a part ("Physical works we are doing / Musical works we are doing / Spiritual works we are doing / Alle-luia") which was spun off into another song by group member Nate Richardson, better known as Silas, a mellow, laid-back vocalist who sings with no Caribbean accent, but is all the same a supreme talent. It is called "Spiritual Works" and is featured on his seemingly autobiographical solo debut album, Uproot, on their home label, I-Town Records, and is basically JBB with Silas taking lead vocal.
Ending off the album on a non-Reggae tip (which they have done before) is a slow-tempoed tune called "Rip The Curtain", recorded in 1997, and (obviously) previously unreleased until now. It was probably not intended for release on album at the time. But as This Day (drawing to a close) is probably their most spiritual of all, this song tends to serve a purpose (with much reason) for this album. I'll tell you one thing, as Contemporary as this song, the harmonies of Kevin Kinsella and fellow vocalist and tambourine man Elliot Martin are definitely of Reggae nature! So, take a listen, "Rip The Curtain", and then, relax.
This Day (pun or no pun intended---it doesn't matter) has proved itself as a testament to the music world that REAL REGGAE MUSIC is HERE TO STAY and WILL NEVER BE DISGRACED!!! I mean, art has truly never had such a vision since The Divine Queen Michelle Thomas departed us. And as HR!* stands for Highly Recommended!* , I HIGHLY recommend that you RUSH OUT and GET THIS ALBUM!!! Save up your change, break down the doors, rush the unit in your player, and GUARD IT WITH YOUR LIFE!!!
Now, three of the songs from This Day, "Isle Of Springs (Free All Day)", "Foolish Pride", and "Jah Works" have special nominations so far for "Best CUP Reggae Song Of The Year 2000". And, oh, yeah!---there will be more coverage and information coming up soon on John Brown's Body, best believe it. At this time, I would like to give a large, large heartical thanks and appreciation to Lee Hamilton, Jana Peri of ISL (thank you once again for another Divine work of art), Silas (send your contact to my e-mail address and I'll send you the blank tapes we spoke about), Fabian Alsultany (I'll check the site when I get the next chance), and the two people that came with the band that day at S.O.B.'s whose names I forgot. You have all (as well as the rest of the band) brought a great happiness to this lone Warrior. As for Kevin Kinsella, please get to me soon. I know you're doing your thing out there. And I'll be eagerly awaiting to your return to New York toward the end of this month, which I won't miss for the world!! Hopefully, the band and I will talk more. And don't be surprised if I sing harmony in the audience.
What more can I say? I can't stress it any more than I already have. I don't believe in live action figures coming to life, but I do believe in real classic Reggae coming back to life. And I live for them just as well. And so, I rest assured and relaxed knowing that This Day has definitely been a fantastic one. Thank you, JBB. Thank you.
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John Brown's Body: This Day
I-Town/Shanachie, 2000
DLC IndustryWatch Choice
REGGAE ALBUM 2000
Highly Recommended!
A Bonafide CLASSIC for the
Ultimate Reggae Collection!
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