Artist: Burning Spear Album: Appointment With His Majesty

Year: 1997
Duration: 0:0-1

A Critical Review of Living Dub, Volume 4: Burning Spear's Classic Dub Album

Reggae music has without a doubt produced some of the most iconic albums of all time. Such is the case for the renowned artist Winston Rodney, popularly known as Burning Spear. His creativity and style have been awe-inspiring and have captured the hearts of many listeners worldwide. Among his many albums, Living Dub, Volume 4 is one that stands out. Today, we'll take a closer look at the album, its background, the best songs, and some of the pros and cons that make it so unique.

Background: Living Dub, Volume 4 is the fourth album in the Living Dub series. It was released in 1981, produced by Burning Spear himself, alongside Sylvan Morris. The reggae and dub music genre that propelled Burning Spear became popular in the early 1960s and 1970s, with a lot of its popularity coming from Bob Marley, The Wailers, and other reggae artists who also sang about political and societal issues. Burning Spear emerged as a unique voice in the genre, fronting his personal thoughts and feelings over his songs, earning him a reputation as a profound folk-reggae artist.

The Best Songs: Living Dub, Volume 4 has some of the greatest hits of Burning Spear's music career. One of the best tracks is Farover, which offers a sense of depth and spirit that is typical of his music. The second notable track is Jah Say, where the horns, drums, and bass create a beautiful harmony. In Those Days is another classic anthem and a reminder that history tends to repeat itself. Other great tracks on the album include Incursion, Respect, and Social Living.

Innovative Parts: The use of percussion instruments like nyabinghi drums is one exciting aspect of the album's production that sets it apart. This gives the listeners an earthy and authentic feeling of African-influenced rhythms, which makes the album more lively. The use of synthesizers and sound effects also offer a refreshing take on the production of the album.

Critique: However, the album has its limitations. For instance, the lyrics are not as potent as some fans would like, and some of the tracks seem to fade out too quickly. That said, it is important to note that copying too heavily from Bob Marley and other reggae artists may have held Burning Spear down. But as far as creating his music and sound style, he shone out like a bright firefly.

Living Dub, Volume 4 is a good album by Burning Spear, and it stands out as a cornerstone of his music career as well as the reggae music genre. It is not as popular as some of his earlier offerings, but it still deserves recognition as one of his best works. With the mix of contemporary sound engineering and an exquisite tracklist, it's a fascinating piece for those searching for a classic reggae and dub sound. If you're a fan of his music, or of reggae in general, it's worth giving Living Dub, Volume 4 a listen.