MATISYAHU Youth
There was a time when music fitted neatly into categories like "Rock", "Reggae" and "Gangsta Rap". And then came Matisyahu.
This most unlikely of musical sensations to come out of the States in the last year cuts an unlikely figure in the plastic world of pop music with his full-length beard and fedora. His sound is heavily reggae-influenced, but draws on elements of dub, ska, and some lickety-split vocal sampling that can only be described as beatboxing.
Born Matthew Paul Miller, he turned to Orthodox Judaism in 2001, and took the name Matisyahu (a Hebrew derivation of Matthew). He reportedly won’t do concerts on a Friday, or share the stage with a woman.
'Youth', his first full-length release comes on the heels of a live recording — 'Live at Stubbs' — that went gold on a minimum of marketing.
While that album was bursting with energy and the raw sound of a four piece on stage, 'Youth' is tighter on the production, and draws more on the effects and samples.
The result is an album that manages the difficult feat of being instantly accessible while remaining intriguing and thoroughly listenable over the long term.
Stand out songs include the title track, a muscular call to arms that has troubled charts on both sides of the Atlantic. 'Time of Your Song', meanwhile, is pure pop perfection with its earnest lyrics, skippity rolling beat and subtle classical melodies.
The compelling 'King Without A Crown' is perhaps Matisyahu's signature song, the only track to feature on both albums; the studio version is undeniably weaker.
But that's probably because a musician like Matisyahu has to be seen to be believed — a reggae poet with a beard and a fedora who's set to become a superstar. Believe it.
This most unlikely of musical sensations to come out of the States in the last year cuts an unlikely figure in the plastic world of pop music with his full-length beard and fedora. His sound is heavily reggae-influenced, but draws on elements of dub, ska, and some lickety-split vocal sampling that can only be described as beatboxing.
Born Matthew Paul Miller, he turned to Orthodox Judaism in 2001, and took the name Matisyahu (a Hebrew derivation of Matthew). He reportedly won’t do concerts on a Friday, or share the stage with a woman.
'Youth', his first full-length release comes on the heels of a live recording — 'Live at Stubbs' — that went gold on a minimum of marketing.
While that album was bursting with energy and the raw sound of a four piece on stage, 'Youth' is tighter on the production, and draws more on the effects and samples.
The result is an album that manages the difficult feat of being instantly accessible while remaining intriguing and thoroughly listenable over the long term.
Stand out songs include the title track, a muscular call to arms that has troubled charts on both sides of the Atlantic. 'Time of Your Song', meanwhile, is pure pop perfection with its earnest lyrics, skippity rolling beat and subtle classical melodies.
The compelling 'King Without A Crown' is perhaps Matisyahu's signature song, the only track to feature on both albums; the studio version is undeniably weaker.
But that's probably because a musician like Matisyahu has to be seen to be believed — a reggae poet with a beard and a fedora who's set to become a superstar. Believe it.
posted by Editor at 8:50 PM
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