Reggae's holy spirit

CD/DVD | Matisyahu explores the collision of religion and popular music in his new release, "No Place to Be."

By Ricardo Baca
Denver Post Pop Music Critic

DenverPost.com


Were Matisyahu just any old reggae-obsessed MC, he would not play to the crowds and acclaim that he enjoys. So in a way, his Hasidic Jewish religion is both his reason for living and his musical shtick.

Not to cheapen the nu-reggae star's faith or accomplishments, but his religion is obviously the most interesting facet of his short yet productive career. And his new release, "No Place to Be" (released Dec. 26 on Epic), tackles it all head-on with a CD version of the new single "Jerusalem (Out of Darkness Comes Light)" and a companion DVD titled "Live in Israel."

When Matis talked with The Post three months ago, there were contradicting reports in the press about his desire to move his family from New York to Israel. When a reporter asked about his plans, one could practically hear the cogs working against one another inside his head.

"I really still do want to move there, but who knows when it's going to be," he said in September. "Who knows what's going to happen. I don't know. For me right now, the music is my place. That's what I do.

"I'm not a soldier. I'm not a Zionist trying to get everyone to move to Israel. I'm just tying to move people together in a way of giving praise to the most high and putting out there a message with meaning behind it, a message of transcendence."

Matis, born Matthew Miller in 1979, is more of a musician than many have given him credit for. His music, as evidenced by the insane release and touring schedule he's upheld since 2004's "Shake Off the Dust ... Arise," is basic but solid reggae. It's smartly produced, and his authoritative voice and presence make him a natural star with potential far beyond any niche or religion.

But Matis is also less of a teacher than many have credited him for. He's a holy man, but he's not a Holy Man - a distinction he makes on the DVD portion of "No Place to Be" in fascinating interviews set amid sandy Israeli streets.

"The world that I come from is a world of music and Phish concerts and raves and hip-hop shows and music and art and all that stuff," he says in a mini-documentary. "It's a part of me, especially when you've been in these intense music experiences, that stuff all leaves its mark on you."

He goes on to mention that his decision to immerse himself in a religious world was deliberate, but he has no interest in being the "ultimate Hasid."

"That's not the lifestyle that I live," he says, noting that he enjoys the music of his old life and the texts of his new life, regardless of their butting heads. "To me, the two go together pretty well."

This collection is mostly about the DVD because of that juxtaposition and struggle. While the CD gets top billing, it plays second fiddle to the fascinating DVD. Still, the CD will be popular with fans and nonfans alike because of Matis' inspired remake of The Police's "Message in a Bottle." At times it's a pitch-perfect cover. Elsewhere Matis makes the track his own, new lyrics and all.

The CD also includes the popular "Chop 'Em Down" and the brand new banger "Jerusalem (Out of Darkness Comes Light)." Neither track is the next "King Without a Crown," but they're surprisingly potent, given that Matis has released four solid CDs (including one live effort, "Live at Stubb's") the past two years.

Pop music critic Ricardo Baca can be reached at 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com.

Matisyahu's Israel visit released on DVD

Just in time to miss the Christmas shopping rush in his native US, Hassidic reggae star Matisyahu has released a DVD documenting his tour stop in Israel in December 2005.

Featuring songs including "Jerusalem" and "Late Night in Zion," No Place to Be also shares offstage footage from the 27-year-old performer's week-long visit, including behind-the-scenes interviews and street performances in Jerusalem. The disc went on sale in the United States on December 26 and is now also available in Israel.

Born Matthew Miller in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Matisyahu became an unexpected commercial hit with Live at Stubbs, which sold over 500,000 copies in the US and earned the artist a flood of mainstream media attention. His most recent album, Youth, debuted at number four last March on the Billboard album chart. Just six previous reggae artists have seen their albums debut in the Billboard top 10, among them Bob Marley, UB40 and current Jamaican dance hall king Sean Paul.

No Place to Be

Epic

EDEN MUNRO / eden@vueweekly.com

Matisyahu knows the true power of music. This knowledge is not something new, and he doesn’t claim to have created it, borrowing a well-worn page from a well-worn songbook that has been used by everyone from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley, as well as plenty of others both before and after.

Matisyahu is a Hasidic Jew, who sings about Judaism. Not exactly commercial material, and yet it’s as catchy as anything out there on the charts. See, what Matisyahu knows is that you can sing about most anything as long as the music gets under the listener’s skin and inside the head. Here, that means that Matisyahu has wrapped his lyrics up into the rhythms of reggae, creating songs that force listeners to feel the undertow of the groove.

This set is made up of a seven-song EP and a longer live DVD. The EP isn’t exactly a definitive piece of work from Matisyahu, though. While there are some powerful lyrics to be heard, they are somewhat dulled by the slick production that dominates. Likewise, a cover of the Police’s “Message in a Bottle” is fun, but does not particularly work as a rallying cry, again because of the glossy sheen it is given by producers Sly & Robbie (although the remixed Dub version fares a little better).

The accompanying live DVD is where Matisyahu really shines. He and his band take their time during the concert, building songs from ghostly sounds up into full-on heavy reggae grooves, and they aren’t burdened by clumsy production. The sound is raw and left that way, with the songs rising and falling in the moment.