Matisyahu
Live At Stubb's
Epic/ Sony BMG

It was only a matter of time, really, what with all the Zion references and talk of the Lion Of Judah, that eventually a Hasidic Jew would pick up this whole reggae thing and... wait a minute, this is the most absurd concept since D'yer Mak'er.

Gimmicky it might be, but the music deserves a listen, and it must be said that the live format probably works better as a platform to introduce Matisyahu to a new audience than a studio album. Promoting a very MOR form of reggae that seems to derive as much from classic FM rock as true reggae, Matisyahu's songs are logically quite simple and catchy, as well as very easy for drunk people to sing along to. So, throw some beat-boxing, a little hastily expounded Hassidic philosophy, a few ad libs and a bit of pretentious guitar soloing and you have an easily marketable new star who's fresh. Unfortunately, it's also very tiresome as Matisyahu's chanting isn't particularly tuneful nor is his rapping or beatboxing terribly adept. The guitar solos drag on seemingly forever and I can only be grateful that the drum solo was aborted. Not that the invisible audience seems to mind, cheering listlessly whenever prompted.

Perhaps I'm being a little harsh because reggae has been somewhat stagnant of late, but to suggest that this is pushing the musical envelope in anyway is laughable, fusing as it does the watered-down elements of a number of genres in an attempt to make something commercially viable.

Alexis Buxton-Collins