Close your eyes, sit back, and relax. The latest of Bob’s children to drop a debut album brings you a verbal styling not dissimilar to the great man himself, and lyrics that could very easily have been written by him too. It’s hard to listen to the lead off track without comparing the two.
Mind Control sees Stephen Marley stepping away from his siblings in the Melody Makers, and following Damien with his own debut album.
Packed from top to tail with conscientious lyrics over African, Latin, and rock influenced beats, Marley brings an 11-track album of very different influences together like they were all father and his ten descendants.
Having showcased his production on Erykah Badu’s “In Love with Who”, and more recently Welcome to Jamrock, the Raggamuffin sets out to establish himself as an artist in his own right, doesn’t disappoint.
In Traffic Jam, having already seen major airtime on radio stations, the beatbox and reggae backdrop to Marley’s marijuana arrest storytelling forms his most recognisable track of the album. Complimenting this nicely are tracks like Let Her Dance, with a Latin feel and smooth lyrics of romance, and the hard hitting Iron Bars, a social commentary piece about life in the slammer.
With appearances from Damien Marley, Spragga Benz, Mos Def, and Maya Azucena, it’s easy to see why this album is quickly becoming known as one of the most anticipated album of the year, just 3 month in to it.
Mind Control is released March 20th, 2007, on Universal’s Republic label.
Rating: 4.5/5
Useful links: http://www.stephenmarleymusic.com and http://www.myspace.com/stephenmarley
Words By: Andrew Milner
