Matisyahu:
Light

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Lion from Zion

by Matt Fink

Having struggled to find middle ground between refining his novelty for a wider audience and retaining his reggae and hip-hop flourishes on 2006’s Youth, Matisyahu’s third album finds him caught between returning to his core and pushing further into the mainstream. The surprise is that the world’s leading (and only) Orthodox Jewish dancehall star actually succeeds by doing the latter, enlisting producer David Kahne (Sublime, Paul McCartney) and an eclectic cast of reggae all-stars (Sly & Robbie, Stephen McGregor), creating an album loaded with oversized guitars, electronic beats and anthemic choruses. Reggae and spiritual self-improvement remain Matisyahu’s foundation, but they’re increasingly buried in the mix, allowing him to focus on his developing ear as a pop songwriter (the soulful “I Will Be Light” and the pitch-shifted hookery of “Struggla”). Add in a few banjos, clarinets and a children’s choir, and you’ve got an eclectic album that’s unrepentantly over the top.

Lyin' from Zion

by Brian Howe

The fundamental problem isn’t that Matisyahu is an Orthodox Jew making reggae music. Yes, it sounds like the premise for an Andy Samberg parody: Jews like Zion, Rastafarians like Zion, therefore—Ras Trent, now with forelocks! The biggest hurdle for white, Western reggae singers to overcome is phoniness: How to make reggae without faking patois (which sounds silly and condescending), and how to embrace its themes without reducing a racially and politically charged genre to mere schtick? Matisyahu spectacularly fails to solve these predicaments, but the biggest problem with his reggae is simpler: He’s unequivocally terrible at it. Not only do we get fake patois, but also raging electric guitars and cluttered hip-hop production. We can perhaps thank the existence of marijuana, dorm rooms and the safe allure of gentrified exoticism for the fact that he’s parlayed this dross into a fertile recording career. Seriously: Who the bloodclaat is buying all of these Jah-damned Matisyahu records? It has to be the same people keeping Sublime’s back catalog inexplicably in print.

Listen to Matisyahu on imeem.

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7 Comments

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By Ari on August 24, 2009

I find Howe's comments really odd because in all my interactions with true-blood Jamaicans and/or Rastafarians have had nothing but praise for Matisyahu's work, and called his reggae work legit . . .

By Sanskrit Skreet on August 24, 2009

Brian, howe did you look at that paragraph and think it appropriate to soil our day with such one dimensional drivel, much less deem it byline worthy? Mockery of the superficial is the lowest form of criticism, and demonstrates the poorest grasp of reality; critique is supposed to be critical analysis, not a bolster for your feelings of inadequacy. You jibe (baselessly, no less) at his accent, while the artist grooves to reggae's substance and spirit. Remember, in the future: speak when you have something to say, not simply to make yourself sound clever. Because, inevitably, the truth will make itself known.

By Jonk Krukoff on August 25, 2009

WOW. Brian Howe -- first thing we need to do is get you laid. Then we need you to actually listen to reggae. Turn your brain off and feel the groove. You haven't been to any reggae or hip-hop shows eh? Something tells me you take a notepad to all the concerts you go to.

Matis has been around for like 5 years now and his music has always been drenched in rock, hip-hop and electronica and jam band overtones.

I hate lazy reviewers.

Peoples: if you love Matis, or exploring new music with thought provoking themes, Light is a fantastic album!

By MM on August 26, 2009

I covered this for another publication. First, Howe's got some valid points - post "Shake" and pre "Light" he clearly didn't know how to - ahemmm - find his groove. But the hybrid stuff he does isn't universally terrible, though it is far from genius as well. Both reviewers are correct to suggest anything thematic on this album is (I would argue wisely) buried under polished club aesthetic/production. Its neither as bad as Howe would suggest or as good as Krukoff seems to think. Also, Krukoff, we all love music - thats why we review this stuff. The notepad just comes in handy when you have to pump out 800 words.

By shailee on August 27, 2009

wow Brian, chill.

Couldnt agree with Ari, Sanskrit and Jonk more than i do now.

There are plenty of albums out there that stink, you dont need to thow all your agression and yiddish vocabualary into one post.

Moreover, sometimes the best way to enjoy music is not to over analyse it. people will buy these records because they love his messages and beats.

mostly i think it is to be commended, admired and flattered that people of all walks of life wont to try their hand at a unique pocket of music.

By chis08 on August 28, 2009

I have to completely disagree with Brian. This album is not only authentic, but it is matured, well-rounded, and a great listen. Matisyahu brought it on this record and inspires and invites even those who don't usually listen to reggae and rap.
Example #1: http://www.onedaychange.net/ =Matisyahu's new project

By yeh on September 12, 2009

Both of Ari's Jamaican and/or Rastafarian friends have told him that Matisyahu is legit in the reggae world! This must mean that his pseudo-patois is super awesome!

Thanks Ari.