Jah Cure - The Ultimate Cure Review

Posted by Paul Hollingsworth on 11.18.2008

Recently released from prison, Jah Cure releases a new record. Will the old gods of reggae allow the new boy-savior a place to play and sing in the hallowed halls and rarified (and no doubt gange-filled) air of reggae-heaven?




Reggae, as a musical genre, is almost completely defined by its most famous practionier, Bob Marley. Ask ten random people to name a reggae artist besides Marley, and you'll most likely get blank stares. You may get another Marley name or perhaps even Black Uhura , but for most people, Marley is Reggae.

Luckily, musicians such as Jah Cure , despite working in the long shadow cast by Marley, are moving the music forward in unique and interesting ways.

Jah Cure recorded several singles before his arrest and also was allowed to release several albums while in jail. These records charted highly in his native Jamica and when he was released on parole in the summer of 2007, he headlined a concert of other contemporary reggae musicians. The Ultimate Cure is his first album recorded and released since his release. An ealier album, True Reflections...A New Beginning was recorded mostly while he was still in prison.

The album opens with 'Sticky', a fun little song which showcases Cure's unique voice and ability to turn a phrase. The music sounds similiar to some of Marley's stuff, but Cure's voice grants the song a depth and power which sets it apart. The second song, 'Hot Long Time' features an unneeded opening rap verse and sound effects which take away from the song as a whole, which also includes some work by reggae royalty Junior Reid. (Familiar to some as the voice singing One Blood in The Game's song 'It's Okay (One Blood).'This song is the first single and video from the album and while it's okay, it's nothing earth shattering. There are much choicer cuts deeper on the record which better showcase Cure's talent.

The third song, 'Reflections' barely registers as reggae. If not for Cure's voice, you'd be led to think someone had mistakingly put a modern R&B ballad track on the record. Again, it's not bad and the lyrics themselves are well written and Cure sings with a somber, melancholy tone which rises and falls against the choir-like back up singers, but its doesn't sound like reggae should sound. The next song, 'Soon Come' is more of the same. Cure's voice stands out on a very generic sounding backing track. However, after this brief foray into 'let's try to have a radio-friendly hit,' the record really takes off.

'Burning Et Looting' is a fine example of a modern reggae song. Cure sings of police brutality and injustice, and his strong voice, hinted at in previous tracks, rails against the oppression with sincerity and unfortunate personal experience. The next song, 'My Life' is another ballad, but lacks the over production of the earlier tracks. It's simply constructed with only Cure and an acoustic guitar with a minimum amount of backing vocal. It works in a way 'Reflections' and 'Coming Soon.' did not.

The album continues on this way; a few solid tunes, a few misteps, until the title track. 'The Ultimate Cure' is
one of the best tracks on the album.Cure's voice swells with passion, joy and heartache, often all at the same time. It's the sort of song its easy to imagine coming to be as he lay in his cell, dreaming of freedom and never losing hope or faith. Music, at its best, connects one soul to another. In this very difficult task, Cure succeeded with this powerful track. The album closes with another solid effort,'Green Grass.' Yes, it's about what you think. The references to the gange in the earlier tracks were few and far between. However, Cure makes up for it and crafts a track that fufills the gange quotent in an amusing and uplifting way.



Here is the complete track listing:
1. Sticky
2. Hot Long Time
3. Reflections
4. Soon Come
5. Burning Et Looting
6. My Life
7. Mr. Jailer
8. Freedom
9. Sufferation
10. Journey
11. Forever
12. U Believe In Me
13. The Universal Cure
14. Call Me
15. Green Grass

The 411: Cure offers up a mixed bag here. There are quite a few high points, but also more than a handful of filler tunes. Cut the album down by about half and you've have a great record. As it stands, its a bit too long, but the good stuff here would be a fine addittion to anyone's reggae collection. Besides, don't you think Bob would appreciate a little company?

Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]