Aswad: Roots Rocking - The Island Anthology

Aswad is a rarity among reggae groups as one that started out relatively weak and got better as it incorporated more pop and soul influences into its sound. The band's albums of the 1970s were primarily roots reggae of the blandest sort: two-chord vamps loping along beneath negligible melodies and by the numbers Rastafarian lyrics. By contrast, Aswad's chart-topping version of "Don't Turn Around," released in 1989 after the band had hardened and slicked up its sound, remains its biggest hit and arguably the best single the group ever produced. This retrospective collection presents a nice, two-disc précis of the band's work from its earliest albums until it jumped labels around 1990. Disc One is certainly not bad — while there is little exceptional material to be found (and the worst of it, such as the embarrassingly atonal "Rainbow Culture," should clearly have stayed out of print), there are moments of real musical and spiritual uplift, including a live version of "Not Satisfied" and the dubwise excursions on "Three Babylon" and "It's Not Our Wish." But Disc Two is the payoff. The band's sound is tough, lean, and modern, though still well grounded in Rasta roots and culture. "Don't Turn Around" shows up in a 12" version, as do such other gems as "Don't Get Weary," "Gimme the Dub," and a surprisingly attractive version of the '70s soft rock potboiler "On and On." This set is very nice overall, and probably represents everything most people need to hear from Aswad's earlier years.