Review of Roots Revival by Aswad
Artist: Aswad
Album title: Roots Revival
Release year: 1999
Label: ARK 21
Genre: Reggae
Rating: 8 out of 10

Track listing:
The Best Times of Our Lives
Freedom Street
Caution
Boom Boom Carnival
Follow '99
Take It Easy
Roots Revival
Breakout
Peace Truce
My Love
Thank You Lord
Invisible Sun
The Best Times of Our Lives

Review: Roots Revival is an apt title for this album, since Aswad's greatest successes have been as a pop-reggae crossover band, most notably with the huge 1988 hit Don't Turn Around. On this one the group returns to its roots with a vengeance. The sound is still pretty slick, but the material includes a remake of Ken Boothe's rocksteady classic Freedom Street, two seldom-covered Bob Marley tunes (Caution and Thank You Lord), a decent cover of the Police's Invisible Sun (featuring Sting in a guest appearance), and a bunch of relatively roots-wise new originals. The only remaining members of the band, Drummie Zeb and Tony Gad still have a great melodic sense, as evidenced on the smooth and silky Follow '99 and the churning Breakout. But the rhythms are deep and compelling as well, resulting in a sound that will move them in the dancehall even as it pleases more roots-oriented fans.