Sounds like: Soulful reggae; compare to Toots & The Maytals, The Skatalites, Desmond Dekker
Top tracks: “Blessed Love,” “Children’s Bread,” “Ruby Soho”
With this album, producer Tim Armstrong (of Rancid fame) brought Cliff, the 64-year-old reggae icon, back to his roots. If it weren’t for the clean production and the covers of recent reggae-inspired punk tunes, this could easily pass for some lost Studio One sessions from the ’60s. Cliff also returns to his socio-political roots here. He takes aim at poverty, the immigrant experience, and violence. But the core of his message comes towards the end of the album as he wishes “blessed love to every one in all the world.” And when coming by way of his dulcet singing voice, the message sounds sweeter than ever.
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