DJ and singer U Brown can be fairly criticized for being a bit too derivative of his idol, U Roy. But on
Rougher Than the Rest he takes what could have been a liability and turns it to his advantage; opening the album with a gracious tribute to his predecessors and colleagues and then proceeding to tear up a generous program of modern roots reggae, chatting and singing in fine old-school style over some top-quality
Jah Warrior rhythms. Released simultaneously with the
Prince Alla album
More Love,
Rougher Than the Rest features some of the same rhythms (notably the unusual "Ska Roots Rock," which is the basis for
Prince Alla's "Good Morning Africa"), but they seem a bit less claustrophobically dense here. Many of the tracks on this album are delivered in combination style, with such A-list singers as
Horace Andy (on the excellent "Girl Mind What You Do"),
Alton Ellis (on "Youths! Take It Easy"), and
Prince Alla himself ("Rasta Business Is No Joke," "Song Unto Jah"). All of these tracks are highlights, but U Brown is more than capable of riding these rhythms solo, as he does to fine effect on "Shine Your Light" and the album's title track. Highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson