My Amazon Reviews: Matisyahu "Light"

No Longer Just a Novelty
4 Out Of 5 Stars

The trail of Matisyahu is one of an unlikely pop star. Highschool dropout cum jam band devotee cum reggae/hip-hop devotee, his stage antics made him something of a flavor of the month. I have to admit, the press made me want to find out more about him, and his albums filled the bill. This generously bearded kid sounded like the real deal, but he also had the potential to become yesterday's news.

"Light" aims to break beyond the back story to make Matisyahu into a music force to be reckoned with. Musically, it succeeds. Sadly, his hipster cred appears to have vaporized; while "Youth" debuted in the Top 5, "Light" barely made the Top 20 and fell off the charts quickly after.

Which is to point at the crappy tastes of hipsters. "Light" is a huge major leap from "Youth" in that Matisyahu stretches out from the reggae/Hip-Hop and pushes into rock and roll ("Motivate") and blends genres throughout the album. The simple and solemn "Silence" closes the album with a soft and tender ballad. Producer David Kahne - who has worked with everyone from Paul McCartney to Fishbone - gives an able assist to "Light's" skimming of styles. But it all comes down to Matisyahu himself. On "Light," he proves he is here for keeps. The winter Olympics made his best song here, the spiritual call to arms of "One Day," unavoidable. If the release of the album managed to slip under your radar, rest assured that "Light" is worth a few spins on your disc player.