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For the Good of Man (Heartbeat, 1988) Admittedly, I haven't listened to many Meditations albums, but I'd venture to guess that For the Good of Man isn't one of their better efforts. The best word to describe it would be "bland," the only song that makes an impression being the catchy title track (despite Winston Watson's disturbingly Axl Rose-like screeching). The playful Israel Vibration-like "Wallah Up," the love song "Woman, Woman," and the emotional "Tin Sardine" are all decent, but below the standard that the group set in the '70s. Particularly sub-par are the '80s rock guitar-laden "Bourgeois Game" ("Tin Sardine" also has an irritating rock guitar, but the song quality overcomes it) and "Rocking in America" -- which, despite its title, does not feature a rock guitar, but instead nerve-racking horn renditions of "Yankee Doodle" and "Hail to the Chief." Eesh. The rest is so generic, it's not worth mentioning. |
| Track Listing 1. Mister Vulture Man 2. Rootsman Party 3. Tin Sardine 4. Wallah Up 5. For the Good of Man 6. Bourgeois Game 7. Dem a Fight 8. Man No Better Than Woman 9. Woman, Woman 10. Rocking in America |
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Deeper Roots: The Best of The Meditations (Heartbeat, 1994)
One of the most highly regarded harmony trios around (and they are still around), the Meditations are a prototypical roots vocal group. Their entrancing singing and tight melodies even rival those of the prototype for so many groups, the Wailers. In fact, Bob Marley was so impressed with their talent (and their at times uncanny resemblance -- sound-wise -- to the Wailers, as heard on tracks like "Something Looking Good," "Turn Me Loose," and "Jungle Feelings") that he got them to sing background on some of his own songs. It's easy to overlook the Meditations because their greatness isn't exactly overwhelming. They don't have a terribly unique sound -- indeed, they do at times sound like the Wailers, at other times like the Mighty Diamonds or even Israel Vibration -- and they haven't had a slew of massive hits, yet listening to Deeper Roots gives you a true appreciation for their sweet harmonies and sharp writing ability. Like the Wailers, the Meditations manage to put out songs that are toe-tapping yet rootsy and cultural. Deeper Roots collects some of their biggest and best from 1976 to 1986, featuring the production of Linval Thompson, Lee "Scratch" Perry, JoJo Hookim, Dobby Dobson, and others. Perhaps the group's biggest hit, "Woman Is Like a Shadow," is actually one of my least favorite cuts here, which held me back from purchasing a Meditations album for a while. I prefer the Lee Perry-produced "No Peace" and "Think So" (AKA "Much More Smarter"), along with "Running From Jamaica," "Turn Me Loose," "Wake Up," "Jungle Feelings," and "Man Find It," the latter astonishingly previously released. If they have this kind of stuff locked away in a vault, think of how great the stuff they released is.
| Track Listing 1. Wake Up 2. Turn Me Loose 3. Running From Jamaica 4. Having Fun 5. Miracles 6. Jungle Feelings 7. Woman Is Like a Shadow 8. Nice Time 9. Quiet Woman 10. No Peace 11. Babylon Trap Them 12. Something Looking Good 13. Groovy Situation 14. Think So 15. Tricked 16. Fly Natty Dread 17. Do Mamma Do 18. Man Find It 19. What a Bam Bam 20. Bongo Man |
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