CD Review

Throw Down Your Arms

Sinead O'Connor

Reviewed By Jon Shaw for the Reggae Movement. 

Jon Shaw appears regularly on Reggae Bloodlines Radio Show in Colorado :  Saturdays 1-4pm KGNU 1390Denver, 88.5Boulder

          In the 1980’s Sinead O’Connor achieved notoriety when she ripped up a photo of the pope on Saturday Night Live.  This statement begged for an explanation for most, yet which reggae fans could easily decipher.   They knew that it was a statement about the Catholic Church, not about the individual who was pope.  Now Sinead has made her view more clear with the mesmerizing new release, “Throw Down Your Arms”.   She has made this Rasta Album with passion, perfection, and praise.

          There are times when a song you’ve known and loved for years beckons to you to listen again.  Every single song on this album is a reggae classic, which any disc jockey would gladly include in a set.  Ms. O’Connor provides a new take that only a songbird can evoke.  Often the words sound more clear and annunciated with her voice chanting at a variety of octaves. 

When picking songs to include in her one and only Rasta album, she delves deep with her cohorts, Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare to create spiritual, spine-tingling renditions of songs you have probably heard.  First off there are four songs that were originally done by Burning Spear- Jah Nuh Dead, Marcus Garvey, Door Peep, and He Prayed.  This is another example of how far reaching Burning Spear (Winston Rodney) is.  Then O’Connor goes deeper with the roots, including The Abyssinian’s Y Ma Gan in which her voice resonates through the harmonies.  She also covers two Lee Perry tracks in Curly Locks (Junior Murvin) with a beautiful whisper at times; as well as Vampire (Devon Irons) that will have you on the edge of your seat.  Obediah Obediah, Jah Jah sent us here to catch vampire…I have the chalice to light up Jah fire!

The remaining tracks also give guidance and can be considered classics by the original artists, yet her new take on them makes you give another listen that reaffirms certain messages in rootsy songs.  Prophet Has Arise by Israel Vibration actually sounds as good as the amazing trio that originally recorded it, this time with all female vocals.  The people shall never run short of a king or a prophet.  Sinead searingly asks the Downpressor Man where he is going to run to when the sea is boiling, and you can almost hear Peter Tosh’s rage through her voice. 

Throw Down Your Arms and Come is the message to all war-mongers and war presidents out there.  Burning Spear’s line from a song has been beautifully expanded into an insightful O’Connor song.  I long to see you, I long to hold you, I long to take your hand in my hand.  Can’t you see?  Throw down your arms and come!

Buju Banton’s Untold Stories brings the most modern track to the mix with a nice acoustic guitar and drums. Finally the timeless classic War by Bob Marley slams home the point of equality, justice, love, and hope that reggae music holds for those that believe.

Throw Down Your Arms could be the reggae album of the year.  It is done in an original way and includes timeless reggae songs backed by Sly and Robbie with great instrumentation. Many reggae fans feel more women reggae artists should be present, Sinead has been around, yet is new to performing reggae tunes.  Her song selection, execution, and guts really make this album stand out and also make one hope there is more to come from reggae’s newest songbird.