THE BEAT

Vol. 27 #3, 2008

Album Review by: Chuck Foster

Taj Weekes and Adowa make for a powerful combination on DEIDEM (Jatta). Minor-key grooves a la early Wailers add punch to Weekes' distinctive tenor and songs like the contemplative "Angry Language," "Dark Clouds" and "Propaganda War" return us to the days of poetic lyrics, social outcry and seasoned reasoning. Fans of Nasio Fontaine -- and the Wailers -- will find a kindred soul in Weekes' indictments of society's shortcomings and the band's rock steady-rooted picking style and the sincerity of his vocals and songs, whether they are relationship oriented like "Hollow Display" or, like "Louisiana," address broader issues.