*1/2 Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers

FALLEN IS BABYLON

(Elektra)

Fallen Is Babylon finds Bob Marley's son channeling most of his creative energy into the first three songs, then coasting through a mediocre 10. Ziggy shines when he brings modern hip-hop to bear on trad reggae: the title track funks things up with subtle nods to Stevie Wonder and the Bomb Squad, and "Everyone Wants To Be" adds a hard beat and a rap by Fugee chief Wyclef Jean to the theme from The Good the Bad and the Ugly.

These are vital, forward-looking genre fusions. But after a danceable cover of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," it's back to filler that too often sounds like Marley Lite. "Day by Day" is chock full of repetitive lyrics and braying melodies. "Brotherly Sisterly Love" is accented by campy synths employed seemingly without humor. It has to make you wonder, if his name were Ziggy Jones instead of Ziggy Marley, would anyone still be paying attention to his music?

-- Dan Tobin