*** Linton Kwesi Johnson

A CAPPELLA LIVE

(LKJ)

The poet most responsible for marrying reggae to poetry steps forward with a killer poetry-only set. But the dramatic musicality of Johnson's reading style and the street-smart lyricism of his politically charged poetry more than make up for the lack of backing musicians. These 14 poems take on police brutality, revolutionary dreams, and even literary politics (in the ironically titled "If I Woz a Tap Natch Poet"). In a just world, Johnson's marriage of ideology and entertaining storytelling would be a universally honored model of political songwriting (i.e., ideology exquisitely balanced with entertaining storytelling). Then again, in a just world, what would he write about? (Order from LKJ Records, Box 623, Herne Hill, London, England.)

-- Norman Weinstein