*** Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers

SPIRIT OF MUSIC

(Elektra)

Ziggy Marley and his siblings shift gears slightly to present a set of mostly acoustic tunes packed with the sunny positive vibe and smooth harmony vocals that have marked their work from the beginning. True to its title, the album is primarily a meditation on the healing power of love (and ganja). "Gone Away" is an invocation of the peace and reconciliation we all hope are waiting for us at the end of life; "All I Need Is You," with its gentle Bo Diddley riddim, "You've Got My Love (All Day All Night)," and the extended groove of "Let It Go" are ethereal love songs with seductive lyrics, dub-wise production, and sassy backing vocals that stir up fond memories of I-Three. Ziggy's inflections and phrasing here recall his father's, and they probably always will. But Spirit of Music reflects how Ziggy is maturing as a songwriter, producer, and performer and finding his own voice along the way.

-- J. Poet