Bob Marley and the Wailers - Exodus (30th Anniversary Edition) (Island)
5/5
By: Thomas Hannan
How do you go about reviewing 'Exodus'? It's the musical equivalent of asking an art critic to assess the Mona Lisa, or a food critic to dissect the brilliance of my Mum's chicken curry (undoubtedly the greatest meal known to man). That this is an unfathomably important record, culturally, artistically, musically, popularly, politically, isn't in doubt. Like that painting, and that curry, it's timeless. But let's at least have a go at listening to it with clean ears, and assess if it has any relevance today...
Well, of course it does. That's the thing about timeless records - they'll sound good for all time. And this is as important and enjoyable as any Beethoven symphony, any Sinatra croon or Lennon melody. With the dusting it's been given for this thirtieth anniversary reissue, it sounds one heck of a lot cleaner and shinier than you'll have heard it - or perhaps Bob himself even got to hear it - ever. Plus, it comes in a super cool hardback book cover now, which makes it look like some kind of vastly significant historical document. Which it kinda is.
It's concerned with the state of the world, with politics, with religion, but it's a reggae record (heck, it's the reggae record!), and as such there's little sense of worry to it. It acknowledges these problems but reassures you that, with a little bit of human kindness, "every little t'ing s'gonna be alright". It doesn't even rush in to delivering you the big hits - the first four tracks here are relatively standard yet entirely pleasant examples of slumerbsome reggae that allow you to settle in to the rest of 'Exodus', and become accustomed to the boy Marley's curious way around a sentence ("I'll never forget no way they crucified Jesus Christ", he asserts in the equally bafflingly titled 'So Much Things To Say'. That's many, Bob. Many.)
From 'The Heathen' onwards, the track listing alone pretty much writes its own review, and awards itself full marks. Just look at this: 'Exodus'. 'Jamming'. 'Waiting in Vain'. 'Turn Your Lights Down Low'. 'Three Little Birds'. 'One Love / People Get Ready'. All on one record.
The first two of the aforementioned bundle show off the strengths of this LP best however, their disparate sentiments revealing this to be simultaneously the best protest and party record ever recorded. Those who disagree with my bestowing of these full marks are people I clearly don't want to be a part of any party of mine - political or otherwise.
Watch Bob Marley and the Wailers performing the title track from 'Exodus' live in Germany HERE.
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment