Not As Good As the Original, Still Wicked. . .
Achis | Kingston, JA/Philipsburg, SxM | 11/09/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Coming again from the Lustre Kings crew is the sequel to one of the best modern reggae compilations that I have ever heard. Culture Dem (di original) came out of nowhere, no one outside of the west coast had ever heard of the Lustre Kings before (myself included) and it was just a delight to listen to (and a mystery that all of these artists had found themselves out to record full tunes with LK). Nevertheless, today that album is somewhat of an underground reggae cult classic, Culture Dem was mad!
What we get in round 2 is a not quite as good, but still highly relevant copy of the original. It follows much of the same track in that it's separated between a few different riddims (the No Polotics, Credential, Alarm Clock, Liberation, Shining, and Talking Drum riddims) and each artist adds his/her sound over it, sort of like a non continuous mixtape. Like its predecessor, its a complete Rasta affair and some of the bigger names in all of reggae are present; Luciano, Turbulence, Natty King, Jah Mason, Capleton and Yami Bolo. Sticking out as a missing trooper on this front is of course Sizzla Kalonji, but he has been replaced by bothe veterans Spragga Benz and Determine (who fits right in place working with the LK's).
The best tune on the entire album comes on the album's best riddim, the Alarm Clock, by Natty King who continues to blur the line between his own sound and that of Luciano and Bushman on the truly wicked See the Wicked Run. Also love, of course Turbulence's Music is Life and Natty King's combination with the very animated Al Pancho on Man of Truth on the No Polotics. The unknown Jah Dan makes a good contribution on Beauty of the Beast on the Liberation riddim as does Yami Bolo & Capleton in a combination on the riddim's namesake.
The only areas of concern I would say would be the only woman on the album, the unknown Empress Michiboo on Breath of Life, her voice takes AWHILE to get used to, and the Shining riddim, is wicked! But it only goes on for 2 tracks, both of which, by Jah Mason and Jah Marcus are wicked (Lutan Fyah's Raid di Barn would have looked nice). The album ends with the hip-hoppish/bollywoodish Talking Drum riddim on which vet Determine absolutely locks off the flow on Who Yu.
Overall, this is by no means as crucial as the monster which preceded it in the Culture Dem series (even the cover on the first one was much better, although this one is VERY good as well), but you won't find too many Rasta compilations out a road which carry a bigger bat than Culture Dem Vol. 2, I'm eagerly awaiting what may come of #3."
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1