Bless

At least since the days of rocksteady, the ideal for male reggae singers was a sort of effortless cool. Even when Bob Marley or Sugar Minott sang of centuries of unimaginable suffering, they did so with a sense of Zen calm that both connected them to the spiritual calm they aspired toward and presented them as voices of moderation and reason in a Kingston scene that too often slid toward violence and desperation. And then there's Anthony B. Gather and Come mixes old-fashioned roots reggae with dancehall electronics in a style that gives equal weight to both as important stylistic periods in reggae history; the skittering synths of the title track and "Keep Your Head" feel entirely natural next to the more organic lovers rock of "Woman Love Vanity." Over all of these tracks, however, Anthony B's unique vocal style makes sure the record sounds like no one else; with his yelping and over the top delivery that at times recalls Flavor Flav's oddball interjections during Public Enemy's heyday, Anthony B brings an entirely different and much more aggressive and unpredictable energy to Gather and Come. Rather than the usual reggae vocal style, where the singer is working with the song's rhythm -- or even the rap-like counter-rhythms of toasting -- Anthony B's oddball rhythmic sense makes him sound like he's deliberately clashing with his backing tracks. It may take a song or two for a new listener to get on board, but the results are surprisingly effective, making Gather and Come one of the more refreshing reggae releases of 2006. ~ Stewart Mason