Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band

Easy Star All Stars – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band
Reviewed by Sadie O., 4/30/09
Reggae version of the Beatles classic. From the folks who brought you Dub Side of the Moon, and featuring a BIG band and a huge cast of superb stars, which is how a concept that could have been quite cringe-worthy is instead excellent. I can’t say that it goes anyplace new, but it does go someplace old in the best of all possible ways. Very enjoyable stuff.
No FCCs detected. All tracks are good, but I like 5 and 10 best.
1. 2:22 **crowd noises and tuning up for 18 secs, then forceful downtempo skank, tenor vocals, horn section.
2. 3:13 **jolly midtempo bubble w/ Luciano’s always on-key vocals.
3. 4:33 *downtempo skank with chimes, pretty but nondescript vocals.
4. 3:19 ***downtempo simple skank, sweet high harmonies from the Mighty Diamonds. A lil bit of dub at the end.
5. 4:57 ****rather disjointed intro, then downtempo dubby bubble, distinctive vocal from Max Romeo. Psychedelic, syncopated dub. Nice!
6. 3:10 *uptempo ska, breathy female vocals.
7. 2:35 **downtempo bubble with a bit of the circus music feel of the original, pleasant singing. Suddenly turns into soca, then back again.
8. 5:14 ***very downtempo and mellow, with sitar, smooth vocals. Even more psychedelic than the original!
9. 5:35 ***jaunty midtempo bubble, groovy and danceable – and comes complete with full dub.
10. 4:06 ****upbeat midtempo bubble with pretty harmonies and U Roy. Everything’s better with U Roy on it!
11. 2:50 ***sounds like they strangled the rooster… midtempo swingy skank with David Hinds and some very emphatic electric guitar. And a complete zoo at the end.
12. 1:24 ***nyahbinghi intro, bass-heavy club skank. Quite good, too short.
13. 5:52 ***downtempo and downbeat skank with acoustic guitar and Michael Rose’s inimitable vocals, as well as a second vocalist I’m actually not familiar with but is also quite good… The never ending note actually reverberates for a minute, but then there are a few seconds of silence and some odd sound collage, so I’d fade it early for radio.