Artist: Bob Marley

Album: Catch A Fire

Label: Mobile Fidelity (re-master)

We need artists who not only believe the messages they convey through their music, but live them as well.  Now, to share your truth is not an easy thing, and in this day of political correctness, it’s gotten tougher.  Bob Marley encapsulated the “Iron Lion Zion” that was he.  Now, for those of us not privileged enough to have heard Catch a Fire on vinyl LP well, now we can, at the very least, come close.  Why should we care to spend the extra money on yet another CD?  Its Robert Nesta Marley dummy and it was done tastefully.  One has to wonder if the music even matters anymore with the age of convenience (MP3) over quality (Vinyl, Red Book CD, SACD).  So, here we go down memory lane (for most of you I’m sure):  “Concrete Jungle” opens the journey with an emotionally charged image: The inner ghettos of Kingston and the horrific impact on the impoverished youth.  These groups were no strangers to violence.  Cuts like “400 years” and “No More Trouble” tackle both the political and civil mistreatment of thousands of young Africans.  But of course you’ve also got “Kinky Reggae,” a song that should get any party going with its energy.  The tracks are also much clearer here sonically and, as a result, easier to comprehend.  This album (or this version for that matter) glimmers on Mobile Fidelity’s Ultra Disc II CD.  It had me searching for the vinyl in my collection, which is unfortunately still unearthed from the mountain of boxes due to our recent move.  However, Marley’s vocals are clearly emotive and placed well within the soundstage.  Such an expressive voice deserves such attention. Overall I have to acknowledge the sheer dedication put forth into this release by MoFi.  It brought me back to the care free days of high school, listening to these cuts with some of my dearest friends and just basking in the wonderment of Robert Nesta Marley’s genius.  Now, don’t we need to remember that blissful feeling of taking on the world, not worrying, because everything was gonna be alright?