matisyahu

Other aspects leave me dangling. Is it okay to appropriate another culture? Is their a right way and wrong way to do this; and if so what are they? Is there a way a white guy could play a Jamaican/Carribean based music without him being accused of stealing another culture's art in a shameless ploy to make more money off of it than an actual Jamaican or Carribean artist working today ever could?

If most music is based off of appropriation (Elvis playing what was considered a black idiom; countless examples of cross cultural influence and misinterpretation spawning all sorts of genres) is this just part of the way music is made?

After reading the New York Times article on this guy by Kelefa Sanneh I go into a discussion about this with a friend. As much as I disliked his music, I still wanted to defend his right to make it. Who are we to say who can and cannot make which sort of music they want to? Of course, my friend refuted by saying that the idea of the rights of "The Artist" which must always be guarded is a very old Bourgie perspective, that basically ignores that there are other artists right now, making music in the exact same style he is, doing it better, and will not make nearly as much money as he is, basically because they're black.

I guess I'm back to where I started then. If the dude loves dub raggae seriously, in what way could he do it? Should he sing about shopping at the Vegan co-op and how annoying it is combing that beard he has and other assorted "real," White Plains-y issues he goes through? She he keep preaching the same middle of the road spiritual bullshit but drop the accent? Which way would be... uhmm... right?

Maybe he would just have to do it, and not suck.

I don't think anyone is saying Matishayu shouldn't do what he does, I think it's more 3 things:
1) That he does what he dose
2) That a label with Mr. Laswell's help decided to put it out
3) That the press decided to hype and talk about him
4) That the throngs of us consumers decided to buy it

It's hard to believe that steps 2 and 3 were realised without any sense that this is a novelty.

Also, I remember how much Finley Quaye was ridiculed, so I don't think this criticism of Matis is based on some anti-religious affilitation slur.

I mean, if Yo Yo Ma came out with a regga album, it would either be a 1) non-story because it's so stupid or 2) massively ridiculed, right?

There is always a space for experimentation, especially with new faiths and their trappings - here, rasta and reggae, Dylan's Christian period, etc.

The problem is when people drop their critical bars because they don't want to be seen as treading on what is a fundamental right here, at least in the US, - freedom of religion. But a whole lot of sanctified expression can't cover crappy singing, bad beats, and lame production.

I, for one, have not heard this guy. I'd be willing to, if for no other reason than I am always willing to listen to some new music. But if its weak, its weak.

Are we saying, Matishayu sucks because he's a shallow imitation of true reggae, which is only reinforced by the fact that he converted to reggae from being a Phishead?

But it CAN connote a sort of musical tourism that can take away from claims of spiritual depth to one's music - here, reggae from a Hasidic Jew. Especially with recently post-college kids whose ability to access HUGE varieties of music, I think you find a degree of musical ADD - no real study (repeated listenings, actually learning how to play, determining what went into the song) of the music they listen to. Hence, at least in my mind, the popularity of craptastic dorm rockers like Jack Johnson and John Mayer. There's very little substance to their playing, but often a whole lot of notes.

I regularly play in a montly blooze jam - I recognize what it is, but its still fun to go and rip some old Howlin' Wolf tunes with a competent rhythm section. The jam gets bad, however, when dudes get up and play nothing but SRV and The Fabulous Thunderbirds. It devolves into Bluesaoke. Is Matisyahu Reggaeaoke?

I think the word you are looking for is.....

BLUESHAMMER

I'm just there to act like an idiot and blow off some steam and hopefully play some good music. I ain't trying to get all sanctified with a cover of "Tuff Enuff."

Holy hell, there really IS a Blueshammer!

I don't know - it sounds like we're around the same age. I don't see myself as an old man, but maybe I am

Ned - that is AWESOME. I want a t-shirt with that logo on it.

Sinead's album is disturbingly wrong, where Yahu's is just lame. This is a testament to her (and Sly & Robbie's) talent.

i'm kind of embarrassed that i drunkenly posted to this thread last night.

but thank you for that clarification jody--although i think that stuff all came out in your article, which i really liked.

I just listened to the whole album and yes it does suck. At times it actually made me wish i were listening to Sublime. haha xpost.

But I still think its really powerful (and not gimmicky) to see a Hasid who takes his faith and art seriously being MTV and popular radio.

we need to do a TS: Matisyahu's "Youth" VS. THIS RECORD.

The OTMest of the OTM.

"In January at the Sundance Film Festival, he said no when Eve wanted to jump up onstage -- Talmudic law restricts contact between the sexes and forbids women from singing in public. When Christian rockers P.O.D. invited him to sing on their new album, Testify, he had to vet the lyrics to make sure there was no mention of Jesus. Even at shows, he has to watch himself. "There's always one drunk girl who runs up to give me a hug," he says. "I have to pull away, and they just feel rejection.""

I thought he was an Ali G prank when I first saw him.

I didn't read the article, but a clarification on the above: Torah does not forbid women to sing in public, but men are forbidden to listen to women singing. Something about igniting the yetzer hora (evil inclination). Women can sing for all-female audiences all they want.

This is one reason I never went all the way with being a ba'al teshuvah awhile back. A majority of my record collection features female vocals or players. I knew I could never make that leap.

Most ba'al teshuvah I've met are wonderful, non-judgmental people. It tends to be the newest, most rapid converts who are the most intolerant and judgmental - they're quick to judge even if they don't have the basic halachah down yet.

Really? I hear jews talking shit about other groups of jews all the time! Maybe the Hasids are the one group jews are most united in thinking are batshit crazy, but that makes them no different from let's say certain Mormon or Quaker sects or whomever in just being a little too off for most "mainstream" members of their own religion.

What do you consider bashing? Treating with a great deal of skepticism and a fair amount of disbelief isn't the same as beating people senseless in bars.

My problem with labeling Matisyahu as a minstrel is not that Hasids should be above criticism, but rather than it seems like he is drawing criticism specifically because of his religion. If he were not Hasidic, I don't think he would be drawing the level of criticism about his "authenticity" that he seems to be drawing.

And I take particular exception to the specifically onerous bigots who cynically pick and choose their battles in the name of their faith (i.e. - "duet with Eve? She's a woman!" vs. "throw "King Without a Crown" video on "TRL"? Sure, why not! Preach!"

>>For Immediate Release
March 15, 2006

MATISYAHU DEBUTS AT #4 ON BILLBOARD 200
WITH NEW ALBUM ‘YOUTH'

With Sales Of 119,000, ‘Youth,' Finds Matisyahu The Only Artist With Two Albums Currently In The Billboard Top 40

‘Youth' Captures #1 Spots On Top Internet Albums Chart, Digital Albums Chart And Reggae Chart As ‘Live At Stubb's' Lands at #3 On Reggae Chart