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Continued from page 6 have been touring , mining a critical legacy of
their early roots and dub tracks like “ One In Ten ,” “ Present Arms ,” and “ King .” Yolking Jamaican reggae crooners that they admired growing up in the ’ 70s ( John Holt , Jimmy Cliff ), UB40 has dabbled heavily into reggae-fied covers (“ Red Red Wine ,” “ Kingston Town ,” “ Can ’ t Help Falling in Love ”), that became millionselling hits in the 1980s and 90s . Digging deeper , the band has made some fairly crucial popheavy reggae and dub albums while Duncan Campbell fronted the band . What ’ s encouraging for the near term of the band is the addition of former Kioko vocalist and Birminghamnative Matt Doyle taking over the singing duties for the newest incarnation of UB40 with an ability to recreate Ali Campbell ’ s croon , but also as a songwriter . Their new album UB45 dropped on Record Store Day , featuring some odd re-records of the early hits with Doyle at the helm and ( thankfully ) new originals penned by the current band with some valued dub versions closing out the LP . Including rerecords of their early hits (“ Red Red Wine ,” “ King ,” “ Tyler ”) proves Doyle is an exceptional choice as vocalist replacing Duncan Campbell - who did an admirable job filling the role but was ultimately just a placeholder for his brother Ali . But in many ways it ’ s a step back for the band regurgitating familiar turf
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and brings accusations of being strictly a nostalgia band . UB45 is highlighted by the anti- Brexit theme “ Home ” which answers the antiimmigrant crowd in Britain and its fear of browned-skinned residents (“ Barely just born when we came to these shores , So when you tell me , " Go back home ..." Remember , this is the only home I ' ve ever known ”). Punctuated by the band ' s horn section and Doyle ’ s passionate chorus , it ’ s the band ’ s best song in 20 years . The dub reprise of “ Homeless Dub ” improves its depth . Toasting co-vocalist Gilly G adds great raps to “ Trouble ,” which proves the band can continue to write enticing love songs in their new era amongst the political messages . Like their rock-steady heroes of the ' 70s , UB40 has relied on cover versions to put them on the map ( 1983 ’ s Labour of Love hurdled them over the barriers of being strictly a cult band ). “ Give Me Some Kind of Sign ” is a pedestrian remake of the 1968 Brenton Wood version that will please older fans .
The question now is can UB40 come up with an album ( or even an EP ) of signature originals ( matching classic albums Geffrey Morgan and Who You Fighting For ?) with Matt Doyle at the helm ? The bar is set higher for Britain ' s largest-selling reggae band . Here ’ s hoping the answer is yes . 5
– John Vernon
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The Tragically Hip , 1998 ( photo : Clemens Rikken )
THE TRAGICALLY HIP Phantom Power
Deluxe 25th Anniversary LP box ( Universal Music Canada )
Originally released in 1998 , Phantom Power crowns the essential run of The Tragically Hip ’ s first decade as a recording act . The powerhouse Canadian quintet ’ s sixth album took their home country ’ s Juno Award for 1999 ’ s Best Rock Album on the strength of singles including “ Poets ” and “ Bobcaygeon ” – the latter of which also won the 2000 Juno for Single of the Year . As ever , late frontman Gord Downie ’ s
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poetic and often poignant portraits of the Canadian experience offer a window into a closely related but different neighboring culture . The sweet and tuneful “ Bobcaygeon ” stands as the Hips ’ own “ Wichita Lineman ,” with its portrait of an ordinary working man on the job ( in this case , a mounted policeman working to quell a riot in Toronto ) as his mind drifts into deeper thoughts about big things . The officer tires of his role and longs to rejoin a loved one in the more peaceful cottage country setting of Bobcaygeon , Ontario . The more strident “ Poets ” features Rob Baker ’ s and Paul
Continued on page 10
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