Since reviewing
JER's Bothered / Unbothered earlier this year, I've dispelled the curse of nerves that had been put up to barricade me against enjoying ska and raggae and have started to revisit some semi-recent favorites, such as 2018's
Rockstone,
the sophomore LP from Minnesota-born reggae artist, Jr. Thomas, aka Thomas McDowall. The project got its start when Thomas joined forces with former Aggrolites guitarist Brian Dixon with the intention of creating a tribute to the classic, honey-toned reggae of artists like Jimmy Cliff. The title
Rockstone is a reference to the fact that we memorialize things we adore in stone so that they last long after we are gone. Hence, the album is a love letter to not just Jamaican music, but also Thomas’ wife, family, friends, and band mates, a tribute to humanity’s boundless capacity for love and drive towards unity. “True love,” as Thomas notes, “cannot be defeated.” A good entry point to this album is “What A Shame” with its warm organ-led melodies, skipping syncopation, and heartfelt vibe. “Til You’re Gone” has a earnestly smitten doo wap feel, while “Rockstone” is a monumentally subdued close-dancing lullaby, and “Second Time Around” is a perfectly balanced slow-jam that could easily pass for a hot Maytals single circa ’68.
Rockstone, it's as stready as they come.
