While I can’t say that I don’t like SOJA’s latest effort, Strength to Survive (due for release Jan. 31), I can’t say that I do either. All I know is what I can say about the album reads a lot like a list of side effects from anti-anxiety medication: drowsiness, lack of energy, slow reflexes, confusion, disorientation, impaired thinking and nausea. Look, that’s not to say that Strength to Survive is without mainstream likability; and I have no doubt that tracks like “Not Done Yet” (which features hip DJ scratching during choruses) and the socially conscious lyrics of songs like “Nothing Ever Changes” will resonate with John Mayer-loving reggae crossover fans. But for me, listening to this disc is a surefire catalyst to a catatonic state. I feel no inspiration whatsoever to listen to it again–that is, unless I’m looking for a rewarding catnap. Come to think of it, I should thank Strength to Survive for two of the best naps of my year thus far. Then again, if forced, the subtly gyrate-worthy beats of songs like “Mentality” and “Tell Me” could grow on me. In fairness, maybe my expectations of SOJA have been a little high (no ganja pun intended). Earlier hits like 2002’s “True Love,” “Rasta Courage” and “Peace in A Time of War” prove SOJA’s capacity for sensational reggae–but sadly stand in contrast to their latest work, making Strength to Survive a disappointment. And with pockets as shallow as they are these days, tired mediocrity isn’t enough to motivate me to buy the complete album, let alone recommend that anyone else should.
Strength To Survive
SOJA (Soldiers of Jah Army)
ATO Records
2012
4 out of 11
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