Ziggy Marley – Fly Rasta

Bob Marley is a music icon, a household name and the world’s leading ambassador of reggae music. His music often serves as the introduction to reggae and ska music and more than three decades after his death, his music still resonates with listeners. In addition to the wealth of music he recorded, Marley also left behind a number of children, many of whom have followed in his footsteps and become music artists themselves. Before the passing of his father, Ziggy and some of his siblings (including Stephen who continues to record and produce) recorded as the Melody Makers. The group performed through the next couple of decades, before Ziggy released his debut solo album, Dragonfly in 2003, which took a conscious step away from the pop heavy Melody Makers sound and added in a stronger reggae focus. 

On his 5th full length, philanthropist Ziggy Marley continues along the same path that he has been walking for years. Of all of the Marley sons recording, Ziggy sounds most like his father. Watching him perform live is a fantastic experience, he looks and moves so much like the video recordings of his father. That being said, he isn’t simply treading water on Fly Rasta. Yes, this has appeal for fans of his father’s music. But it also stands confidently on its’ own merits. Ziggy Marley has been playing music for almost 5 decades and he is a seasoned performer who refuses to become stale. His folk reggae music contains hints of pop, which attracts a wide audience. His 2009 children’s album, Family Time, had enough substance that it was a high quality release for adults too. Marley is such a likable personality, that it is hard to imagine that his music would be unlikable itself. The man has voiced cartoon characters, became friends with Willie Nelson (another lovable character) and created a comic book character, Marijuanaman.

Fly Rasta is an instantly enjoyable listen. The album kicks off with a surprisingly funky rock track, I Don’t Want to Live on Mars. The song is a love song to the Earth, with Ziggy putting forth his well known environmental beliefs. With the exception of this track and the offbeat love song, You’re My Yoko Ono, the album sticks to a modern reggae vibe, with hints of soul and folk interwoven gracefully. His sisters Cedella and Sharon ( and Melody Makers’ band mates) join in on background vocals. The mood is mellow and positive, as Ziggy comfortably rolls from track to track. The laid back music is more in line with the work of artists like Mishka and Michael Franti than the dancehall and hip hop influenced work of his brothers (Damien, Kymani, Stephen & Julian). He has managed to simultaneously acknowledge the influence of his father’s work and pave his own path. Each of these songs is instantly recognizable as a Ziggy Marley song. 

The music is perfect for hot days spent lying around on sandy beaches. Or cold, Canadian winter days dreaming about those beaches. Ziggy Marley’s Fly Rasta is a happy heartwarming release, full of enjoyable reggae music. The familiarity of the music is welcome. The underlying theme of the album centers on love for our planet and the recognition that it takes people all over the world working together to make it a better place. While it comes across as inoffensive, the positivity is a refreshing breath of air.