Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Tara Joshi

Damian ‘Jr Gong’ Marley: Stony Hill review – timelessly consistent reggae

Damian Marley on stage at the Parklife festival, Heaton Park, Manchester on 11 June 2017.
Damian Marley on stage at the Parklife festival, Heaton Park, Manchester on 11 June 2017. Photograph: Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage

Reggae royalty Damian Marley’s fourth solo album comes 12 years after its predecessor but Stony Hill remains in largely familiar territory. Polished production, rich brass and uplifting ensemble vocals bring to life insightful, often potent social commentary about the power of people, love, and medical marijuana. It’s not groundbreaking, nor is there anything as immediate as on 2005’s Welcome to Jamrock - but be it laidback classic reggae as on Medication, intricate, delectable floor-fillers (Upholstery), or smooth, bossa nova-infused jams (Grown & Sexy), Stony Hill is testament to the timeless consistency of Marley’s work.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.