Survivalist's commanding vocal presence stands out front, most notably on the urgent chanting of "Feeling Irie." Other straight-ahead gems like "Hey Now" and the disc-opening "King of Kings" use odd rhythms and unusually placed drumbeats while still reflecting the singer's passion for traditional reggae, resulting in a masterful blend of contemporary roots and pure dancehall. Ultra-mellow cuts such as "Woman You're a Star" and "In Love With a Stranger" successfully fuse Jamaican sounds with modern R&B, aided by subtle guitar playing.
Survivalist is moving reggae forward, while many better-known artists stick with the tried-and-true. Eventually, they'll be left behind by the major talent blossoming here.
