Matisyahu

Advantages Good music, reggae brought back to a roots sound
Disadvantages None

...Live at Stubb's is Matisyahu's 2nd album and his 1st live album recorded at Stubbs in Austin, Texas. It was released in February, 2005 by JDubRecords. If you are not familiar with Matisyahu, he's an intriguing chap, a New York Jew (Matisyahu is the Yiddish pronunciation of Matthew), who dresses in the traditional clothing of a Hasidic Jew and doesn't perform on the sabbath. He spent several years taking hallucinogens and touring with the rock band Phish, he produces a unique blend of authentic sounding reggae with undertones of some traditional Jewish music. I bought this album at a cheap price to re-sell and was rather impressed with it, I didn't know what to expect and can't compare it to any of his other albums as I've not listened to them yet but this album had a refreshing roots feeling to it and I'm definitely on the look out... Read review

Advantages Really good music
Disadvantages None

...I first saw Matisyahu on Later...with Jools Holland on Friday 12th May 2006. My first thought upon seeing the lead singer was 'what on earth....?!!!' However, once he started singing I was blown away. I then went out the next day and bought every cd by them that I could find. I paid £8.99 for the 'Live at Stubbs' cd from HMV, and other releases by this artist are of a similar price - or may be even less on Ebay. *Who is Matisyahu?* Matisyahu is a group fronted by an Orthodox Jew who is a member of the Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic community of Brooklyn, New York. Born Matthew Miller, he converted to Orthodox Judaism in 2001. Matisyahu is the yiddish pronunciation of Matthew. Other members of the band are Jonah David (drums), Aaron Dugan (guitar) and Josh Werner (bass, keyboards). The musical influences on the group are Bob Marley... Read review