★★★★★
Bob Marley's ghost will never be stilled; not only do his offspring exhibit his vocal idiosyncrasies but, like their father, Stephen, Damian and Ziggy are fertile, highly-creative artists. A seven-time Grammy winner, the former's latest long-player offers a solid traditional roots rocking reggae album, stepping fully out from the long shadow cast by the Tuff Gong himself...
- www.recordcollectormag.com
2011-07-18
★★★★★
Weeks shy of the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley's death, second son Stephen has released an album that honours his father's legacy. Truth be told, Stephen's entire musical career has felt like a tribute to Bob. But Revelation Part 1: The Root Of Life, whose more club-orientated sequel, The Fruit Of Life, is due in the fall, more explicitly carries on Bob's passions...
- www.nowtoronto.com
2011-06-13
★★★★★
It is more than a quarter century since Bob Marley was laid to rest near his birthplace in Jamaica. He left not only a profound musical heritage, but a formidable group of gifted kids he quite literally raised on stage and in the studio. The first to come of age, musically, was son Ziggy Marley who with his siblings, Cedella, Stephen, and Sharon, recorded as the Melodymakers. The group met with success in the mid-80s through the early 90s, racking up Grammys along the way...
- www.soultracks.com
2010-12-07
★★★★★
What is it about the Marleys that makes their music so comforting and irresistible? The legendary last name? That instantly recognizable raspy voice full of soul that has extended to numerous branches of the familar family tree? Stephen Marley's debut is another notch in the belt. After the breakup of Melody Makers'yet another Marley-child production'Stephen chose to play producer-behind-the-scenes to his brother Damian "Jr...
- www.urb.com
2010-02-13
★★★★★
Stephen Marley may not be the best known of Bob's children (that would be either first born Ziggy or rising star 'Junior Gong' Damian) but his musical CV is surely one of the most impressive...
- www.bbc.co.uk
2009-06-12
★★★★★
There are moments during this middle Marley boy's debut album that you can drift
off and imagine you're listening to a long-lost B side from his dad. The fourth
of Bob's ten recognized children, Stephen possesses a vocal tone that is uncannily
close to his dad's. Perhaps more important, Stephen is also blessed with some
of Bob's songwriting gift. He co-wrote and produced most of Damian's breakthrough
2005 collection and demonstrates an even broader range here...
- www.rollingstone.com
2009-06-08
★★★★★
After more than two decades behind the scenes, the reggae scion stepsout with Mind Control, an assured balance of new-school beats andold-school island flourishes. Stephen Marley's raspy wail is an eerie ringerfor his dad's, especially when he's railing against "the destruction ofyour soul" on the Babylon-cursing title cut. The disc's traditionalistroots reggae feels wholly authentic, if a bit too familiar...
- ew.com
2009-06-04
★★★★★
The most commonly misunderstood and misconceived form of music is reggae. While it has been the conductor on the feel good train for decades, anyone would be hard pressed to pinpoint the decisive reason behind its feel good mantra.
For instance, most people like to believe that it's the music's heartfelt lyrics that give the genre it's reputation...
- www.popmatters.com
2008-11-11
★★★★★
Bob Marley's second son has followed an unusual career path. From child star with the Melody Makers to Grammy Award-winning producer, Stephen Marley has now at age 34 finally gotten around to releasing his debut solo album. Inevitably, expectations ran high, but just what would the celebrated and eclectic artist deliver? The answer is Mind Control, an album that will invariably garner him another Grammy, and deservingly so, for this is a stunning set...
- music.aol.com
2008-08-27