Review of Matisyahu's No Place to Be

Matisyahu's newly released CD/DVD, No Place To Be, leaves a lot to the imagination. Having only seven tracks with one of them a remix; you would think this album would leave the listener unsatisfied. Nothing could be further from the truth. Each track rings in true reggae form with the message ringing loud and clear. His deep faith in his religion evolves within each song and uplifts the listener from beginning to end. Jerusalem (Out of Darkness Comes Light) produced by Sly and Robbie, reggae's biggest names, is the stand out track on the LP. A Swisha House remix of the song does it a complete injustice, but I forgive him for all the other great songs. A cover of Message In A Bottle is beautifully done-even better than when the Police recorded it. Yea, I said it and no I won't take it back.

Although he is new to most listeners, Matisyahu, formerly known as Matthew Paul Miller has a very solid fan base that stand by him and his essence. He is a member of the Chabad-Lubavitch, a religious sect of Judaism and is best known for performing in traditional Hasidic Jewish clothing and for not performing on the Sabbath. He also holds the rules of not touching a female very strictly while on stage. No arguments here. Regardless of his beliefs, everyone can come out of listening to him with a renewed sense of self and a deeper understanding of the message he tries to purvey in each song.

Small Stars remix of Youth (the title track from his last album) is well done in a beat box rhythm, and Warrior and Chop Em' Down has an anthem feel to it that just can't be denied. The dub version of Message In A Bottle is a lose it or keep it, it seems to me to be just a filler, but all in all this album is a good indicator of the highly anticipated full length album whose release has yet to be determined.

The bonus 'Live in Israel' DVD contains a live show shot in Tel Aviv, and also contains interviews and street performances from Jerusalem. As an added bonus there is a new music video for Jerusalem (Out Of Darkness Comes Light). Matisyahu's No Place To Be with its short yet powerful messages and an emotional DVD that leaves the viewer with a great appreciation of art and spirituality, seems like a great place to be to me.