This awesome CD opens with "Jungle," a fun poke at corporate stifling, and the freedom of getting back to nature, with great call and answer vocals, supplied by Jerome and Suzie, along with some scorching lead guitar licks by Greg, making "Jungle" a real winner. "Go Go" is the next upbeat fun song on this multi-atmosphere, CD. The energy and vitality in vocals, and drums, as well as Jerome's melodic harp solos, make this a perfect party song.

"High School Reunion,, is the only Reggae-influenced tune on the CD, which, although a drifting off from Jerome's usual genre, has all the earmarks of a Godboo original. (They're all originals on this CD) The melancholy laments of loves remembered, lost and longed for, are echoed both in Suzie's and Jerome's voices, which can help anyone who listens to this cut, be able to identify with the simple, but profound theme being sung about. Both Suzie and Jerome sing right from their hearts, which makes it very easy to feel their music, with the same effect being felt from the rest of the band, in their instrumentals.

Jerome's brother-in-law, Hughie "Mr. Natural" Shankland," helps Jerome "Cook it up, Baby," on the vocals of "Cook It Up", the fourth delightful track on this incredible CD, and helps the audience "cook it up" with Hughie, from soul to soul. Hughie's exuberance at Jerome's live appearances, getting up on stage to help Jerome rock "Mr. Natural", with his totally uninhibited, natural dance interpretations, helps get the audience really going on it, too! J.J. 's pulsating bass lines permeating all the tracks on this CD, are totally indispensable. Jose Gonzales' unique contribution of percussion, with bird sounds, wind whistles and chimes, really adds atmosphere and depth to the various tracks, especially on "Deja-Vu", ""Street Detective", and the last unforgettable track on this CD, "Vulture Culture". Chris Pera's drums, Sha Sha's percussion, and Phil Emond's keyboards on "Vulture Culture," help add great atmosphere to this song with wise, meaningful lyrics about the problems in the environment, (nuclear power plant spillages, ground and lake water poisoning, harmful sunlight due to the ozone holes, impure food additives, and hard drug abuse), sung admirably and with great emotional effect by Jerome. Phil Emond also produced and mixed this great track.

My favorite track on the CD has to be "Bye, Bye Love", with some of the best vocal quality I've ever heard by Jerome, or anyone else. The haunting lament of lost love, and hopes for a new one, are emotionally the most intense and real you'll ever find on any song, anywhere. They're sung obviously right from Jerome's, soul, and end in a hopeful longing at the end of the song, with emotionally curative effects for the listener, as well as Jerome. The quality of Jerome's vocals on this cut, show him to be one of the best singers Canada, or the world will ever see. Not just the quality of sound, but also the deep emotional conviction right from his soul, with which the vocals are expressed. His harp playing also has the same depth of emotional conviction to it, which makes him and his band one of the most popular on the current live music scene. Suzie's vocals along with Jerome's are equally deep and expressive, which makes them a perfect compliment to Jerome's, live, and on CD (This CD has a very "live" feel to it!), thanks to Alec Fraser's expert handling of it's production at Liquid Sound, here in Toronto. Alec (who plays bass for Jack de Keyzer), adds background vocals to "Vulture Culture."

"Home" has a nice, melodic harp solo by Jerome, and lyrics with universal appeal in it as well, related to anyone, who has left home, but is always welcomed back whenever they want to come back home. These vocals, sung by Jerome and Suzie, give a very Ma and Pa feel to the message they want to convey.

"Mr. Natural", the ninth great track on this extremely cool CD, is natural and fun. Whenever I hear it, it always reminds me of the times, live, when Hughie comes up on stage to do his totally emotional dance interpretations to the band's rockin' rhythms, and Jerome's exuberant vocals. "I Wanna Go Home", is a very beautiful and moody piece, featuring a hauntingly beautiful harp intro by Jerome. The lyrics, written and sung by Jerome are profound and deep-a reflection of Jerome as a person, off-stage. "It's a long journey we're all on-the road is dark here-I want to go home!", triggers off a universal emotional bond with the listener.

"Deja-Vu" is a mystical "concept" song from beginning to end. The wise use of Jose Gonzales' percussion and sound effects, create a beautiful, atmospheric quality which is some of the best I've ever heard. (Pink Floyd's "Echoes" being the closest in atmosphere I can think of.) The foggy, atmospheric instrumentals, have Jerome and Suzie's vocals about deja-vu relationships echo out of that fog. This superb cut is followed by "Street Detective", an instrumental tune, featuring a beautiful, melodic harp solo, admirably backed up by equally imaginative bass and drums, and Jose's moody sound effects.

The last cut on this spectacular CD is "Vulture Culture", a strong, forceful commentary in the vocals, of the seriousness of cleaning up the problems in our environment. Jerome touches on everything that's important (like Michael Landon did in his last episode of Highway To Heaven). Everything from ground and lake water poisoning, PCB's, STP's, Nuclear Power Plant spillages, ozone hole damage, tied in with the fear of going out into the sunlight, air pollution, harmful food additives, and hard drug abuse are covered in this spectacular musical essay on the most important issues to take care of, we have facing us on Earth today. The "Vulture Culture" who take and prey, (but don't pray) -- the ones responsible for creating, perpetuating and legalizing this mess we're in; coupled with the warning to change, provided with hope it can be changed for the good of the future, is an important aspect of the world's future, and a strong commentary on the spiritual essence of Jerome Godboo in creating this masterful work of musical art -- entertaining, and good for the soul and mind of man!

Jerome Godboo CD - Déjà-Vu, Baby # JGGD112

CD's can be ordered directly from Jerome Godboo email: jeromegodboo@hotmail.com

Artist: Jerome Godboo
CD: Deja-Vu, Baby
Label: Independent CD # JGGD112
www.jeromegodboo.com
email: jeromegodboo@hotmail.com (to order CD's)

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