Hope & Doubt (Alpha Pocket, 2005)

There have been an unusually large number of impressive reggae releases over the past few months, so so to say that Hope & Doubt is one of the best reggae releases of the year is saying something.  Hailing from St. Lucia and now based in New York City, Weekes is an amazing talent who delivers an astonishing debut.  It has a classic, poised, natural roots vibe, unconcerned with trying to sound hip or trying to cram 20 tracks into one album.  Weekes' singing voice is strikingly original: mellow, folksy, and high-pitched (I admit that it took me a couple of listens to realize that it wasn't a woman singing.) -- yet with a slight Marley-esque rasp that adds just the right amount of edge.  His lyrics are introspective and melancholy (as exemplified by titles like "Sad," "Jagged," "Cold," and "Blue") with uncommon poetic beauty, and the music, performed by backing band Adowa and produced by Weekes himself, is a full-bodied roots treat.  The overall sound is somewhat akin to African roots reggae (not surprising, since he is of Ethiopian descent), with its bouncy organs and horns, a bluesy touch (using electric guitars and vocal repetition), and harmonizing female background vocals (reflecting the heavy Marley influence on the continent's music).  Hope & Doubt is how roots reggae should be done; listen at cdbaby.com, then buy.