Presents (10 Ft. Ganja Plant)

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10 Ft. Ganja Plant albums never offer musician credits, but the group's identity is no secret: this is a side project by members of John Brown's Body, one of the two or three finest roots reggae bands in America. Usually side projects represent something of a stylistic departure, but in the case of John Brown's Body, the variation sounds an awful lot like the theme -- not that that's a bad thing, by any means. What does seem to set 10 Ft. Ganja Plant apart from its parent organization is an even greater emphasis on mystical, dubwise production textures and a tendency toward instrumentals rather than songs (though John Brown's Body singer Kevin Kinsella makes a number of appearances here). This album opens on a fairly pedestrian note with the so-so "Chalwa," but improves immediately with the dark and dubby "Rebel in the Hills." "Good Time Girl" is a cheerful slice of old-school reggae with a tasty, Ernest Ranglin-style guitar lick; "Off Road Version," though too long by half, is a fine saxophone showcase with an irresistible bassline. Highly recommended to all John Brown's Body fans and anyone else with an insatiable hunger for classic reggae.

© Rick Anderson /TiVo