Uprising would be the final studio album featuring
Bob Marley & the Wailers to be released during
Marley's lifetime. Prophetically, it also contains some of the band's finest crafted material, as if they were cogent that this would be their final outing. The album's blend of religious and secular themes likewise creates a very powerful and singular quest for spirituality in a material world. Although it is argued that an album's graphic design rarely captures the essence of the work inside, the powerful rebirthing image of a rock-solid
Marley emerging with his arms raised in triumph could not be a more accurate visual description of the musical jubilation within. Musically, the somewhat staid rhythms often synonymous with
reggae have been completely turned around to include slinky and liquid syncopation.
"Work," "Pimper's Paradise," and the leadoff track,
"Coming in From the Cold," are all significant variations on the lolloping Rasta beat. The major differences are the sonic textures that manipulate and fill those patterns. The inventive and unique guitar work of
Al Anderson -- the only American member of the original
Wailers -- once again redefines the role of the lead electric guitar outside of its standard
rock & roll setting.
"Zion Train" is awash in wah-wah-driven patterns, creating an eerie, almost ethereal backdrop against
Marley's lyrics, which recollect images from
Peter Tosh's
"Stop That Train" all the way back on
Marley & the Wailers' international debut,
Catch a Fire. The final track on the original pressing of
Uprising is
"Redemption Song." Never has an artist unknowingly written such a beautiful and apropos living epitaph. The stark contrast from the decidedly electric and group-oriented album to this hauntingly beautiful solo acoustic composition is as dramatic as it is visionary. Less than a year after the release of
Uprising,
Marley would succumb to cancer. [The 2001 Definitive LP Remaster version of
Uprising contains the "band version" of
"Redemption Song" and the 12" mix of
"Could You Be Loved."] ~ Lindsay Planer
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