LUCIANO, MIKEY GENERAL & JAHMESSENJAH BAND, COPACRESCENT, SHOCKS OF SHEBA
(Lola’s Room, 1332 W Burnside) Religious zeal never translated so well as it does in roots reggae. Irrespective of or indifferent to creed, it’s a guaranteed global hip-rocker—although it has recently taken a back seat to its libertine li’l sis, dancehall. Meanwhile, pious Rastafari Luciano, whose one drops are mostly molasses-paced and equally sweet, is still sermonizing after all these years. On his latest album, Jah is My Navigator, he pines for peace in Jamaica when not extolling the virtues of ethical living everywhere. A pure singer, Luciano is bearable even when the righteousness begins to chafe, an infrequent discomfort in these durably challenging times. JALYLAH BURRELL

I can’t decide which I like more, “Jah is My Navigator” or “God Is My Co-Pilot.” I enjoy them both, but I just might have to give a slight edge to Jah.

MP3:
Luciano - Who Could It Be (live)