"For those who might not have known Taj Weekes before the massive Austin Reggae Festival, he has become a local hero. He closed the show... to a crowd estimated at nearly 30,000 people. Taj was the ideal artist to tie his conscious messages to a festival focused on reducing starvation. As Goodwill Ambassador for the Caribbean, Taj projected the sensibilities that reggae music brings to the hearts of those who need hope and faith. Taj delivered with pure excellence..."
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Sista Irie, 88.7 fm KAZI - Austin, TX
"Award-winning St. Lucian artist Taj Weekes and his band Adowa unite a vibrant diversity of sound with sturdy roots rhythms and lush, thoughtful arrangements... Though long hailed by reggae fans, Weekes defies simple genre formulas in search of a purity of sound that appeals to a diverse and enthusiastic audience."
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The Montauk Sun
"Weekes and his band Adowa bring passion into their acoustic roots-rock rhythm, which has a tinge of African folk in the mix... Be prepared for some soul-inspiring, expressive music that will get you swaggering and maybe even inspire some emotions of your own."
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Joelle Petus, Charleston City Paper
"Taj Weekes’ music mirrors an intense passion for social conscience in worldviews balanced by a calming sense of humility... His music flows in the vein of poetry. His unique lyrics are laced through rhythms that combine roots style reggae, afro-folk, rock and jazz."
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SXSW Music and Media Conference
"His musical presentations are a compelling form of activism calling to those who have lost faith in the power of the music. His lyrics call to those who recognize the power is still within the people."
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Sista Irie - Host of "The Conscious Party" on KAZI Austin, United Reggae
"Taj Weekes is a poet with rare vision, lacing songs with poignant moments partnered to catastrophic events. His writing eloquence reduces complex issues to simplistic evidence. Featuring many songs from his most recent cd, 'A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen', on Jatta Records, Taj stokes the intellectual furnace while providing a soothing medium to safely process thoughts into inspiration."
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Sista Irie - Host of "The Conscious Party" on KAZI Austin, United Reggae
"Hailing from the lush Caribbean island of St. Lucia, Taj and Adowa delivered an outstanding performance evidenced by the sea of fans held in a lyrical and musical trance. Taj Weekes is much more than a singer. Taj, in his humble unassuming manner, implored a universal consciousness while delivering a unique blend of bluesy reggae."
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Sista Irie - Host of "The Conscious Party" on KAZI Austin, United Reggae
"Rightly one of the most acclaimed reggae artists to emerge in recent years, St. Lucia’s Taj Weekes returns with a third release that’s more than simply a worthy successor to the first two. It’s everything a reggae release ought to be: conscious, topical, heartfelt, thoughtful, optimistic despite an often-dark outlook and rooted while embracing some measure of sounds outside the reggae realm. Under 39 minutes in length but without so much as a second wasted, A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen has so many great moments that it’s hard to know where to begin or end. Listen, immerse and enjoy."
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Tom Orr, niceup.com
"There is a certain style of roots reggae pioneered and popularized by the late Bob Marley, where many latter-day cultural singers rightly fear to tread. Its swung rhythms, bouncy clavinet, Scratch Perry-inspired, curiously-phrased vocals and rebel stance can easily sound hackneyed in the wrong hands. Yet once again, the NYC-based St. Lucian singer Taj Weekes and his band Adowa (named for the Ethiopian victory over the Italians in 1896) have stepped up to the plate with the confidence that sires success. Just like 2008's predecessor Deidem, third album A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen indicates the kind of special talent who can update this archetypal persona and make it work."
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Angus Taylor, United Reggae
"Contemporary reggae takes many forms, some of them bland or ugly or downright destructive. But some encompass art, art as valid as anything from reggae’s past, as valid as anything I’m hearing from any other present musical genre. This is where Taj Weekes and Adowa’s new album fits in. For me it represents the most appealing and rewarding manifestation of reggae now being created. Musically, lyrically and rhythmically it not only reflects the best from the past, but urges the genre to higher heights. Yes, remarkable creativity, in large measures and small, has been at work here. Musically vibrant, emotionally challenging and intellectually stimulating, A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen is the kind of reggae, or rather the kind of music – or rather the kind of art – that this world needs."
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Music Reviewer, Ted Boothroyd
"If there was ever an intensely different but perfect roots reggae album, this is it. Probably one of the best albums I have heard in a long time, this album just captures every emotion that you could ever want from any album of any music of any genre. The exquisite songwriting and superb musicianship take this album to a Bob Marley par of reggae pureness."
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Best of Reggae, Blog
“A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen listed as one of "The Top 20 Reggae Albums of 2010" The third record from the New York based St. Lucian tightened up his classic soul rebel music and poetic lyrics. Less bleak than 2008’s Deidem yet still emotionally-charged through and through.”
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Angus Taylor, United Reggae
“A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen listed as one of "Top 15 Best Reggae Albums of 2010"”
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Reggae Trends, New Music Trends
"Songwriter Taj Weekes draws inspiration from poetry: the imagery of the elements in ‘Rain Rain’ and the fine ironies of inaction in the Land Of Dreams since the levees broke."
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Dermot Hussey, XM/Sirius Satellite Radio
"Rain Rain fits perfectly within the rest of Taj Weekes' oeuvre: a gentle and very appealing musical setting for a poetic, yet very pointed, exposure of uncomfortable truths."
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Ted Boothroyde
"'Rain Rain' falls sweetly like water, a modern reggae blues in sentiment, a poignant message that Taj Weekes & Adowa deliver with sensitivity and heart. We're in for a treat if 'Rain Rain' heralds the upcoming sound of A Waterlogged Soul Kitchen."
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Reggae Festival Guide Magazine
"The album features the debut single Rain Rain: a tough song about Hurricane Katrina and the lack of effective action for the residents of the devasted states in August 2005."
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Anthony Postman, unitedreggae.com
"Taj is certainly Shakespeare reincarnated. The poetry in this selection is a work of genius. Can't wait to get this album!"
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Gilroy "Ezi" Hall - Contributing editor , The Voice
"Be it New Orleans... or Haiti... or Afghanistan... this song rings true. One of the qualities of reggae music that I so admire is 'skanking softly and carrying a big stick': the riddim may be soothing, but the words tell you something else, altogether. Love it."
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Scott "Goldfinger" Shisler, WTJU 91.1 fm - Reggae Vibrations
"Once again, the gentle voice of Taj Weekes delivers a powerful musical message. Combined with the peaceful and effortless musical backing of Adowa, a number you just want to slip into..."
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Tracy "Too Dread" Moore, KTHX 100.1 fm - Reggae Shack
"What a beauty of a track... makes me really want to dive ears/heart first into the entire album."
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Mister G, Green Arrow Radio
"A beautiful song from St. Lucian Reggae artist Taj Weekes, about the pain brought on when Mother Nature decides to show us who’s boss. Can't wait to hear the entire album."
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Cutlass and Cane
:
Jah let me be the voice of reason, not the unreasonable voice.
