Kali & Dub Inc.

Montreal's Hayes "Kali" Thurton is the mastermind behind Kali & Dub Inc. and his fingerprints spread from the vocals, guitars, keys and drums right to the album's production. Kali's diverse artistic tendencies take on nearly the entire reggae map with roots and rockers tracks nudged next to more Kool and the Gang-inspired soul reggae ("Island Lady") and "Reggae and Hop" — a song about the winning combination that has skyrocketed Sean Paul to fame. Mikey Dread's influence pops up on many tracks, such as "Crucial Rock" and "Simple and True" and Peter Tosh could have written and recited the ultra natty "Black Is.” The album's final track, a playful cover of the Allman Brothers' "Midnight Rider," nicely cites Marley's "Natty Dread Rides Again." A nod to the Tuff Gong is also present in the conscious "Dance (Stop the War),” in which Kali borrows one of Marley's favourite themes of overcoming struggle through the tangible power of music and dance. Let the construction begin.