Jah Cure

First off, this isn't exactly a new project by the fresh-out-of-prison Jamaican singer Jah Cure. The recently released True Reflections is more of a greatest-hits compilation of the best tunes that Cure has cranked out over the past eight years — most of which were recorded while the singer was behind bars, serving time for rape, robbery, and illegal possession of firearms. True Jah Cure fans have heard these songs for years on singles, reggae mixtapes, and in dancehalls, as Cure's popularity rose with each jailhouse ditty he released. Now that Cure is on the streets again, it's fitting that VP would compile the singles into an album; from a consumer standpoint, all of the material here deserves to be on one disc instead of scattered across his catalog. With that said, the 14 older tracks here plus the new "To Your Arms of Love" are all stellar, with Cure's signature roots/lover's rock vocals massaging your eardrums on each tune. Obvious cuts like "Searching for a Girl," "Love Is," and "Longing For" — his three most popular songs — are included, where you can hear the influences of Cure's mentor, Beres Hammond. Still, there are other lesser-known gems on True Reflections, like the acoustic guitar accompaniment on "Love You" and the melodic vibe of "Share the Love," that make this disc a welcome release. His harmonious voice and positive lyrics are undeniably catchy yet poignant, and True Reflections shows that, even from a jail cell, Jah Cure has become one of the strongest singer/songwriters in Jamaican music.