Kaya [is] a bit of dreadlocked deja vu with an intriguing twist. Their seventh Island lp contains two selections that appeared previously on Soul Revolution (and the British African Herbsman package): "Sun is Shining" and "Kaya." (p. 74)

Seems there's nothing new under the Caribbean sun—but guess again. Where the original "Shining" was an ominous, melodica-paced ballad about desperate love, the revised treatment is a steamy dance track…. [Similarly, Kaya has] been supplanted by a full, celebratory sound. Here, the intoxicating joys of kaya (ganja) are touted, rather than its mystical fringe benefits.

Throughout Kaya, the dark, menacing tone that characterized such Wailers classics as "Concrete Jungle," "Burnin' and Lootin'," "Them Belly Full (But We Hungry)" and "Want More" has been replaced by infectious happiness and elation. Songs like "Easy Skanking" and "She's Gone" evince the uplifting approach begun on Rastaman Vibration and Exodus, and carry through on...