["Exodus"] is a highly-charged spiritual record by the reggae musician most capable of articulating the mood of his people. It was conceived by Marley shortly after his brush with disaster at the hands of gunmen, and thus there's precious little joy about it.

Even so, Marley sounds his customarily "up" self—and there are fewer more worthwhile sounds around in contemporary music.

Only one song, "Waiting In Vain," comes across as a plain love theme. For the rest, there's either the traditional sensuality we've come to expect from Marley, or the spirituality of the first side. "The Heathen," "Exodus"—an unremittingly powerful track, perhaps the most potent on the LP—and the heavy insinuation of "Guiltiness" are all examples of spiritual conviction, but the endearing aspect of them all is the simplicity with which they're delivered. You don't get the feeling that a sermon is coming at you...