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Reggae dub band cracks Billboard 200 with Beatles interpretation
By Steven Jackson
Friday, May 01, 2009
Jah Cure's Universal Cure debuted on Billboard Reggae charts at number two beating Mavado's Mr Brooks but not a lesser known dub band Easy Star All-Stars who debuted at number 1.
It is Cure's highest charting album to date, following True Reflections which peaked at number nine on the Top Reggae Albums in 2007 according to Billboard's chart history. But Cure will find stiff resistance from Easy Star All-Star's third release Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band which has sales strong enough to transcend the reggae charts hitting number 117 on Billboards top 200.
The band, headed by Michael Goldwasser and Victor 'Ticklah' Axelrod is "extremely proud" about its chart success. They are also hitting on Billboard's Top Heatseekers at 2; and its Top Independent Album at 9.
"As far as we can tell, this is the first reggae album to crack the top 200 since Stephen Marley's Mind Control in 2007," the band stated on its website. The reggae/dub band covers rock with a one-drop and its latest album interprets the Beatles. The group has increased popularity with each album: Dub Side of the Moon 2003 (a tribute to Pink Floyd) and Radiodread 2006 (tribute to Radiohead) both peaked at number five on the Top Reggae Albums in their respective years.
Mavado's Mr Brooks is at number three after spending some seven weeks at number one. This album represents Mavado's highest debut following his 2007 Gangsta for Life which peaked at number six. Mavado's latest album is hitting on other Billboard charts including Top Independent Albums at 37; Top R&B/hip hop albums at 56; top rap album at 23. So far Jah Cure is only hitting only on the reggae charts.
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