A New Day

1	No Night in Zion 4:39
2	Oh Father I Love Thee 3:39
3	Is There a Place? 3:49
4	Happy People 3:49
5	Road of Life 3:52
6	Nah Give Up 3:37
7	God Is My Friend 4:28
8	Only a Fool 3:51
9	Traveler 3:41
10	African Skies 3:44
11	A New Day 4:11
12	Hardcore 3:54
13	Spring Summer 4:02
14	God & King 3:52
15	Tell Me Why 3:26
16	Save the World (Acoustic Mix) 4:39
17	Journey 3:54

Barnes & Noble

The smooth roots crooner Luciano returns with a set of 16 new songs that continue his sunny commitment to conscious rhythms and uplifting reggae. Produced by saxophonist Dean Fraser, A New Day doesn't really mark much of a shift for this solid singer, whose soulful way with a tune stands in marked contrast to most of his contemporary R&B-obsessed peers. Tight backing harmonies from Sherida Sharpe, Althea Lane Hamilton, and Conradine Campbell lend a vintage flavor to the productions, but the digital drums and dancehall effects keep A New Day feeling up to date. Outstanding tracks include a cover of Marvin Gaye's "God Is My Friend" and the stripped-down rap "Hardcore" (destined for a killer club remix), while the inspirational title track is easily one of Luciano's most compelling vocal performances. Longtime fans will continue to draw strength from Luciano's faith and moving pronouncements -- and newcomers will find his latest a fine introduction to this reggae star. Mark Schwartz

All Music Guide

It's rare to find a reggae singer these days who is able to draw audiences equally from the dancehall and roots crowds, but that's exactly what Luciano does, attracting fans of modern reggae with the up-to-the-minute grooves provided by his great Firehouse Crew band (and, on his latest album, the legendary drum'n'bass duo of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare) while simultaneously keeping the loyalty of the roots-and-culture crowd with the heartfelt spirituality of his lyrics. On A New Day, he opens with a long, hypnotic exercise in nyabinghi hymnody, the gently stirring repatriation anthem "No Night in Zion," then proceeds to deliver 16 more songs of spiritual uplift, all of them powered by soft-textured but deep and weighty roots rhythms. Particular highlights include the plaintive "Is There a Place?" and the soulful, horn-driven "Only a Fool." Even the spare and dubwise "Hardcore," which at first sounds like just another dancehall boast, turns out to be a declaration of religious faithfulness. Very impressive. Rick Anderson