Featuring the excellent backing of the
Roots Radics band,
Don Carlos'
Day to Day Living includes ten self-penned, sophisticated roots-reggae cuts. With his slightly hoarse yet sweet vocals,
Carlos takes on his usual topical mix of spiritual/Rastafarian themes, ghetto life, and dancehall culture, showing the kind of lovers rock and roots lyric blend also favored by contemporaries like
Gregory Isaacs and
Dennis Brown. Musically,
Carlos alternates between the dimly lit, minimalist drum'n'bass backdrops on "Street Life" and "Hog and Goat," and sunnier, bubbly organ and horn-driven cuts like "Hey Mr. Babylon" and "English Woman," with the updated rock-steady cut "I'm Not Crazy" standing out in particular. While producer
Henry "Junjo" Lawes (
Barrington Levy, Eek-A-Mouse) supplies the album's rugged but slick backdrop, Scientist delivers a spacious, dub-tinged mix. Special mention should also be made of
Winston Wright's tasty organ work throughout the set, and "Flabba" Holt and "Style" Scott's rock-solid rhythmic support. As is the case with his Harvest Time record,
Day to Day Living includes some of the best music
Carlos released in the '80s. ~ Stephen Cook