Tomorrow People: The Best of Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers

The Melody Makers, on the surface, look like Jamaica's version of the Jacksons. Featuring four of Bob Marley's numerous children (Sharon, Cedella, Ziggy and Stephen), the group had their first hit, ‘Children Playing in the Streets’, when frontman Ziggy was just 11. The song was written by Bob, but it wasn’t anything revolutionary: it becomes apparent very quickly that this is reggae for children.

The majority of this compilation summarises Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers’ adult output. Tracks like ‘Tomorrow People’ and ‘Tumblin’ Down’ cement a breezy, pop-reggae style that, while being under-ambitious, fills a certain feel-good niche. Less justifiable is ‘Rainbow Country’, the only Bob Marley cover here, and a cheaply synthesized butchery that lacks any charm. Ziggy and co can sing, but even under Bob's management the results were forgettable. It's perhaps telling that Bob's youngest son, Damien, managed to become the only truly successful Marley scion by crossing into hip-hop.