Let me begin by questioning the need for a tribute album (the second one in a series, in fact) to the Police. I don't deny that the Police were a very talented influential band, who managed to carve a much-deserved niche in the annals of music history. I just feel that lately record labels have been spitting out "tribute" albums at an all-too-fast pace, and they're beginning to look less like testaments to a band's musicianship, and more like cheap attempts to cash in on a band's former successes. We're also setting a dangerous precedent here: Imagine if you will, someone releasing a punk tribute to Dylan, or, God forbid, a hip-hop tribute to Barry Manilow.

Now, getting off my soap box here, it's hard to fault Ark 21 for this.
They aren't responsible for the rash of tribute albums that have been released lately, and they have assembled rather fun to listen to artist/song combinations on this album, "Reggatta Mondatta II." It is, as it's name suggests, a tribute to the band Police, with songs done by various reggae artists. This provides for an interesting marriage of styles on a lot of the songs, with strange twists added to familiar sounds.

The album opens with Louchie Lou and Michie One doing their version of the quintessential Police classic, "Don't Stand So Close To Me." This is a suprisingly entertaing R&B/reggae take on the song. The music is sparse, as Louchie and Michie rely heavily on their vocals to create their particular sound.

This is followed by British reggae legends, Aswad, offering up "So Lonely." They feature reggae-tinged vocals and rhythms punctuated by intermittent horn bursts. Despite the reggae twist, this song probably comes the closest on the album to sounding like the original version. Circle of Pain, of "Bad Boys" fame, follow Aswad, providing a groovin, albeit mellow, version of "King of Pain."

Big Mountain, probably best known for their cover of Peter Frampton's
"Baby, I Love Your Way," choose as their contribution a song I feel is one of the most underrated Police songs, "Man In a Suitcase." Big Mountain, in my opinion, is more pop-oriented reggae, but this song is fun to listen to regardless. Following this, The British Link lend a hip-hop rastafarian style to "When the World is Running Down."

Rayvon and Shaggy turn "Demolition Man" into a reggae tinged R & B rocker, while Freddie McGregor brings the song "Rehumanize Yourself" back to the islands, complete with an easy groove and a sun-splashed horn sound. Bim Sherman offers a soulful, mellow "Bring on the Night."

Third World takes the Police song most suited to a reggae rendition, "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da," and have a ball with it. This is one of the most listenable, consistent songs on the whole CD, and would be one of the reasons to buy it if you were so inclined. The final track is by Toots and the Maytals, and is one of the more interesting choices for a cover on the album, "Canary In A Coalmine." It is an obvious selection, once you listen to the lyrics, but one I would not have considered originally. This is also one of the more groovin tracks on the album, and the band obviously delights in turning this song into a reggae hip-shaker.

Overall, this is an enjoyable, if somewhat repetitive, CD. There are some really interesting selections on this album, but the question you should ask before you buy this album is if you really want to own reggae versions of Police songs. As with any tribute album that works, it stands up well on it's own, but by the same token, it's not the real thing. It is a fun change of pace, but for me personally, doesn't stand up to repeated listening. However, if you enjoy reggae, and happen to like the Police, you may like it.