Hidden Treasures Volume 2 on Easy Star Records continues the high quality of the first volume with 20 excellent tracks taken from Sugar Minott's Black Roots label. Most of the songs on this album date from the early to mid 80s with others as early as 1970 and others as recent as 1994. Several tracks are released for the first time including the first recording of Musical Youth(teamed with Sugar Minott for "Save the Children") and a remix of Tenor Saw's "Lots Of Sign." Two of my favorites from the entire album are Cassyman's "Humble Yourself" and a very nice modern-sounding track from Alton Ellis, "Still Trying." Other standouts include "Penny For My Song" by Sugar Minott, Sammy Dread's "Because of Money," Tony Tuff's "Hold Tight," and the clever "Natty Dread Time" by Jr. Roots which uses the melody and chorus from "Hello Stranger" with some lyrical changes to create a totally different tune. Hidden Treasures Volume 2 is a top notch release and is highly recommended for any lover of top quality reggae music.

- Loriel Macalma