Amazon.comBoom Shaka may well be the best U.S. reggae ensemble. From their home base in Los Angeles, the group has now released four CDs--with Rebel Lion as their latest chapter. This CD creates lively, uptempo reggae that veers more towards pop than roots reggae or dub. Boom Shaka sound more like Steel Pulse than anyone else and play up a pop-inflected penchant for background vocals that are refined in the studio. Rebel Lion continues their attempt to break through to a higher level of recognition, and to that end, Rastafarian themes and vocal call-outs are less frequent than the more anthemic, danceable songs the band is known for. Waiting for more Steel Pulse? Try Boom Shaka. --Andrew Bartlett