Matisyahu is not your typical artist. Although his blend of reggae, rock and rap is what ultimately attracts fans, Matisyahu is perhaps best known for the influence Judaism has had on his work. Many of his songs have Jewish themes, he dresses in the traditional clothing of Hasidic Jews, and he refuses to perform on the Sabbath. As one might imagine, when rap’s hip-hop elements are replaced with religious undertones, it makes for a very unique listening experience.

That being said, the word “unique” doesn’t always carry positive connotations, and with Matisyahu’s latest album, “No Place to Be,” his divergent style does more to distract listeners than invite new fans.

The album is a collection of seven remixes and re-recordings of previous Matisyahu tracks, and a couple of them are quite good.

“Youth (Small Stars Remix)” is a fun, moderately paced song with a calm, steady beat and lighthearted feel. It’s one of the few tracks where the vocals really seem to enhance the music, giving Matisyahu’s typical reggae components room to generate excitement in the background.

“Message in a Bottle” also stuck with me, but for an altogether different reason. The vocals in this track are soothing and much slower than in Matisyahu’s more frenetic songs. The track also has a nice echo effect, and I found that when I played “Message” at low volume, it produced a calming sensation perfect for any mellow-themed playlist.

But aside from these two exceptions, the other five tracks appear out of place and unfinished. I’m sure Matisyahu intended his songs to sound exactly as they do, but to my ears, there was often a particularly strong beat in a place where it didn’t belong, or a reggae clash when silence would have been more appropriate. The lyrics, though hailed by many for their unorthodox themes, are often incomprehensible, and on more than one occasion I literally had no idea what he was saying. Such incomprehensible lyrics include those from “Chop ‘Em Down”: “From the forest itself comes the hand for the ax/ Split this wilderness listen up this ain't where it's at/ Clear a path so that you could find your way back/Chop 'em down, chop 'em down.” Listening to this track or either of the “Jerusalem” remixes was uncomfortable, and by the end of the song my ears were ringing from the strange combinations of music.

For those who haven’t heard of Matisyahu, or are cautious about his different style, I’d recommend sampling a track or two on iTunes before picking up the album.

At its heart, “No Place to Be” is fan service, as the remixes are sure to entertain supporters of the originals. However, the album’s true draw is the DVD “Live in Israel,” featuring Matisyahu’s performances in Tel Aviv in December of 2005. In addition to concert footage, the DVD provides interviews, street performances and a music video for the track “Jerusalem.” All in all, “No Place to Be” will prove worthwhile to anyone looking for something truly different.