Reggae Promo Singles, Spring 2011

Reggae promo singles, Spring 2011
Reviewed by Sadie O., 5/13/11
Collection of the Reggae stuff that’s come in by email over the last month. A fair variety of styles but mostly all good and rootsy. Last 6 tracks all the same (pleasant and unassuming bubble) riddim.
No FCCs detected.
1. 3:56 ****Nice rootsy upbeat bubble, vocals in Spanish – reminds me of Michael Rose’s Black Uhuru in sound. Simple and nice.
2. 3:28 **downtempo relaxed skank, leggo violence lyrics.
3. 3:11 ***old school stuttering guitar style rock steady, sweet falsetto vocals. Takes me right back. I can even stand the way-too-prominent and commercial sounding backing chorus…
4. 4:31 **midtempo skank, gruff and slurry vocals and I-Threes style backing vocals. Pleasant.
5. 3:51 ***tinkling piano, rather jazzy, bouncy skank. Spoken word slice o’ life drama in thick patois.
6. 4:25 *****starts with gnarly distorted speaking, then downtempo THICK dub with a rock steady back beat one minute and nyahbinghi the next. DEEP dub. Yeah mon, light up ya spliff!
7. 3:49 **Yo! Patois yelling intro, then midtempo bubble, slightly strangled-sounding vocals.
8. 4:15 ***bouncy syncopated dancehall, almost a calypso sound, fun vocals.
9. 4:15 *****dubby intro with what sounds like a processed call to prayer, then slightly downtempo dub skank with male toast and female singing. Great sound.
10. 4:06 ***woobly electronics, “modern R&B” style female vocals, then dubby midtempo bubble with 80’s electronica elements.
11. 3:37 ****4/4 instrumental dub skank, lots of percussive elements & syndrum.
12. 4:04 ****squoobles and chimes, dub bubble, same riddim as the last track only dubbier… Whoooo!
(Step By Step Riddim, next 6 tracks)
13. 3:57 **dancehall (a bit like Sizzla) delivery, exhortation to act right.
14. 3:32 ****any number that starts out “yagga yagga yagga yo” has to be good. Anthony B is the biggest name on this riddim. This is his take on Jimmy Cliff’s “Wonderful World, Beautiful People.”
15. 4:09 ****preaching and squealing intro, incomprehensible grunting dancehall rant about rastafari. Well OK!
16. 3:34 ****pleasant singing and crazed dancehall preaching. Gosh!
17. 3:31 ***nice baritone singing, kind of like Peter Tosh with marbles in his mouth, and a bit of gruff hip hop chat.
18. 4:13 ***nice vocal chorus, and apparently a plastic slide whistle. Startling heavy metal guitar solo midway through.