Banton, Buju – Too Bad (Gargamel)
Reviewed by Sadie O., 12/11/06
Dancehall by one of the originators of the genre. Quite a variety of speed and styles to the often fairly simple riddims, rather nutted delivery, often rather difficult to make out.
No FCCs that I could discern. I like 7 and 11 best.
1. 3:16 **a bit downtempo, dance number
2. 3:44 *downtempo – close to a reggaeton beat, all about a sexy girl. Cuts off extremely abruptly.
3. 3:36 *midtempo, minimalist riddim.
4. 2:44 **slightly uptempo riddim with fun sounds, bragging lyrics.
5. 3:24 ***uptempo dancehall, dance number.
6. 3:47 **dramatic midtempo riddim, odd little outro
7. 3:11 ****Walk Don’t Run riddim, very uptempo, fun and hyper song. Same riddim as track 2 on the Ill Inspecta CD…
8. 3:24 **a bit downtempo, dramatic riddim, gunman song.
9. 2:18 ***rather goofy midtempo riddim, toy instrument sound (in a good way), totally demented delivery,
10. 2:50 **downtempo and rather menacing riddim, ganja farmer song.
11. 2:51 ****spoken gangster intro, downtempo reggae/jazzy riddim, gangster story.
12. 3:44 *midtempo reggae riddim with modern R&B overtones, guy chatting bullshit to his girl lyrics… ha!
13. 3:45 *slow nyahbinghi riddim, love song (yes, actually singing… trying to, anyway)
14. 3:32 *undecipherable Jamaican talking intro, midtempo gangsta riddim.
15. 2:52 ***scratches for a few seconds, then dramatic midtempo riddim, gangsta lyrics. Cracks himself up at end.
16. 2:44 **downtempo reggae riddim, duet with a sweet-voiced singer.
17. 3:56 **drums and female modern R&B vocals, then downtempo