Amazon Rebel (Amazon Bluenile, 2007)

Amazon Rebel is a solid showcase for veteran producer/songwriter Sean "Amazon" Woodhouse and his stable of artists. The production is bare-bones but effective with an old school roots and dancehall flair. Some of the riddims are repeated, though not to the extnet that they become stale. The opening few tracks ride the same dark, lumbering roots music, while the two best tunes -- "No Love" by Dr. Cabull Bird and "Bad Mine" by Cedric Myton of Congos fame -- share a lighter roots beat that allows the singers to perform at their peak. Some, if not all, of the music is adapted -- the most recognizable being Slim Smith's classic "Rougher Yet" riddim on "I Pray." Milton Blake's Horace Andy-like "Only the Father" and Luscious' nasal "Fight the Fight," with their throwback early dancehall sound, round out the notable tracks on this solid though unremarkable set. Congos fans in particular might want to check out the atmospheric Myton cut. Listen to samples at www.amazon-bluenile.com/rebel.html.