Stranger (RAS, 1999)

Reggae has spread all over the world, but it seems odd that it's so hard to find reggae artists from the (non-Jamaican) Caribbean.  It's easier (for me, at least) to find an African reggae album than, say, a Dominican, Bahamian, Trinidadian, or Haitian reggae album.  Well, hoping to rectify this is Barbados' native son David Kirton.  Kirton has a slick crossover lovers rock and light roots sound, sort of like a mix between Maxi Priest and Mystic Revealers, or the more poppy material from Steel Pulse (His voice is similar to that of Pulse lead singer David Hinds.).  The title track is fairly typical of his style: crisp, smooth, pop-leaning reggae with rock guitars thrown in here and there.  The catchiness of the melodic title cut and the harmonic female backing vocals nonetheless makes it likeable -- which can be said for the first 7 or 8 songs on Stranger.  Even though less than half of this album has traditional reggae rhythms (much of it being straight R&B), the lushness of the sound seeps into your pleasure zone (wherever that may be), despite being pop-tinged.  That can't be said for all of the songs, however.  The straight R&B of "Culture Fusion" and "Show Me Your Lovin'" and particularly the nauseating what-can-only-be-described-as "swing reggae" of "Bubblin'" don't cut the mustard.  Still, mellow lovers cuts like "Home for the Holiday," "Rasta Meditation," "Farmer," and Cool Breezin'" provide soothing lightweight enjoyment (making the strictly cultural Rasta drumming of "Thanks and Praise" all the more conspicuous and out of place).  Standing apart from these mellow tunes is the more militant (I use the term loosely.) dancehall sound of "Stand Up, one of the best on Stranger.  Though erratic, this album has some very nice moments -- the easy sound itself will ensure several listenings -- as Kirton displays some true talent that just needs a bit more focus.