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Dancehall Xplosion 2004 (JamDown, 2004) As can be expected from a JamDown release, Dancehall Xplosion 2004
features multiple tracks sharing riddims -- specifically 18 songs spread over four
different backing musical selections. Three of the four have distinct hip-hop/R&B overtones, so if this isn't your cup of tea or slice of cake or stack of pancakes…well, you've been warned. The first
riddim, which plows through tracks 2 through 4, is a slow, rumbling beat with a hip-hop edge that left me wanting. The performers seem similarly uninspired by the music, as only Mega Banton delivers a memorable vocal effort. I'll jump to the third riddim (tracks 9-13) because the second and fourth are so similar and because there's not much to say about tracks 9 through 13 except that even big names like Sean Paul, Beenie
Man, and Elephant Man can't make
this rather corny, bouncy dancehall beat bearable.
The second and fourth riddims provide about 95% of the enjoyment to be
had on this album. Both are airy,
mid-tempo, R&B-infused rhythms that sound tailor-made for Kevin Lyttle's
soulful debut. This sound may be a
bit too "lightweight" for those seeking the hard-hitting sound that JamDown
usually provides, but I found it refreshing and fun, accessible without being
poppy. Highlights from these
riddims include "Trust" by Tony Rebel & Swade (who teamed up for the
outstanding "Just Friends" a few years ago), Wayne Marshall’s "Set All
Laws," Vybez Kartel’s "Nuttin' But
Vibes," Danny English's "Party
for Good Times," Notch's "Fly Away," and the cream of the crop, Sean
Paul’s wicked "Melt Away." So
basically, Dancehall Xplosion 2004 is only half of an album, but it's
an enjoyable half. |
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